Any pump can be damaged by water. Care must be taken during installation to ensue that water cannot siphon out of the aquarium through the air hose and damage the Maxima or Optima air pump. This can happen during a power failure or brown out. Place the pump above the water level in the aquarium.

If the pump must be positioned below the aquarium water level, the use of HAGEN air valves is recommended. The special guides incorporated into all HAGEN valves will allow air hose to be looped above the aquarium water level, creating an air lock. This effectively eliminates back siphoning problems. When no air valve is used, form several loops of air hose and position them above the aquarium. (See BACKPRESSURE)

Pumps should always be positioned with a "drip loop" before the electrical outlet. This reduces the chances of water travelling down the cord and soaking the outlet. If water does get into an electrical outlet, short circuits and fires may be the result. If there is a possibility of a wet outlet, always remove the appropriate fuse before attempting to remove the air pump plug.