Saltwater Aquariums Product Review

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OTTO SA-3500 Air Pump

• Manufacturer - OTTO Aquarium Products
• Intended Use - Used as an air source for running equipment that requires an air supply (i.e. air stones, counter current skimmers, undergravel filters, etc.)
• Review Submitted By - Debbie & Stan Hauter
• Dateline - 09/2001

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We purchased an OTTO SA-3500 Air Pump at the time we bought a Lee's Counter Current Protein Skimmer, from the Petland store located at Ala Moana Center in Waikiki, Hawai'i. We chose this air pump for the following reasons, most of which were labeled on the box:

• Cost: $13.95 + tax
• Twin outlet, Hi-Lo steps. (With twin outlets we didn't have to buy extra air hose and a T-connection air valve for hooking up and running the skimmer).
• Compact and light weight.
• High performance
• High output
• Air output; 3500 c.c/min. (210 liters per hour).
• Quiet operation.
• Karen, the checker at Petland said it was a good pump, should last for many years, and was pretty quiet.
• The fact that the store covers a one year warranty on this produce did not increase our desire to purchase it. We only bought it because of the above features.

As you know, with most air pumps, even though the advertising on them says they are "quiet" or "silent running", they are usually not. While at Petland we asked one of the sales people if we could plug it in, too see what it sounded like. They allowed us to do this, but due to the surrounding noise from inside the store it was hard to really tell how loud it was actually going to be. Stan asked if it was a quiet pump, and the sales guy said, "just put a towel under it if it's a problem; it will quiet right down". We laughed at this suggestion.

Upon getting the unit home and plugging it in, we found that it does make vibrating and humming noises, just like most air pumps do. With the Hi-Lo steps switch, it does run much quieter on the Lo setting, but on the Hi setting the pitch or sound of the pump didn't even change when we tried out the towel trick; LOL. All in all, it is not that noisy, especially when using the Lo setting, compared to some other air pumps we have used over the years.

For the most part this seems to be a good air pump so far, despite having to overcome the minor noise it does make. We have only had it for a couple of weeks, and as time progresses we will find out how durable in the long run it really is and keep you posted. Replacement parts are available for it, so this should help with maintaining it.

Debbie & Stan Hauter
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OTTO Air Pump image taken by Debbie Hauter

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