airstone

plecox2 · 10-25-2006, 08:57 PM

hi, i only have the airstone that makes a type of bubble mist. you know the ones that can make big bubbles instead of small bubbles of mist? where can i get one of those airstones? i want an airstone that can make like 2 or more big bubbles, instead of small bubbles. Can anyone show me where i can order that one?

Double Action Treasure Hunter & Plant Combo

U see the bubbles in that link there? i want an airstone that can produce 2 or more big bubbles like that, but i dont want a decoration type of airstone. thank you for your time

gm333 · 10-25-2006, 09:16 PM

Have you tried just sticking the end of the hose into the gravel.

plecox2 · 10-25-2006, 10:20 PM

yes, but my gravel is oly like not even an inch. and prolly some fishes will swim on it and make it flat up.

gm333 · 10-25-2006, 10:31 PM

Wrap lead plant weights around the tube and put it under the gravel, this should keep it down.

plecox2 · 10-25-2006, 11:05 PM

but i want an airstone that can produce like 4 big bubbles

unless theres no such thing of the airstone im asking for.

gm333 · 10-25-2006, 11:10 PM

Sorry cant come up with one off the top of my head, most airstones are made to produce veryfine bubbles to add oxygen to the water. The finer the airstone the more oxygen dissolved into the water. You could try taking a semi round plastic container and try drilling holes at certain points to give you the effect you want. The bigger the hole the larger the bubble.

plecox2 · 10-25-2006, 11:48 PM

airstones dont really make a big difference in the oxygen. it just creates more water circulation and such. it doesnt make a big difference in the long run, i read tis somwhere in some other forum or someting. so i just want the bubbles to look kool

Tommy Gun · 10-26-2006, 01:02 AM

If this air stone is the longer type that is commonly available, you can position it in your tank with the end farthest away from your air hose a little bit lower than the air hose end. This will go against oxygen's natural habit of floating upwards in water and the air will have to exit the air stone earlier, bunching it up with more air and hopefully creating bigger bubbles. If this method does not work for you, also try it in reverse with the end that is connected to the air hose lower that the other end (I cannot remember how I used to do it exactly, but one of these methods worked for me before).

You are definetly right about how the airstones work as far as creating turbulent surface water, in turn promoting gas exchange. Many filters can also help in this manner if they flow into the very upper parts of the water.

Another thing you may consider is getting yourself a little bit deeper substrate bed and burying the airstone under the gravel. In my 55 gallon tank I have two 'bubble curtains', one of which just sits on the top of the substrate, hidden behind some decor at the back of the tank. The other one is on the side of the tank and is buried (basically to hide it) in my substrate. The bubble curtain at the back of the tank makes a wall of smaller bubbles while the buried one makes larger bubbles because the air will find the path of least resistance and the gravel limits those paths.

The bubbles in the picture from your link are created by gravity holding the top of the chest down until there is enough air pressure to lift it up, letting all the air escape at once. You could get a similar decoration if it fits your tank's decor. I have also seem more natural looking versions of these decorations, but they were pretty expensive.

fishuz · 10-29-2006, 08:40 PM

I have had the best results burying the air stone...I would recomend you set up a bucket with some gravel so that you can try different things before you apply it to your tank..good luck

plecox2 · 10-29-2006, 10:14 PM

owell, i just bought an ornament from my LFS for like 12 bux. its a shipwreck ornament airstone. it blows 1 bubble out and has an action wheel thingy.