AIRLIFT Water Pump for 32 mm PVC Pipe – 3D-printable compression chamber

Une solution simple et efficace pour bassins d’élevage, aquaculture, création de courant dans un système à eau recirculée.

Je conçois et utilise des systèmes Airlift pour aquariums et bassins depuis plusieurs années. J’emploie cette technologie dans mes bacs d’élevage ainsi que dans ma petite salmoponie (truites) en circuit recirculé.

In 2025, I designed a ready-to-use system 3D-printable, saving you the trouble of buying, cutting, and gluing together multiple sections of PVC pipe of different diameters to build a compression chamber for an Airlift pump.

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✅ Key Features

Integrated air hose connector

Compatible with standard silicone tubing from 5 to 6 mm used in aquariums and ponds.

Optimized compression chamber

• Walls of at least 2 mm thick
• Excellent waterproofing
• Minimizing air leaks

Air distribution

• Air outlet openings of 1 mm in diameter
• Even distribution of bubbles throughout the water column

PVC Compatibility

Designed to fit perfectly into a 32-mm-diameter PVC pipe.

Easy installation

All you need is:

• Two sections of 32-mm-diameter PVC pipe
• A 32 mm PVC elbow

Optionally, you can add a T-fitting at the top to separate the air from the water and create a skimmer-style system, with or without a filter foam.

Tolerances suitable for FDM 3D printing

The settings have been tested and calibrated for 3D printing.
To ensure a perfect seal:

• A few turns of PTFE tape are usually enough
• Or a permanent collage, if you prefer

Integrated air hose holder

A specially designed ring holds the air hose in place against the 32 mm PVC pipe using a simple hose clamp.
Additional clamps can also be used to secure or weigh down the installation.

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🧪 Performance and Testing

Notre modèle Airlift offre d’excellentes performances.
To demonstrate this, several tests were conducted in a Shubunkin breeding tank with a water depth of approximately 70 cm.

Results observed

The tests were conducted using two air pumps of different power ratings and the Apiobi Airlift:

The results, photos, and videos allow for a precise assessment of the performance and flow rates achieved:

❌ Contrary to the nonsense you might read online, an air pump 2 W is far from sufficient to properly operate an Airlift.

⭐ Pourquoi notre modèle est différent ?

• Issu de mon expérience personnelle de concepteur et d’utilisateur
• Développé à partir de nombreux essais en conditions réelles
• Inspiré des travaux de professionnels et chercheurs reconnus, notamment G. Martinez
• Conception robuste, fiable et éprouvée
• Adapté aussi bien aux aquariophiles qu’aux éleveurs et professionnels

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🐟 Applications possibles

• Aquariums d’eau douce ou marine
• Bacs d’élevage
• Aquaponie
• Bassins de jardin
• Filtres biologiques
• Pisciculture
• Élevage de crevettes
• Circulation et oxygénation de l’eau

Merci de soutenir la création indépendante et l’impression 3D fonctionnelle ! 🙌🐟🌊