If you have a fish tank, than an aquarium pump is essential to the functioning of the aquarium, and must be chosen with great care. Without a pump, your fish would not be able to get the oxygen that they need. Finding the pump that is right for you can be difficult if you are not familiar with the industry.

In many cases, when you purchase a new tank, it is likely that most of the necessary equipment including the filter pump come pre-packaged. This makes the set up so much easier, as you will instantly know that you have everything needed. But in the event that you are in the market for a new aquarium pump, here are some important points to keep in mind including the resistance offered by the pump, heat generated, noise production and number of returns.

A mistake that is commonly made while buying a filter pump is to instantly opt for the biggest and most powerful pump available irrespective of the size of the fish tank. This of course should be avoided under all circumstances since large pumps will generate a lot of heat and can endanger the fragile ecosystem prevailing in the fish tank by raising the temperature of the water. On the other hand you should not opt for smallest possible pump as they may lack sufficient power to pump water. This may force you to install an additional pump to save the aquarium and fishes. The most important point that you must keep in mind while buying pump, is the volume of water to be stored in the tank. In a closed system or a static system, it is necessary for a more powerful pump to be installed to generate the pressure needed.

This is due to the water needing to be filtered through the canister or the module filters. These pumps will also require a comparatively higher turnover rate. In the open system aquariums the pump turnover rate is much lower.

Wet and dry filters are a typical example of open system aquarium pumps. You should not increase or decrease the intake or the return of the aquarium pumps. If the intake of the pump is lowered this could lead to overheating of the pump. The pump life can also be affected if you reduce the return of the pump. This will be due to the resistance of the pump building and causing the temperature to rise.

Make sure to check your pump regularly as part of the maintenance schedule. Any pump that you find to be giving problems must be replaced immediately. It would be a wise investment to purchase an extra aquarium pump in the case of emergencies. This way, if something happens, you will be able to quickly swap them over, keeping your fish in healthy, oxygenated water.

Darren Lintern is the author and owner of http://www.AquariumSuppliesWorld.com. For more information on Aquarium Pumps, visit Aquarium Supplies World where you will find a wealth of information on Fish Tank Supplies including Filters, Gravel, Heaters, Maintenance and other Aquarium supplies for a vibrant thriving Aquarium