Let's choose my air pump?

Hey guys,

So I'm ultra duper close to starting my first grow. I just need my air pump and an exhaust fan/filter (already picked out one of these).

I'm between a couple air pumps. Here's my setup:

• Small tent (36" x 20" x 62")
• 2-5 Gal DWC bucket with 6 inch wide rim net lid
• Plan to use a couple indica clones, either a blue dream or maybe a GDP clone

I've seen these tetra whispers:

10 Gal (click to view) Tetra Whisper $6.88
40 Gal (click to view) Tetra Whisper $10.80
60 Gal (click to view) Tetra Whisper $14.89

All are prime and I have amazon prime. At Petco down the street from me they're triple this price, same pump.

Will these work for a two bucket grow and IF THEY WILL, how many buckets do you think you'd max out each at?

Or do I get a commercial air pump like this one?

FWIW, I don't plan on doing more than four plants at once, and probably going to have a veg tent setup after these first plants go into flower. So I may do 3 veg 3 flower or 2-2, so I'll need two pumps.

Throw your opinions at me RIU!

Note: Some of those reviews on the whispers make them sound not so whisperish... Noise levels would preferably be low but aren't a deal breaker.

a 150-200cfm filter with a 4" inline(centrifugal) fan will do fo the the exhaust.

as for the pump i recommend not skimping either and getting one of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ecoplus-Commercial-Air-1-Pump-18-Watt-aquarium-hydroponics-eco-plus-divider-/120830119941?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c22095005

I picked out a 400 CFM 6" fan even though I only need 25 CFM to exchange it once a minute, and if I want four times a minute it's ~100 CFM so yeah 200 CFM will do it I guess for sure. Downgrade time I think there.

Those commercial ones they actually sell at the hydro store for around the same price in town, and they price match amazon with certain brands so I'll just go in there and get a deal on one like that I suppose.

Another question... With the splitter valves, can I get a 4 way and do I have to plug up the ports I'm not using? Or should I get one with the little handles that turn them off? To me those look kind of cheap and like a failure point for the whole system.

Instead of downsizing ur fan u just bought, Just get a speed controller so ur not sucking ur tent in to much from neg. Pressure.. and as for the air manifold u can use just 2 of the 4 outlets by running a short piece of tube from one of the outlets not being used to the other one in a U shape. Ull have super oxygenation using one of them pumps. In just 2 5gals. Happy growin

Word to the wise: Tetra sucks dick. I've owned several including 2 of the 60g models. These models lost about 75% (or more) output running 24/7 over the life of a grow. On amazon, search "Hydrofarm Dual outlet air pump". Its about 13-15 dollars and prime eligible. I love this pump. I am not through its first grow yet, but right out of the gate, the output is way better and the general quality is leaps ahead. The sound is no worse than the Tetra, but the Tetra will get louder as it goes. I too am running it on 2 buckets.