DIY Never Clog Air Stone

[Trichome Toker]

Not only do they not clog, they have a much smaller micron size than regular diffusers, creating smaller bubbles, and more oxygenation.

They also weigh themselves down.

Any ceramic air diffuser would be just as good from any company.

If you look on the net you will find a few companies selling ceramic air diffusers.

For a decent sized one you are paying at least $15 though, from any company.

For a decent sized ceramic bowl from a head shop your probably paying $50.

I just payed $3 for a tomato in my local super market, because it is winter.

Think about.

I constructed my RDWC system for less than $100, so with the money I saved I put it into making the system better.

I was going to spend $275 on a water farm system anyway, and get a weak ass air pump, no diffusers etc.

Instead I spent $275 on quality parts to make a DIY system that I think is very much superior in my opinion.

So to me it wasn't a waste, it is what I would have spent anyway.

I do everything DIY that I possibly can.

If I could make my own air diffuser I would.

I can't.

I could make one of those soaker hose things, but poking holes in tubing with a safety pin isn't going to get me holes rated in microns.

I spent $30 a piece on 100 gallon aquarium pumps too.

If I could make my own air pump I would.

Now spending $1,000 bucks on a 40 site bucket system from a hydro shop is a real waste in my opinion, because you can make those yourself easy for a fraction of the cost.

 

[treble]

I am using a trickle watering system pipe as my airdiffuser. It is like BlindDate's system there though black polypropelene pipe instead. Its the stuff you put below ground in garden beds or layout under your lawn before planting.

It seems to work ok however I suspect some static pressure is holding it back slightly. The other downside is it needs to be anchored so I have a couple cable holders.. for sticking and holding domestic power cables... which are siliconed to the bottom of the tub and hold the pipes down. So I can either increase the airflow by putting more holes or I suspect have a shorter pump life with this system

Other than that I just use a larger airstone... about 16" I think.. yeah thats about right. It cloggs a bit but not before my grow is done and I can scrub them down with a nail brush or such.

treb

 

[MID TOWN]

Deep Water Inovations air stones are made out of high quality corrosive resistant ceramic that can be cleaned in murriatic acid if need be. unlike any cheap stone that would probably just disinegrate. they also put out much smaller bubbles and the smaller the bubbles of air the easier it is for the roots to adsorb.

 

[Guest]

Somebody said the Alita site is worthless??? That tubing they carry looks pretty awesome and checked it out awhile back but felt stones, in my setup, were a better call.

Midtown - I also looked at the Deep Water Innovation products but it was after after I purchased some Alita corundum stones. From what I understand the Alita stones can also be put in muratic acid.
Quote - "the smaller the bubbles of air the easier it is for the roots to adsorb."
I assume you're talking about something like DWC? Any 'bubbles' quickly surface. What you're trying to achieve is high dissolved oxygen levels. You can't see the dissolved gases in water because the 'bubbles' are microscopic. I'd love to get a DO meter to play with but at this point it's an unnecessary toy.

Some have told me that proper water movement alone, without formal bubbling, is enough to provide adequate DO levels but I'm not gonna try that one.

 

[Trichome Toker]

For the record it is not just deep water innovations who makes ceramic diffusers.

You can Google: ceramic air diffuser

Only reason I got the deep water innovations diffuser is because they carry them at my local hydro shop & I prefer cash & carry.

 

[Guest]

Sweetwater makes ceramic, glass fused, diffusers also.

 

[BlindDate]

So.....You want air??


http://keepalive.net/portable.htm

 

[HydroCulture]

The main difference is the ceramic ones don't clog.

You would know that if you actually used them.

Looks like I am not the only sucker pleased with these diffusers.

There are many other types of corrosion resistant ceramic air stones out there that produce fine bubbles. They all clog eventually. Why are yours so different? Like Redux says, Sweetwater makes similar ones too but way cheaper. So does RENA, and they claim the same from their micropore bubble diffusers and are 1/5th cheaper. Arent even the WalMart air stones made of ceramic? You are right, I have not used them and from my post, anyone can assume that I will not give them a chance either. I rather stick to spending less, I agree with almost everything else you stated in your post. Ceramic in my honest opinion will eventually clog, its the material. Until something completely new is made for air diffusing I will stay away from expensive air stones made of ceramic...

BTW, regarding your comparrison of WalMart shirts to Polo Shirts...I can guarantee you that there are plenty of awesome no name dirt cheap shirts out there that have the same quality as Polo, and are 1/5th the price. Polo is so expensive because it sells the brand name. Now, I would prefer a nice fat sirloin steak instead of MCD beef and pay the extra bucks any given day..hmmm....munchies

 

[Trichome Toker]

You are right, I have not used them and from my post, anyone can assume that I will not give them a chance either.

Thank you that tells me all I need to know.

P.S.

I said a Walmart shirt is just as good as a Polo shirt, but a Walmart diffuser is not as good as a ceramic diffuser.

P.S.S.

1/5 the price?

Show me a listing for a ceramic diffuser the same size as the one in the above photo for $4.

As far as BigBoxMart selling ceramic diffusers all I can say is

 

[HydroCulture]

Hello Trichome,
My fault about your comparrison of Wally shirts and Polo shirts, must have been too stones to realize you wrote that they are the same...lol. My bad on that. ;o)

Ok here's the ultimate link for 1/5th price ceramic microfine bubble air stone, durable, and according to their specification, outlasts all other stones on the market! So they claim...heh, whether i believe that is another story, but here's the link for the 6" stone:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=AP7255

Do you know what microns the DWI stones are rated at?

 

[Trichome Toker]

Hah, just look at the picture, and tell me if you think it looks anything like the quality of other ones.

It is better than a foam one, but not anything comparable to the DWI one.

You try to clean that thing between crops with anything strong it is going to melt in your hands.

 

[clowntown]

I think I'm missing something, What is the benefit over doing this as opposed to just leaving an air hose in the water without anything on the end? Im sure there is one but I need you to spell it out for me

Yeah I'm also kinda confused

But if this actually does do something, perhaps consider a masonry drill bit? Those bits are designed for this type of use.

 

[clowntown]

Ok I had to see for myself. I bought a 100-pack of these exact stones a while ago, and I have masonry bits, so I thought what the hell... maybe I missed something. The only difference I notice is that, well... the stoned (!) end is weighed down keeping the flexible air hose at the bottom of the container, while the bare end is wobbling around all over, oftentimes floating to the top of the bucket.

Something that could have been accomplished with stainless steel nuts (and not wearing down expensive drill bits). But I guess this deserves style points.

Maybe this thread isn't actually about airstones and how to make it non-clogging, but instead showing off how potent his herbs are.