DIY bubble cloner air pump question

[admiralcornport]

What size pump are y'all using on your bubble cloners? I recently made one and got a 2 output pump that says its for a 30-60 gallon tank... I also have 2 bubble stones... an 8 inch and a 4 inch... it doesn't seem like its making enough bubbles. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

I use a 2-outlet air pump rated for 20-60 gallons.

Instead of airstones, I use 1/4" recycled-rubber soaker hose. I put a "T" connector to make a loop of the soaker hose and connect the hose from the air pump to the third connector. I make each loop big enough to cover about 2/3 of the cloner container and hold the two loops together with cable ties. If the hoses tend to float up, use stainless steel washers or nuts as weights (use more cable ties to hold them to the hose).

 

[admiralcornport]

thanks ambre!

 

[Guest]

You're welcome!

By the way, one of the advantages of the hose is that you can reopen plugged pores by flexing and twisting the hose. They put out a nice curtain of bubbles that oxygenates the water well and makes lots of bubbles for the cloner.

Good growing!

 

[admiralcornport]

I'm still using the stones... I had those check valve on and it really limited the air going to the stones... now that I've taken those off its much better. Thanks for the idea about those "soaker hoses" even though I don't really know what they are. I'm guessing they're just a plastic hose with tiny holes to let water seep out of... what are they used for and where would you get them? Thanks again

 

[Guest]

Soaker hoses are used for watering plants. They are available in the garden section at Walmart during the summer season; you can sometimes find it at Home Depot in the irrigation section.

It's hose made of recycled rubber; the hose itself is porous to allow water (or in this case, air) to escape. There are soaker hoses that are plain vinyl hose with a laser hole drilled every so often, but those don't work for air unless you want to poke more holes yourself.