Help Choosing an Airstone

[Greenskies00]

I've decided to make my own organic tea. I don't grow on a large scale, so I've already purchased a plastic one gallon container to brew the tea. Also, I already have earthworm castings, bat guano, blackstrap molasses, and Maxicrop.

What I need help with is choosing an airstone because they're not all the same. Some make tiny bubbles, others large. I also need help choosing what type of equipment jacks into the airstone, the tubes and what not.

I suppose I can buy all this stuff at a pet store or aquarium shop. I prefer small, family-owned businesses, but where I live they've all been run under by the big boys like PetCo.

Can anyone help me out choosing a good airstone? I'm sure any one will work, but prefer to get the best one for compost tea.

Thanks!

 

[emmy75]

i say ditch the airstone and stick the tube straight into the water. imo the airstone is a waste of money.

 

[livewire420]

got it from another site i think but works great!!!!

got it from another site i think but works great!!!!

i didnt use the sprayers i just made the tube a circle and
drilled really small holes in it but both ways works great id go
with the sprayers since ur brewing tea.....

think i got the idea from ic or another site not to sure but it works like a pro and doesn't clog up so far. been using it about 6 months



all ya by the way make sure u use something that doesnt rust. <<<< do not use anything that rust here i put it twice for those who cant read....... that includes the steel nut. go for brass.

 

[Greenskies00]

So basically, you believe I don't need the airstone? I just need the tubes and the contraption that pushes air through the tubes, right?

I suppose as long as I get oxygen to the microbes with something that doesn't rust or clog, I'm okay. Sounds good?

 

[emmy75]

u need a pump, i got mine at a pet store, and the tube. weigh the tube down with something. theres a thread in this section that can help u with what to use to tie down your tube. good luck

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=56982&highlight=tie+bubbling+tube

 

[3BM]

If you want a product go for an air diffuser, these are flexible hoses pre-weighted you just attach to the air line. I have conducted a few experiments comparing a bare hose to various forms of diffusers. Champagne bubbles get the highest level of DO into the water and result in BB colonization fastest. Take a diffuser hose and encircle the bottom of the bucket, it will fizzle like seltzer. Sticking the hose in the bucket will still work, but I think its a hassle to weight it down since the air pressure will constantly force it up. Not to mention the larger bubbles produced will have less surface area and thus will contribute less DO to the water. However, we arent talking about a situation where you need to max out DO. Fermentation will occur in less than ideal conditions. I have gotten buckets to bubble just by stirring them every 4 hours, not the 10inch frothy head you get from perfect conditions but it worked. Well, best of luck.

3bm

 

[pastor420]

A pair of small stones selling for 98 cents at Wally world are what I use.

 

[Suby]

I agree smaller bubbles are better...but I'm lazy and I hate cleaning the sludge and shit off airstone, perforated hose type diffusers are my favorite for low maintenace.

Lately I have been going very ghetto, I just silicone a large hex nut to the end of the tube and drop it in.
It doesn't make my teas as frothy but they work just as well, one less trinket to become land fill IMHO.

Peace
S

 

[emmy75]

i have to admit that i havent done my research on bubble sizes and their effects but i do end up with a thick layer of froth in my bucket every time. how: i have one dual pump and one single pump. three tubes= lots and lots of froth.

 

[Relik]

One point to keep in mind is that the bubbles don't directly aerate your tea. It is the explosion of those bubbles when they reach the surface that provides the water with dissolved oxygen. Thus, as 3BM and Suby stated, smaller bubbles are better because of their greater surface area. However, don't be afraid to use only a hose with no airstone, the difference shouldn't be big in a 1gal container.

Suby brought up an important point regarding wastes, the less you buy, the less you potentially throw away.

Good luck

 

[minds_I]

i say ditch the airstone and stick the tube straight into the water. imo the airstone is a waste of money.

Hello all,

I agree...waste of money...they clog after a couple of weeks.

I just stick the end of the hose into a gallon polastic milk jug. It has a steel nut on the end for weight...it is rusting and adding iron to the teas.





This girl seems t love it...

minds_I

Yes, I know, shameless bud porn.....sad is'nt it?

 

[Suby]

That's some serious Mary Jane cleavage there MI

S

 

[rastamonunika]

Alita Airstones - They are generally used for Aquariums. Their airpumps are also amazing.


Tiniest bubbles ive seen! And they are mircopore difusers!

It could be Airlita>? but i think it is Alita. . . Just google it! =)


lots of Love and Light
unika

 

[Greenskies00]

Airstone

Airstone

A pair of small stones selling for 98 cents at Wally world are what I use.

Well, since these airstones are so inexpensive, I decided to buy them. I also bought 8-feet standard tubing, and a 5-15 gallon air pump. Everything is from a company called Aqua Culture.

Hopefully, I'll get some good results. This is the first batch of tea I've ever made, so I'm a rookie.