How to use floating air pump?

[Mortius Maximus]

I just started playing the game. Got some metal and other mats and made some stuff including floating air pump and a bunch of pipes. I thought I could put it on top of the water and connect pipes to it going down into a cave so I don't have to come up for air... but when I switch to it I just hold it in my hands. Right-click nor left-click does anything. I don't see a way to place or use it??

[jimmywolf]

the pipes are more for house parts you can build later for air, not using to going deeper you can build a bigger air tank for that later even later will be crafts. to craft you need a habbit builder little gun that allows you craft those parts thier many side things you can craft to help.


your first goal when you can is make a scanner that allow you make lot more stuff when you explore 90% of the game is exploreing an scanning new items to makie new things it gets better. also the early early game before scanner think you need a knife so you can work on that then other stuff

[Mortius Maximus]

okay I figured out how to do that, but how do I make water and food?? I run out and it's not obvious what I'm suppose to do about it.

[Mortius Maximus]

I think I will start over and turn off the water and food part of the game...

[KromeHWI]

dont bother with pipes... ive never used them, and from what i understand placing the pipes is a slow and aggrivating process... if you need to explore a deeper spot early on (where going back to the surface is too far to get more than a few seconds of exploring for each trip) you can always build a single hall segment with a hatch and a solar panel to use as a quick air tank, and then swim out from there. but once you get the seamoth its all moot point anyway.

[KromeHWI]

@ mortius: blader fish are you friend for water. peepers give you the most food (if you can catch them). salt is also your best friend early game. it gets you bigger water bottles than the bladder fish, as well as cures fish for on the go snacks that dont spoil, letting you make longer and longer runs. you can also make an early trip to the rendesvous spot (trying not to do too much spoiler here) and start farming.

[margalus]

Pumps and pipes are not for houses. As long as your base has power it has air. The pumps and pipes are only useful for the caves as the op stated. I don't use them though, 235 seconds of air is fine....

[Lobstersaurus]

Salt + coral tube sample = Bleach

Bleach can be used for creating disinfected water. Probably the best way of getting water, 2nd best way is the bladder fish.

[DonJuanDoja]

That's what happened to me. Started Freedom mode to learn the game. Learned the game but not how to get food and water...

Probably going to start a survival run soon as once you get the vehicles freedom mode is cakewalk....

[Tony]

Bladderfish (the purple/pink lung shaped fish) for water, peepers, boomerang or something like that to get you by, eventually you might stumble on some certain plants that will make life much easier for you :)

[SternLX]

Originally posted by Mortius Maximus:

I just started playing the game. Got some metal and other mats and made some stuff including floating air pump and a bunch of pipes. I thought I could put it on top of the water and connect pipes to it going down into a cave so I don't have to come up for air... but when I switch to it I just hold it in my hands. Right-click nor left-click does anything. I don't see a way to place or use it??

There are 2 Air pumps. One for habitats and floating ones. Make sure you didn't build and equip a habitat air pump and are trying to place it as a floating pump in the water.

[Demon of Razgriz]

Originally posted by Mortius Maximus:

I think I will start over and turn off the water and food part of the game...

I would suggest not doing your first playthrough without food and water. It severely lessens the experience when you don't have to worry about setting up reliable food and water supplies. It is also pretty easy and trivial once you know what you are doing.

Use the suggestions that the others have said.

[Tenzek]

The floating pumps are not worth the effort. They take too long to set up and you don't spend much time in one spot before the resources are gone. Just use the scattered coral that pumps out bubbles of air in the early game.

[CraftableWorlds]

I found the Air Pump and Pipes too confusing to bother with in my first play through. I ended up writing a guide on how to use them. Hope someone finds it helpful.

https://www.craftableworlds.com/index.php/2020/07/27/subnautica-how-to-use-the-floating-air-pump-and-pipes-to-breathe-underwater/

[Lil Puppy]

I only use the air pumps for outside aquarium purposes for the bubbles they make. Doesn't show up in the screenshots, but it looks neat.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2016909167
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2016909295

[QuantumMatty]

I will be another voice stating that the air pumps & pipes is useless. You can develop a gaming style that does not need it, especially with the use of higher capacity air tanks. You got this!