Non-clogging airlift pumps and associated systems and methods employing said pumps. The airlift pumps generally include an enclosed air tank within which is located a hollow cylinder having an open top and a closed bottom wall. A gas (e.g., air) line passes into the air tank for supplying gas thereto. A suction port is located in the bottom wall of the cylinder, and a substantially vertically-oriented discharge pipe passes through a top wall of the air tank such that an intake end of the discharge pipe resides within the cylinder. Multiple airlift pumps may be used in conjunction in a given application.

An apparatus to lift liquid from a reservoir of liquid and aerate the liquid. A downwardly opening enclosure has an inlet for liquid to flow from a reservoir into the enclosure. The enclosure includes a channel for the liquid to flow upward. An inner cone within an outer cone forms a gas chamber connected to an external gas compressor. Holes in the gas chamber walls allow the gas to flow into the channel and aerate the liquid which is returned to the reservoir.