Cleaning Airstones

Hey Folks, just wondering how most of you folks clean your air-stones after a good run? Anyone find something that gets em like new again? ( Aside from buying new ones...)

I've heard the micropore ones that are well built can be boiled to unclog them. The cheaper, fish tank style ones I would just pitch and buy new. They usually run what, $2-3 a piece? Well worth it for piece of mind.

Xtract44: I too toss the cheap ones and buy new ones at the 99 cents store, but I've gotten to like the good big fat ones from the hydro store. After I use the good ones I run them through the dishwasher on a sterilization cycle, soak them in a 10% bleach solution for an hour, give them a good rinse and I reuse them without any problem. I hope that helps. HSA

HSA said:

Xtract44: I too toss the cheap ones and buy new ones at the 99 cents store, but I've gotten to like the good big fat ones from the hydro store. After I use the good ones I run them through the dishwasher on a sterilization cycle, soak them in a 10% bleach solution for an hour, give them a good rinse and I reuse them without any problem. I hope that helps. HSA

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I had always heard that using bleach will leave a residue, so I've been hesitant to try something like that. Maybe it's the dilution of the bleach that prevents this. Good to know!

Thanks for all the Replies everyone. I am thinking about using some Vinegar and letting the pump run while they are soaking.

I think I would try a strong H2O2 solution before I would try vinegar. I think you would have better results. I really do like the idea of giving them a steam bath via the dish washer though.

I run mine through the dishwasher, then give them a h2o2/bleach bath(watch your eyes). Bleach only leaves chlorine and a salt as residue, and a good rinse will take care of that. Mixing h2o2 in there leaves table salt and water.

"When dissolved in a solution of water, it will slowly decompose, releasing chlorine, oxygen, and sodium hydroxide.
4 NaClO + 2 H[SUB]2[/SUB]O → 4 NaOH + 2 Cl[SUB]2[/SUB] + O[SUB]2

In reaction with hydrogen peroxide it gives off molecular oxygen:
NaClO + H[SUB]2[/SUB]O[SUB]2[/SUB] → H[SUB]2[/SUB]O + NaCl + O[SUB]2[/SUB]↑

I will still replace mine after 2 runs, buy them in bulk for about a buck each. [/SUB]

I just toss them they are so darn cheap.

Purchased the heavy cylinder ones...i dont throw away..not cheap..just put in h202 with water.

i followed this.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/fishphotosa_b/ht/CleanAirairston.htm

tried h202 before and did not do the job

Yeah i would really rather not toss my air stones.. they aren't top of the line.. but they werent dirt cheap either. I think i am going to try the Peroxide before I try the bleach formula Vilify posted. Again thanks for all the replies folks!

xtract44 said:

Yeah i would really rather not toss my air stones.. they aren't top of the line.. but they werent dirt cheap either. I think i am going to try the Peroxide before I try the bleach formula Vilify posted. Again thanks for all the replies folks!

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it would add up quick. my stones clog up pretty often.
i have heard of the peroxide working, but i use lots of solids in my tea, so it clogs up pretty good.

I don't use many solids, but at times i do use Powdered nutrients in my Reservoir ( its cheaper.. 20 bucks for 2 pounds of powdered kool bloom vs 50 bucks for a gallon of liquid) ; it goes into solution pretty well but sometimes I do wonder if it helps clog up my stones.

SmokinLabrador said:

I think I would try a strong H2O2 solution before I would try vinegar. I think you would have better results. I really do like the idea of giving them a steam bath via the dish washer though.

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watch an old stone boil if you place it in 29 percent. I've also heard of sanding stones but never got the details on that.

There's actually a cleaner the micro-pore companies will try to sell you, pricey too.