Tip for keeping air stones clean

[mr. green thumb 01]

For a DWC user air or dissolved oxygen (DO) is the most vital necessity. Usually after about the 6th week of flowering air stones become clogged and are not as effective. For people that use a single outlet pump with a multi diaphram air divider the air always wants to go where there is less resistance. This will leave your clean air stones working even better and the clogged ones even worse. Eventually if you dont clean them they will become completely clogged. Some of us like to just spend the money and replace them every so often. But I like to recycle whenever possible. I have usually just soaked them in peroxide overnight and it did the trick, usually. A few of my micro pore air stones though would just refuse to un-clog. For some reason I got the idea to boil them for 5 minutes and after that I let them cool down to the touch (still warm) and blew through them and they were completely cleaned out. I mean like brand new. So from no on I will just boil my air stones to clean them its faster, more effective and cheaper than peroxide. Keep on DWC N!!

 

[faller200]

That is the simplest and best idea I have heard yet. I'm going to try it tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[RL420]

+ rep friend.

 

[marijuanaFTW]

awesome...i gotta try this +rep

 

[CaliMackdaddy]

Gonna try this with my 5 airstone rez, ill repost in 30 mins!!

 

[CaliMackdaddy]

Accually helped a lot.. Thanks!

 

[ozman]

Well now I am very happy to see this thread,I used to just buy new ones not even knowing they where able to be cleaned,not that they r very expensive but you know.....
Now I will have to remember to be able to keep using them,they always seem to plug up at the wrong time.
So I guess all I want to know is can you keep cleaning them forever? But hey +rep for the find

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

I think that they will naturally break down from the chemicals and stuff and develop larger holes, reducing the diffusion and effectiveness. I have been using some of the sames ones now from wal-mart for 5 yrs and they are just now starting to delvelop holes and rougher than usual texture. I have had cylindrical ceramic micro pore ones for a couple years now and they are still working great (way better than the wal-mart cheapos) As soon as I get the extra $ im going to try out the 8.5" round active aqua stone to help spread the air out evenly over the huge root mass of my flowering plants...muuaahhhhhahahah more air more muahahaha

 

[nitro harley]

For a DWC user air or dissolved oxygen (DO) is the most vital necessity. Usually after about the 6th week of flowering air stones become clogged and are not as effective. For people that use a single outlet pump with a multi diaphram air divider the air always wants to go where there is less resistance. This will leave your clean air stones working even better and the clogged ones even worse. Eventually if you dont clean them they will become completely clogged. Some of us like to just spend the money and replace them every so often. But I like to recycle whenever possible. I have usually just soaked them in peroxide overnight and it did the trick, usually. A few of my micro pore air stones though would just refuse to un-clog. For some reason I got the idea to boil them for 5 minutes and after that I let them cool down to the touch (still warm) and blew through them and they were completely cleaned out. I mean like brand new. So from no on I will just boil my air stones to clean them its faster, more effective and cheaper than peroxide. Keep on DWC

N!!

I worry about my air stones....I always start with new ones...and for a while I could get to my air stones....by the time I go from veg to bloom I can't even get to my air stones without digging thru my roots....when I am done growing I can't even see my air stones without ripping my root ball apart...I am 18 days into bloom and I can't even pick up my baskets....plants are to big...but if I could get to the air stones I would clean them....

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

I also wanted to say that if you are using cheap air stones I just learned the hard way that if you leave them boil to long the plastic will melt, and the glue that holds them together weakens and compromises the integrity of the stone. Monitor closely when boiling stones w/ plastic housings or stones that are (flaky). Probably should just stick with the hydrogen peroxide for these or you can buy air diffuser cleaner. But I dont even buy these stones anymore and dont recommend them because they do fall apart over time. Ceramic micro-pore stones are the best and the cylindrical active aqua ones work great and are fairly priced.

 

[bobsti]

This is awesome, just bought new ones for my next run but ill give this a try for sure!! +rep!

 

[BigBuddahCheese]

Jesus stones are like a couple dollars, just buy new cheap asses. Lol

 

[firsttimeARE]

I agree with bbc...buy new ones after each harvest. I find rubbing something abrasive along the stones kind of exfloiates them. I do boil my micropore diffusers as they were 20 bucks for the xls. And let them sit in a bleach solution overnight. And then run them for a few hours until all the bleach suds get pushed out.

 

[RL420]

If someone is using chem nutes i dont see how the airstones could clog if you had proper water churning. Unless someone didnt clean their hydroton, that shit will gunk your res big time if you dont clean it well.

 

[BigBuddahCheese]

I never cleaned mine and run benes and dynagro.. all of them have been in there for couple harvests now and still looking like new. I mean I have had air hoses unplugged for a day and half and no root damage still pearly white. I really think I run my air stones to churn and mix the solution then to DO the water. I mean I am sure it does to an extent but the plants are not "surviving" on that alone.

Here is my roots on the plant that had the hose disconnected for 24+ hours.. doh!

 

[RL420]

I never cleaned mine and run benes and dynagro.. all of them have been in there for couple harvests now and still looking like new. I mean I have had air hoses unplugged for a day and half and no root damage still pearly white. I really think I run my air stones to churn and mix the solution then to DO the water. I mean I am sure it does to an extent but the plants are not "surviving" on that alone.

Here is my roots on the plant that had the hose disconnected for 24+ hours.. doh!


View attachment 2083663

The amount of DO in your water is enough for at least a day i would assume, hence why your roots are still very healthy.

 

[BigBuddahCheese]

The amount of DO in your water is enough for at least a day i would assume, hence why your roots are still very healthy.

LOL... I guess some people just like to argue.

 

[mr. green thumb 01]

I since have gotten air compressor to run some air tools and a paint gun and now I just soak the stones in warm water brush them w/ a old tooth brush and blast 120 psi in there and voila good as new. About 1/4 the time and effort as any other way. And about 100 times the cost if you buy a air compressor just for that lol. But its a good idea if you already have a air compressor.

 

[ray098]

For a DWC user air or dissolved oxygen (DO) is the most vital necessity. Usually after about the 6th week of flowering air stones become clogged and are not as effective. For people that use a single outlet pump with a multi diaphram air divider the air always wants to go where there is less resistance. This will leave your clean air stones working even better and the clogged ones even worse. Eventually if you dont clean them they will become completely clogged. Some of us like to just spend the money and replace them every so often. But I like to recycle whenever possible. I have usually just soaked them in peroxide overnight and it did the trick, usually. A few of my micro pore air stones though would just refuse to un-clog. For some reason I got the idea to boil them for 5 minutes and after that I let them cool down to the touch (still warm) and blew through them and they were completely cleaned out. I mean like brand new. So from no on I will just boil my air stones to clean them its faster, more effective and cheaper than peroxide. Keep on DWC N!!

Thanks it works my stones were dead now they are back working