Number of outlets on air pump

Hypothetically speaking....is a pump with 4 outlets the same as a pump with 1 outlet and a 4 port gang valve?

ATM I have tubing in 4 tanks running off of 2 2outlet pumps. I'm considering a tank #5 and reviewing my pump set ups.

Thanks
PS each pump is running a series of 5 airline tubes using multiple valves
PS each pump is running a series of 5 airline tubes using multiple valves

 

Depends on the pump. Some pumps have two outlets and two diaphragms, usually larger in size, some have one diaphragm and share that output to two outlets, some 4 port have 1 or 2 diaphragms, and the 4 ports feed shared in some configuration.

Is it the same? Depends on the output of the airpump really. If its quality built, or if its cheap built, If you are using good gang valves, or cheap ones that leak and don't adjust right.

It can be the same performance, more connections usually = more places to leak air pressure unless you are using good connectors, gang valves, taps, or backflow preventers/ check valves.

If LPM of air is equal between the air pumps it should be the same regardless of the ports configuration.

And I prefer and electromag type airpump vs. A diaphragm type. Although the electromag pumps are larger, and louder and more commercial, but they break less and can do a lot more off of one pump for similar costs of multiple airpumps, so if thinking about a fishroom one day or a rack of tanks with multiple sponge filters. It's probably more cost effective to buy the commercial pump and pipe the air and then tap it to the tanks off the pipe to airline tubing and feed them all off of the one pump.

Depends what you are doing of course and how far you want to go.

 

Depends on the pump. Some pumps have two outlets and two diaphragms, usually larger in size, some have one diaphragm and share that output to two outlets

That's right. I forgot. Thanks. I can't find info on the website, of course , I'll have to dig up the box and instructions...tomorrow. sleep time now. The 2 pumps I currently have are Tetra Whisper 60s.

 

That's right. I forgot. Thanks. I can't find info on the website, of course , I'll have to dig up the box and instructions...tomorrow. sleep time now. The 2 pumps I currently have are Tetra Whisper 60s.

Takes some internet digging to find technical drawings of people's products. It's sometimes fruitful though... whisper 60s...
Didn't find a drawing but the repair kits for the 60 and 100 have two replacement diaphragms, so I believe yes, the 60s have two pumps and two ports.
The whisper 60 does 2.6 lpm "T'ed" meaning each port is supposed to do 1.3 lpm individually. Small shallow tanks, I'd suppose each pump can run 3-4 spongefilters, 2 off each port, probably 1-2 filters on a deeper large tank. Sponge filter size dependent also.

 

60 and 100 have two replacement diaphragms, so I believe yes, the 60s have two pumps and two ports.

Yes. I wrote to tetra and received a quick response. There are 2 diaphragms. Thanks