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Hi all,

I am after an air stone that will produce really fine bubbles. Has anyone used wooden airstones in freshwater before with success? I have heard that they are only for saltwater.

Can anyone suggest what type of airstone to use. I've tried quite a few of the stone ones and a ceramic one but it is still not the effect i'm looking for.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

Cheers
Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Hi,
Yes, there is a replacement for the normal air stone.
It is made of lime-wood and specifically designed to give
off very fine bubbles.

Here is but one site of many that offer them:
http://www.shopzilla.com/8B--Fish_Supplies_-_cat_id--31000400__keyword--limewood%20airstones__nwylf--

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks alot for the link, Frank.
I've never heared of wooden airstones before.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Hi Jason,
You are welcome.
The limewood air "stones" are amazing and produce a
really fine (small) bubble.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Never heard of these things either. How long do they last?

Yay, thanks for that info Frank. I've seen them in the LFS here, they are quite pricey so I didn't want to go and buy one only to be disappointed, again .

Cheers
Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

I have used them many many years ago, yes they give you very fine bubbles but I found that they clogged up very quickly and often were coated in algae. I think they were origionally designed fo SW tanks

There is a all plastic one which screws appart for cleaning and the tighter it is screwed together the finer the air bubbles. These never wear out and very easy to clean. The other air stone is the most expensive is the Ceramic still using the same two 4ins ones I bought about 15+ years ago.


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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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Correct, the Limewood airstones were designed for use in the old counter current skimmers. The airstones were used to create the tiny bubbles that the proteins attached to.

Keith is also correct that they dont normally last long....you will find that after a couple weeks the airstone will start to decrease in operation. Normally after a month of use it is time to replace it because of the algae and bacteria that are slowing the operation.

I went shopping today. Me and a friend went to three different LFS (which weren't local to us) and I got opinions from two stores which were totally opposite. One saying, yep no problems will do the trick and one saying ... no they wont work in freshwater.

The cheapest one I could get was A$6.50 and that was only a small one so I didn't get one, however I did see the plastic screw apart ones which, after reading Frankgh's reply may go and get 1, not nearly as costly as the wooden ones, and yes they do screw apart.

I also managed to get some Flourish and Flourish Excel, which i'm really excited about using after reading all the positive remarks made.

Thanks everyone for your input, much appreciated.
Crusha

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

There is/was some soft spongy type to replace the wooden airstones and they were just as bad.

Looks like I was showing my age by refering to those wooden air stones.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

You werent showing your age too much there Keith....the counter current skimmers that use the wood airstones were still being used in the early 90's

I like the look of the really fine bubbles but not the sound. That hissing really bothers me. What a shame.

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