Aquarium Air Pump Valve Cleaning / Cheap Fix - Performance Restored

Cleaning the reed valves, or check valves, of a couple aquarium air pumps ended up restoring their performance. In this video, we'll see how those pumps were cleaned. They were used with fish tanks and for making aerated compost tea. I have owned the pumps shown in the video for several years and they all still work great. Below is a list of the pumps serviced in this video. I receive a commission from some of the links in the description. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Pumps :
- Single Outlet Air Pump Cleaned, Updated Model : amzn.to/3vqCW61
- Double Outlet Air Pump Cleaned in the video: amzn.to/4aErCTQ
- Single Outlet Pump Repaired at the end of the video: amzn.to/3RPcNoT
Accessories :
- Aquarium Air Line I use with these pumps: amzn.to/3TRl4ex
- Gloves I wear : amzn.to/3xDggRd
In the video listed below, I repair an air pump by replacing the factory valve flap, which failed, with an easy homemade valve flap. It worked great.
- DIY Air Pump Check Valve Flap video: • Aquarium Air Pump Chea...
Affiliate Disclosure:
This video and the channel may contain links to affiliate websites, and I may receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. My affiliates include Amazon Associates. I am a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for me to earn advertising fees by linking to affiliated websites.
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Any information and all content including video, audio, or text provided by the Budget Phil KZbin channel and it’s creator/producer (“I" or "me") is for general informational and educational purposes only. All information provided by me on this channel is provided in good faith, however I make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the channel. This channel does not contain any professional advice on how to design, purchase, make, use, maintain, repair, or clean anything and may not be suitable for all ages and skill sets. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon information found on this channel, I encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. Under no circumstances shall I have any liability to you for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of this channel or the reliance on any information provided by me or the channel. Your use of this channel and your reliance on any information on the channel is solely at your own risk.

[@annemivandercolf9589]

Thank you so much for the video & to the commenters! I used some plastic from those yellow dishwashing gloves (that had a hole) and you saved me some bucks.

[@BudgetPhil]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing that tip about using a piece from an old rubber glove.

[@xAxonymouse]

Great video and very informative towards something no one else was taking the time to teach

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you

[@mikefeldmeier]

I have a four-port ActiveAQUA that was in storage for a couple of years and was now producing zero output. Following your steps, it didn't even seem that dirty, but sure enough after being put back together, it's at full power. Thanks!

[@BudgetPhil]

I guess it doesn't take much dirt to prevent those types of valves from sealing. Thank you for sharing that.

[@m_dawood]

Great info. What i found best for the flaps is to cut off a piece of rubber ordinary balloon. It's almost identical to the real thing. I hope this helps someone

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for sharing that tip about using a balloon.

[@75thteaster54]

Fixed my pump thanks bro

[@BudgetPhil]

Your welcome.

[@patricioderegil4830]

accidentally comented about the best plastic for this on your cleaning video. but i found that soft palstic (such as a thick palstic bag) is the best repalcement, this improved the air flow and is now working perfectly. i used a bag of zip ties and i now have a happy hydro plants, thank you again.

[@BudgetPhil]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the part cut from a plastic bag. It's good to know that there are plenty of options.

[@pyrotelekinesis7253]

This is exactly the tutorial I needed. Thank you for posting.

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome.

[@trenenpierskalla5500]

I have the exact same single Aqua one and it wasn’t pushing air, the small valve was dirty and now it works better than before

[@BudgetPhil]

Those little valves can get pretty dirty. I'm glad that fixed the problem

[@cryptidcrafts666]

This was super useful, I have one that needs a cleaning badly:)

[@febeperez8684]

Great video. Thank you. If the black rubber has a crack, does this mean mine is done?

[@BudgetPhil]

I believe the black rubber pump diaphragm can be replaced. They are available from several online retailers. Thank you for the compliment.

[@doomedamerica6871]

Thank you, it fixed my air pump

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome

[@vinodhd10]

Removing the circular sponge. It will improve the air output. But what could go wrong by removing it?

[@BudgetPhil]

The pumps check valves may get dirty much faster than they otherwise would with the filter.

[@vinodhd10]

​@@BudgetPhilThank you for all the responses. I am clear now. I hope it will help others.

[@vinodhd10]

Can i put a drop of motor oil to improve the efficiency of the diaphragm and the vibrating clip?

[@BudgetPhil]

I wouldn't because it could damage the plastic and the rubber. Motor oil can make some plastics brittle. It would also likely collect dust. Silicone lube may be an option though.

[@vinodhd10]

Can we use isopropyl alcohol instead of water? Is it safer?

[@BudgetPhil]

I don't know, but I generally try to avoid using alcohol on plastics. Most handle it fine, but some kinds of plastic can swell a bit when exposed to alcohol. I assume a quick wipe to disinfect the pumps parts would probably be okay.

[@earneststanaford7802]

Can Altitude affect the operation of a air pump

[@BudgetPhil]

I believe so. The pump rate should be reduced as the altitude increases due to the lowering density of the air. At a high enough altitude, the flow rate of the pump would be zero due to a lack of atmosphere.

[@chulada03]

Thank you

[@BudgetPhil]

You're welcome. Thanks for stopping by.