JW Fusion Air Pump Review

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The JW Fusion Air Pump is a budget air pump that gives a good amount of value but holds a shorter life. It is one of the more quiet aquarium air pumps, which actually surprised me being that it is also the cheapest air pump I could find. Still the low price does mean variable quality and a shorter lifetime, about a year on average, which is great for new aquarists who will likely upgrade their tanks. (There is no avoiding this). If you are looking to power an established tank for a long time I would pass on this pump.

The 200, 300, and 400 models all have a single output where as the 500, 600, and 700 have two outputs. The larger models will make less noise, with the 200 actually being fairly loud compared to the rest of the pumps. The rubber feet do well to keep the pump in place and reduce noise, however even when suspended all air pumps will produce noise.

Pressure & Output

• 200 Model: 1.58 PSI, 60 LPH
• 300 Model: 1.93 PSI, 84 LPH
• 400 Model: 3.03 PSI, 114 LPH

• 500 Model: 2.97 PSI, 204 LPH
• 600 Model: 2.97 PSI, 276 LPH
• 700 Model: 3.21 PSI, 336 LPH

While the 200 and 300 may be the smallest, they are certainly not the best. The lowered pressure makes any back pressure a big problem, making the small pumps much louder than the bigger ones. I would recommend skipping the 200 and 300 model.

Set-up

There isn’t a whole lot to do here, simply plug the pump in and connect the tubes. However there are steps you can take to make the pump run quieter with less resistance, which will also extend the lifetime of the air pump.

You will want the air pump to be placed above the tank if possible. This creates an issue for many aquarists, as they do not have a cabinet or something to hide the pump in. If your pump runs quieter in the stand beneath the tank feel free to place it there.

If the pump is being placed below the tank you will want to add an air check valve. These ensure the contents of the tube are flowing forward only. When an air pump stops it will frequently create a reverse siphon, draining our water all over the floors. The air check valve will prevent this.

All but the smallest two models come with a flow control knob, letting you reduce the airflow without the use of an extra valve.

Maintenance

After running for a few months, air pumps can create a few issues.

• The constant vibration can loosen the screws, increasing the noise generated by the pump.
• The vibration will also produce a fair amount of heat. Avoid covering the pump if possible.
• Pumps that have not been secured in place may move themselves and end up in a much noisier position, such as against the wall or other items in the stand.
• Dust can create unwanted heat, shortening the pumps life. Dust it off every once and awhile.
• Air stones, bubble wands and air tubing can all deteriorate. Combat this by having two sets of air stones/bubble wands. Clean one and allow it to rest and dry for a month before swapping the two and repeating the process.

Warranty & Lifetime

Being a low cost air pump, the JW Fusion has a relatively short lifetime. Each pump should only be expected to work for one year, two years at the most.

The Pump is protected by a three year warranty on all non rubber parts, however the owner will be required to cover all shipping and handling costs. Because of this it is cheaper and easier to simply order a new pump. Because of this I do not recommend this pump for those who will not be upgrading their tanks to a larger tank. Those who will should be satisfied with the JW Fusion until they change tanks.