Change you air stones

[RogueDiscus]

I give my airstone a rub when cleaning my sponge filters, and it always seems to open them up a bit and increase flow, but I just changed a couple that had been there a while. The difference was amazing. I knew that would be the case, but I hadn't made that a regular part of my maintenance. I'm sure my pump is happier. Now I have to get the rest.

[brewmaster15]

Hi Steve,
I used to use air stones, then switched to the plastic ones that are imported from overseas. I dont use any at all now and haven't in several years. I haven't seen anything different really.

al

[Paul Sabucchi]

I find limewood blocks produce finer bubbles and a gentle hiss rather than a bubbling gurgle. I give them an occasional wipe

[pm9ljr]

again, I am new to this...but I thought air stones were necessary to keep oxygen in the water. No?

[RogueDiscus]

Hi Lloyd. Not quite sure I get your point. Yes, I think most folks use some kind of aerator to increase oxygen, but in sponge filters, like undergravel filters, the rising bubbles create the water flow through the filter. he air stones just get clogged oer time, I think with bacterial slime buildup.

[brewmaster15]

again, I am new to this...but I thought air stones were necessary to keep oxygen in the water. No?

Hi Lloyd, Sorry if I confused you here. Air stones aren't necessary to keep oxygen in the water.. just an airpump is. The stones just diffuse the air flow and make big bubbles into smaller ones.

I dont use stones to diffuse the air..i just have the airlines bleed freely into the tanks.

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hth,al

[Adam S]

I like the plastic ones from Kens. For whatever reason, some plastic ones come with a hole in the bottom exposing the metal weight. Not sure if rust does any harm, but I tossed a couple dozen after bleaching and rusting them.

again, I am new to this...but I thought air stones were necessary to keep oxygen in the water. No?

Airstones or bubbles aren't strictly necessary for gas exchange, but it's cheap and effective. I have a couple pleco tanks run with only water pumps, but the turnover is close to 20x.

[CliffsDiscus]

I use an air line only no filters just a lot of
waterchanges.

Cliff

[Filip]

Lloyd the real water oxygenation and gas exchange happens with the movement of the water surface .The more water surface agitation the better the oxigen levels in the water .
There are many ways to achieve this and Air bubbles are just one of them .

[pm9ljr]

Got it thanks.... really doesn't take much to confuse me... my natural state