Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mission Man on January 26, 2015, 11:59:46 AM

Title: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: Mission Man on January 26, 2015, 11:59:46 AM
I want to start possibly cleaning and reusing the air stones and just curious if there's anybody out there that is doing it and if so what's the best way?
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: danielratti on January 26, 2015, 10:27:10 PM
Vinegar
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: Mission Man on January 26, 2015, 10:35:21 PM
Sounds good.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: Ron on January 26, 2015, 10:37:25 PM
My first thought: cleaning? How much is an air stone worth and how much is your time worth?
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: danielratti on January 27, 2015, 06:56:27 AM
Kens sells plastic ones now that are worth looking into for reusing them.
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: Mission Man on January 27, 2015, 11:03:07 AM
Well...  with just under 90 tanks and some using up to three air stones each.  I just want to try a passive way to get a second or third use out of them, but I don't want to have to hand clean each one.  You're right Ron, time is important.

Muriatic acid had crossed my mind, but didn't know if it would be too harsh.

I do buy the 100 pack of ceramic (or glass) at Kens for $19.95.  Cheapest I've found.

As far as plastic ones.  I've tried them and they seem to clog quicker that the glass/ceramic.  Don't know if the pores are smaller, but I seemed to get about half the life of a glass/ceramic one.

I've also tried without an air stone and won't do that again.

Well, I let them soak in vinegar for 24 hours, then rinsed real well, now letting them dry.  We'll see how it works.

Thanks for the input.
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: danielratti on January 27, 2015, 08:30:27 PM
Did you get the new ones he has that come apart?
Title: Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
Post by: Mission Man on January 27, 2015, 09:10:46 PM
Did you get the new ones he has that come apart?
Yes.  They seem to produce smaller bubbles.   I think the pores are smaller and they seem to clog faster.  Just my opinion.