Lee's Discard A Stone - Air Stone Replacement?

nomofatum

nomofatum

Well-Known Member
70's natureboy said:
How would a stone clog up if it has air blowing out of it all time? How can anything get in a stone when everything is being blown away from the stone? My stones seem to last forever. Once in a while I buy a few new ones due to expansion and I compare the air bubbles to my old ones and don't notice any difference. I do wash them off between grows, but that's about it. Are you guys turning off the air from time to time and allowing gunk to soak into them?
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What stones do you use? I have no idea how they clog, but they do, and it doesn't take more than 2 weeks for them to significantly reduce flow, and by the end of a run I'm worried that flow could drop to 0 on some buckets. I never turn the air off, but I did trip over the cord once and have it off for about 15 minutes.

The discard-a-stone's haven't clogged yet BTW, but they aren't that old yet either, no flow loss yet though.
 
70's natureboy

70's natureboy

Well-Known Member
I don't know the brand name but they are blue round cylinder shaped stones from a hydro store. They come sm, med, lg and I use the mediums. I think they are $3-4 each. I only started hydro 2-3 years ago and that's how old most of the stones are. I wouldn't think it would even matter what type of stone because air is constantly exiting a stone so i don't understand how anything could get in them to clog them. Maybe I got lucky and got the proper stones the first time.
 
jijiandfarmgang

jijiandfarmgang

Well-Known Member
70's natureboy said:
I don't know the brand name but they are blue round cylinder shaped stones from a hydro store. They come sm, med, lg and I use the mediums. I think they are $3-4 each. I only started hydro 2-3 years ago and that's how old most of the stones are. I wouldn't think it would even matter what type of stone because air is constantly exiting a stone so i don't understand how anything could get in them to clog them. Maybe I got lucky and got the proper stones the first time.
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I think your talking about the grey ones by eco-plus.

The brighter blue ones everyone else are talking about are the type you buy at walmart, or a pet supply store.

Stones, no stones, both work.

- Jiji
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
The only things that work better than airstones are waterfalls.

Mama nature is no fool.

Think about it.
 
nomofatum

nomofatum

Well-Known Member
The Discard A Stones are working very well so far, no clogging yet.

I like waterfalls, but hate the problems that come with the required pump. Same with sprayers, clogging there is even more problematic.
 
Vumar

Vumar

Well-Known Member
AMEN!~ I clean my inline filter every 2-4 days.... Kinda annoying side of taking care of a water pump.
 
T

twistedwords

Well-Known Member
You don't need airstones. Google venturi and you will be surprised. You can go to your neighborhood petshop and get a aquarium simmer to do this for you.
 
Vumar

Vumar

Well-Known Member
Airstones do more than just provide Dissolved Oxygen. They keep a constant upward pressure on the root system. Thus in my experience resulting in thick stems, healthy roots, and vigorous growth. Not all due to airstones but they do play a part. Needed? No. Helpful? Yes.
 
nomofatum

nomofatum

Well-Known Member
Final ruling, works as good as an air stone, but not really any better. They seem to be clogging at about the same rate. There is one other disadvantage though, if you turn off the air pump, then turn it back on, it may push a stone off the holder, leaving it without a stone/difusser, this made me lose about 2 gallons to the floor from excessive splashing from no stone, err knees still wet from mopping it up.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
nomofatum said:
The Discard A Stones are working very well so far, no clogging yet.

I like waterfalls, but hate the problems that come with the required pump. Same with sprayers, clogging there is even more problematic.
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I use the same waterpump everyone else does for RDWC, never a problem. Things stay cool and very well aerated.

It's so simple and effective I'm still amazed people bother with airpumps anymore- THOSE fuckers are loud, hot, power hungry maintenance whores that don't aerate water a damned bit better than a simple trickle of water in the tubsite.

Come to think of it, they just make more profit for hydro stores.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Vumar said:
Airstones do more than just provide Dissolved Oxygen. They keep a constant upward pressure on the root system. Thus in my experience resulting in thick stems, healthy roots, and vigorous growth. Not all due to airstones but they do play a part. Needed? No. Helpful? Yes.
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Your observed results have nothing to do with your stated cause. You've just described every root system in my op- and I use waterfalls exclusively.
 
Vumar

Vumar

Well-Known Member
ttystikk said:
Your observed results have nothing to do with your stated cause. You've just described every root system in my op- and I use waterfalls exclusively.
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Ttystikk..... Ive seen your grows and your style(s). I like it, I do, but I am just saying from MY own experience that my air stones keep bubbles floating to the surface which in turn keeps the roots higher in my tote/res/bucket. Thus keeping it away from the RDWC connections to avoid roots from traveling to and from the original tote. So, does my stated cause still have nothing to do with my observed results?
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
Vumar said:
Ttystikk..... Ive seen your grows and your style(s). I like it, I do, but I am just saying from MY own experience that my air stones keep bubbles floating to the surface which in turn keeps the roots higher in my tote/res/bucket. Thus keeping it away from the RDWC connections to avoid roots from traveling to and from the original tote. So, does my stated cause still have nothing to do with my observed results?
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Dunno, I was just pointing out that good roots didn't necessarily have anything to do with bubbles or airstones.

I'm not saying anyone is wrong or the growing style doesn't work, I'm just saying there's a simpler and less expensive way to skin this cat.
 
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