Multiple Pumps Vs Single Pump System

At what point does it become practical to replace multiple air pumps with a single pump and piped air system?
I now have eight tanks running on sponge filters using 5 pumps + my brine shrimp setup in the same room (spare bedroom) I use for an office. It's getting a bit noisy and open outlets are hard to come by. The tanks are (2) 40Bs, (1) 29G, (2) 20L & (3) 10G. There's also a 55G in the room on a canister filter but no air. I don't plan on adding anymore, but then again I never planned on having the number I have now.

 

I mean, there is bigger air pumps out there, I know my fish store has a few. They're all use to power sponge filters in the whole store. They use pvc pipes. Cory on aquarium coop has or had a system like that in his fishroom. You could probably check it out on YouTube.
or, I use fusion quietpower air pumps. They come in many sizes and the biggest one can have three or four separate air lines connected and its adjustable with a dial on the pump. It works well with gang valves too. I use it to power all my sponge filters and air stones.

 

You could upgrade to a higher capacity air pump.



or



I just got the 2 outlet version of the first one and had to adjust the pump arm inside to run quiet. Puts out a lot more air than my Whisper or Fluva Q pumps.

 

I have two air pumps with more capacity than I need both duel pumps use adjustment valves to maintain two sponge filters and to large airstones in 36 gal tank (my first post) hope it
helps good luck!

 

I know this thread is a bit old but I don't think anyone really answered the OP's question other than the reference to Aquarium Coop's fish room set up.

I think you want to consider getting linear piston pumps: Central Air Pumps

The smallest one listed is 29 liters per minute, or roughly 12x the amount of air from a whisper 60. So your could easily power 12 20-40 gallon tanks with that. The price is, uh, not cheap, but buying 12 whisper 60s isn't going to be cheap either (likely more expensive). Plus it's more energy efficient etc etc.

People run the air into PVC pipes to reduce air friction (smaller tubes, more friction). If you attach a whisper 40 pump to 50 feet of standard airline tubing you will know what I mean... You burn out the pump prematurely.

Whether it is worth getting a linear piston pump is up to you. If you are planning to have more than a dozen tanks then it probably makes sense.