Best Pond Air Pumps and Pond Aerators
1) Shumi Floating Solar Aerator
A great zero-cost monthly solar powered pond aerator which provides a good amount of aeration for smaller ponds. The Shumi floating aerator is an interesting little aeration system, providing decent air flow while in direct sunlight. The aerator is placed on your pond’s surface water and floats around the pond with the natural flow.
We found the 42 GPH air pump sufficient when under heavy sunlight, but the air flow dropped off quite considerably during periods of overcast skies. Since there is no battery pack connected, this solar pond aerator will only be able to function during daylight hours when there is some sunshine.
With that said, the best time to aerate a pond is in the warmer summer months, as you’re battling insects, surface stagnation, and algae constantly consuming oxygen. The Shumi aerator should be able to provide a good amount of aeration during this period, and also into autumn while the sun remains stronger. This would be a great investment for small ponds, or as a complement to a larger aeration system.
- Pond Sizes: Up to 150 gallons
- Solar Panel: 1.3 Watts
- Pump Strength: 42 GPH Air Pump
- Submersible: No
- Dimensions:7.09 x 7.09 x 2.17 inches
- Weight:8.64 Ounces
2) TetraPond Air Pump
- AIR PUMP KIT Provides essential oxygen to backyard ponds and fish
- WINTER SOLUTION The TetraPond Air Pump Kit offers a winter survival solution for ponds when temperatures are freezing
- INCLUDES Kit includes tubing air stones 30-foot power cord valves and adapters
For ponds that need constant oxygenation and more water movement! The TetraPond Air pump kit is an ideal solution for small-medium sized ponds, and provides a good level of air flow with its 100 GPH rated air pump system. It comes with a generous 30 ft of tubing and 2 aerator diffusers for an even spread of oxygen. We found setup extremely easy, and had everything working in under 10 minutes with diffusers on opposite ends of the pond. The air pump isn’t submersible, but has sturdy rubber feet to keep it in place on the side of your pond.
The 100 GPH air pump provides a strong flow and we were happy with the results, however, air flow will drop off considerably after around 2 feet of water depth. The pump has not been designed to work efficiently past around 2 feet, so make sure you place the diffusers no deeper than this for the best results. The pump also has a small screw valve so you can adjust the airflow as needed!
Even though the air pump has been designed for ponds up to 5000 gallons, we feel it is more suited to around a 500-2000 gallon pond. This is especially true if your pond contains koi or large amounts of goldfish. The pump provides a great level of oxygenation, but for a heavy fish stocked pond or larger ponds we’d recommend a more powerful model.
With that said, the TetraPond Air Pump kit is still a great choice for most ponds, and can work during all months of the year. It can provide aeration during both summer and winter, and is fairly hardy to the elements (although we’d recommend a cover!). A good all-round aeration system at a good price.
- Pond Sizes: Up to 5000 gallons
- Air flow Depth: 2 feet
- Pump Strength: 100 GPH Air Pump
- Submersible: No
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 5.2 x 5.2 inches
- Weight: 4.3 ponds
- Warranty: Limited 1 year
3) Airmax Koi Air Pump
- Small Aerator for Ponds up to 16,000 Gallons and 4 Feet Deep -- Increases water circulation and oxygen saturation, improving the natural...
- Improves Water Quality & Clarity -- Bottom-diffused aerators push air through dual diffuser sticks and into your pond. Aeration supports...
- Quiet Operation & Energy Efficient -- Powered by an energy-efficient electric compressor, with near-silent 24/7 operation. Aerate your koi...
One of the best koi pond aerators on the market! The Airmax KoiAir series features 3 different models of aeration kits, designed for fish stocked ponds between 1000 to 16,000 gallons. The models range in strength, providing approx 350 GPH to 750 GPH air compressors, which should be more than enough to oxygenate even the largest of koi ponds.
Despite the strength of the air compressors, the KoiAir series are surprisingly quiet in operation, and could be used both indoors and outdoors without too much disruption. The different kits come with 1-4 large diffuser sticks mounted on metal diffuser plates. The compressor is very energy efficient, with the strongest compressor model requiring only 35w of power.
The air pump is very easy to setup, and provided a fantastic level of oxygenation and flow. The kit has a nice 6 foot power cord and accepts 3/8 ID hosing for replacements. We had no major issues when running the pump, although the airline hose came loose a few times during operation. The steel spring clamps provided are designed to prevent this, but we felt they were too slightly too weak to hold the hose in place. We recommend purchasing a few screw clamps which have a much stronger hold.
Overall, a great aeration pump kit for fish stocked ponds or large ponds. The KoiAir series will provide huge amounts of flow and oxygenation, and are very energy efficient to boot – win win!
- Pond Sizes: 1000-16000 gallons
- Air flow Depth: 4 feet
- Pump Strength: 350-750 GPH Air Compressor
- Submersible: No
- Dimensions: 13 x 13 x 17.1 inches
- Weight: 29.35 pounds
- Warranty: Limited 3 year
What are Pond Aerators & Pond Bubblers?
A pond aerator, also sometimes called a “bubbler,” is something that provides oxygen to your pond water, as well as additional flow and surface movement. Natural aerators include waterfalls and fountains, whereas dedicated aerators usually come in the form of an electrical air pump.
There are different types of electrical air pumps available, ranging from zero-cost solar powered aerators for small ponds, all the way to powerful aerators designed for large koi ponds and small lakes. Even though the size and power of these different air pumps vary, they all provide the same basic function – water oxygenation and aeration.
Air pumps work via an electric (or solar powered) motor which pumps oxygen (O2) directly into pond water. The oxygen is usually transferred across the water with a type of diffuser attachment which fits to the 
For small pond aerators, the diffuser usually comes in the form of a stone or pebble attachment. For large pond aerators, the diffuser may be present as a long metal cylinder or tube with small evenly placed holes. The diffuser works to create an even spread of oxygen and maximize oxygenation across a wider area compared to just a basic hose outlet.
Pond air diffuser pumps often come in the form of “kits”, which provide everything you need to get started adding oxygen to your pond. Larger, more specialized air pumps sometimes just include a pump, and you will need to supply the hose yourself.
Do I need a pond aerator/air pump?
There are numerous benefits of increasing oxygen levels in your pond water, but whether you actually need one depends on your pond situation. If you have a pond with fish and slow water flow, adding an aerator will provide the fish with more oxygen which they may struggle to get otherwise. However, if you have a natural pond aerator, such as a waterfall or fountain, this may be sufficient in oxygenating your waters by itself. If you have a large pond with plenty of koi, then having a heavy duty oxygenator will certainly be of benefit, as koi thrive in highly oxygenated waters.
In general, if you have a fish stocked pond, a pond without much flow, or a pond without water features, adding an aeration system will likely only provide benefits in the long term. For more information on the benefits, read on!
Benefits of Oxygenating & Aerating Pumps
Pond aeration has many benefits, none of which being more important than keeping pond fish happy and healthy. A pond with low levels of oxygen will adversely affect your fish, as they need oxygen to grow and function. Koi in particular are very sensitive to oxygen levels, and can easily become sick from low levels of oxygen. If you keep a pond with fish, there are no real drawbacks from adding an aeration system, as this provides more dissolved oxygen for your fish to thrive. Most koi pond owners will invest in a strong aeration system with a wide spread diffuser for maximum benefits.
The bubbles produced from aeration air pumps help prevent surface water stagnation and also increase water flow. Preventing stagnation will stop insects laying eggs in your pond, and increase the levels of beneficial gas exchange taking place on the surface. If you have a particular area of your pond that has less flow than other areas, adding an aerator to this section would be ideal. If you have a fountain or waterfall, which is a natural oxygenator, you can add an air pump to the opposite end of the pond for maximum benefits.
A healthy pond is built on a healthy beneficial bacteria population! Pond bacteria will help break down fish waste, sludge, debris, and remove harmful substances from your pond water. These bacteria require oxygen to function, so adding an aerator will help speed up their efficiency and boost population levels.
Note: Algae can also thrive from additional oxygen, as well as reduce the natural levels in your pond water over time. We recommend a quality UV clarifier to remove algae and prevent a bloom occurring when running your aeration system.
Different Types Pond Air Pumps & Aerators (Compared)
1) Solar Powered Pond Aerator
- 【Solar Aerator with Independent Air Pump】 The upgraded solar air pump is independently separated from the solar panel to improve solar...
- 【3 Working Modes and Bubble Regulator】The solar pond aerators comes with 3 working modes: Strong bubble mode(18H) / Soft bubble...
- 【Pond Aerator with Battery】Built-in 2200mAh battery, when fully charged, this outdoor solar pond aerator can provide up for 72 hours of...
A zero monthly cost aeration option is with solar power! These compact pond aerators are designed for use with smaller ponds, aquariums, or as a complement to a larger aeration system (i.e., a waterfall). They do not need any mains power or extra wiring, so would be a perfect solution if you can’t get to a mains socket. They function the best under heavy sunlight, so would suit spring and summer months.
For a small pond with fish, or a pond without fish, a solar power aerator would be a great choice to help prevent stagnation and increase water flow. Since there would be no additional costs per month, and if you are able to catch a lot of sunlight, this may be a fantastic long term investment! The air pump is usually very small, however, so may not be powerful enough for large ponds or koi ponds.
2) Electric Pond Aerator
- ALL-IN-ONE - This pond aeration kit comes with everything you need for pond aeration. The package includes the necessary accessories – 4...
- ENGERGY EFFICIENT - This pond air pump effectively oxygenates your ponds, helping biological processes and creating a stable environment for...
- SUPER SILENT - This koi pond aerator is extremely quiet with the straight airflow path, the textured inside-housing design and the...
Unlike a solar powered air pump, this type of air pump is more powerful and connected directly to your mains socket. This is the most popular choice of aeration for most pond types, in particular, fish stocked ponds and larger ponds. Air pumps can provide a constant flow of oxygen to your pond’s waters, and are much more reliable than solar powered aerators as you’re not reliant on sunlight for operation.
Air pumps range in size and power, with models being able to provide oxygenation for ponds ranging from 500-8000+ gallons easily. This is the type of pond aerator we recommend for most ponds, as they’re able to provide a constant, reliable, and large amount of oxygen to the waters extremely efficiently.
3) Floating Pond Aerator
- Powerful Performance for Enhanced Water Quality: Equipped with a 750W, 1HP stainless steel pump, this aerator delivers an impressive water...
- Versatile and Elegant Design: Featuring two interchangeable nozzles that produce stunning V-shaped and parabolic spray patterns, this...
- Effortless Installation and Instant Operation: The floating design eliminates the need for complex plumbing or wiring. With a 120-foot power...
Even though you can get mains connected floating aerators, we prefer the solar powered units. An electrical floating aerator will not provide as much oxygenation as a standard air pump unit, and will usually cost similar to run monthly. A solar powered unit will not cost anything extra monthly, and will still provide a good amount of oxygen to smaller ponds.
Great artile! Your buying guide and the pumps reviews helped me make an informed final buying decision. Thanks for writing this 🙂
Hi Hardy,
Thanks so much for reading! We’re glad that the guides are helpful to you!