Fluval A202 Aquarium Air Pump 3.0W

Why it's worth it

The A202 is a 3-watt dual-outlet pump with an engineered baffle chamber inside and a control dial for each outlet. If you're feeding a skimmer, a sponge filter and an air stone from one pump, this is the one that keeps all of it quiet and adjustable.

The baffle chamber does the heavy lifting. It's a multi-stage internal cavity that breaks up sound waves before they leave the housing, which is a different approach than simply padding the bottom of the case. Oversized rubber feet stabilizers handle the rest. Those feet also grip, so the pump won't creep across polished wood and start the secondary rattle that ruins otherwise quiet setups.

Independent dials beat a gang valve every time. Each outlet has its own control, so you can push more air to a skimmer while keeping a decorative air stone at a slow simmer. You adjust it at the pump, in one place, instead of crawling behind the tank to pinch a valve. Fewer fittings on the airline also means fewer leaks and less back-pressure.

From our review of 6 quiet aquarium air pumps, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +The baffle chamber does the heavy lifting
• +Independent dials beat a gang valve every time
• +Fluval rates it for a good output-to-pressure ratio, and that shows up in flexibility
• +It sips power

What to know

• –It's overkill if you only run one air stone
• –It's the largest pump here
• –No check valve, tubing or air stone in the box