How to Hook Up a Gang Valve for an Aquarium

Most aquarium air pumps have only one, unregulated, air outlet to which you can connect tubing. A gang valve includes an inlet that you connect to the pump as well as one or more outlets for devices such as airstones, filters or bubbling decorations. You connect a single outlet gang valve with a control mechanism when you just want to regulate the amount of air that the pump dispenses. A multiple outlet gang valve lets you use multiple devices with one air pump. You use regular aquarium tubing to connect your air pump outlet to the gang valve inlet.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium air pump
  • Roll of standard aquarium tubing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mount an aquarium air pump on a pump shelf and hang the shelf on the side of your aquarium, or place it on a convenient part of your aquarium stand. Mount a gang valve on the rear or side of your aquarium frame so that the valve apparatus is on the outside of the tank. The valve can be mounted by hanging it on the top of the aquarium if it is equipped with a hanger, or with suction cups that attach to the outside glass wall of your tank.

    • 2

      Connect one end of a length of standard aquarium tubing to the air pump outlet and the other end to the gang valve inlet. Slide the tubing firmly onto the fittings so that it covers the entire exposed end of the inlet and outlet.

    • 3

      Plug the pump in and turn it on if it has an on-off switch. Open at least one outlet of your gang valve by turning the control wheel or sliding the control lever according to the directions for your particular valve. Make sure you feel air coming out of the outlet. Check the rest of the outlets before you disconnect or turn off your pump.

    • 4

      Fill your aquarium about halfway with clean, filtered, chlorine-free water. Place the frame and connection piece of an under-gravel filter at the bottom of the aquarium if you intend to use one. Add enough gravel to create a layer of a half an inch or more at the bottom of the aquarium. Place all other air-powered devices, such as airstones and bubbling decorations, on top of the layer of gravel.

    • 5

      Cut a length of tubing that is sufficient to span the distance between one device and one outlet on the gang valve without kinks or twists. Connect one end of the tubing to the inlet on the device and the other end to the valve outlet. Make sure both ends of the tubing are firmly connected to their respective fittings. Repeat this process for as many devices as you have available outlets on your gang valve.

    • 6

      Plug your pump in again and turn it on. Check the devices to make sure they are producing air bubbles or otherwise showing signs that air is flowing through them. Check all tubing for holes, kinks or twists.

    • 7

      Stop the pump before you replace or straighten any defective tubing, and re-start it to check the devices again. Refer to the owner's manual to troubleshoot any device that does not work even after you are certain that the tubing is in proper condition. Once you have all of the devices you wish to use working properly, you can fill your aquarium to the proper level and set the gang valve regulator dials or levers for each device as you wish.