Author Topic: Cleaning and reusing air stones  (Read 3071 times)

Offline Mission Man

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Cleaning and reusing air stones
« 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?

Offline danielratti

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2015, 10:27:10 PM »
Vinegar

Offline Mission Man

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2015, 10:35:21 PM »
Sounds good.  Thanks.

Offline Ron

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #3 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?
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Planted 100 Gallon Tank
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Offline danielratti

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2015, 06:56:27 AM »
Kens sells plastic ones now that are worth looking into for reusing them.

Offline Mission Man

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #5 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.

Offline danielratti

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2015, 08:30:27 PM »
Did you get the new ones he has that come apart?

Offline Mission Man

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Re: Cleaning and reusing air stones
« Reply #7 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.