Do you clean your air pump?

[bernie]

Some air pumps have a piece of cotton that's suppose to filter the inflow.
Do you clean or replace the cotton?

[coolgear101]

I don't do cleaning. If it breaks down, I replaced it.

[stormhawk]

You should replace the cotton thing if you want it to last longer. In the past we could find diaphragm replacements for the ones that broke in our air pumps. These days because they're dime a dozen, you just buy a new one when it breaks down.

[bernie]

I don't think it will break down due to lack of cleaning but it can get less efficient with weaken airflow.
The air bubbles can be dirty too but that shouldn't affect the livestock. Can we replace with filter wool?

[stormhawk]

It can break down if it has to work harder and overheat because of no ventilation. Dirty air blown into the tank can cause problems for your livestock. For example, someone in your family sprayed insecticide near the tanks. The fumes can enter the water column via the air pump, and basically poison your fish/shrimp to death. You can probably replace the cotton filter with filter wool, but I would suggest using those gauze pads for cuts and bruises or those square cotton pieces that you can get from Body Shop etc. They ought to be sterile so no danger of introducing chemicals into the tank, especially with cotton pads made for cosmetic use.

[bernie]

Thanks stormhawk for the well thought out answer.

[stormhawk]

Had a bad experience with insecticide so it's best I keep that in thought.

[chumzhujun]

Once I open the airpump,I can't put it back

[stormhawk]

Why is that? Most air pumps are of the diaphragm type. As long as you do not mis-align the metal arm and the magnet, it should easily fix back together.