You will need good quality air stones to set up an efficient Deep Water Culture (DWC) hydroponic tank.
An air stone is essential for the functioning of the whole hydroponic system. These stones help make oxygen for the plant roots.
All the best air stones for hydroponics are available in multiple shapes and sizes that facilitate airflow, and choosing the ideal ones for your system is essential.
Through this article, we will learn more about air stones and also review the top five options you can consider for your hydroponic tank.
Table of Contents
How do air stones function?
These best air stones for hydroponics release a continuous stream of fine bubbles at the bottom of the reservoir.
As soon the bubbles come to the surface, they pass through the plant roots, and the plant then absorbs the oxygen during circular respiration.
Dissolved oxygen intake also increases the absorption level of nutrients. Thus in the absence of proper and sufficient oxygen supply, the nutrient intake of plants decreases.
Air stones, however, cannot oxygenate the tank themselves. You will need a pump for that and then pass the oxygen through the stones.
Best air stones for hydroponics: Quick Review
- Best for small tanks: ToyBasics 4 Inch Air Stone
- Best overall: Feelers 2″ x 2.75″ Crazy Air Stone Bubble Cylinder
- Best among users: hygger Aquarium Air Stone
- Best in the budget: AQUANEAT 2 Pack Air Stone
- Best among commercial users: Clscea 4 Inch Air Stone Disc
Best air stones for hydroponics 2023: A detailed Review
I was searching for the best air stones for my own hydroponic system, and while doing that I came to know that not all products are good.
I have manually tested a lot of them, and that’s what I would like to share here with this unbiased list of best air stones for hydroponics 2023.
I have taken factors into consideration such as, bubble frequency, compatibility, circulation, weight and my experience of doing hydroponics for years to make the list of best air stones for hydroponics.
Additional Note: I review this list in every 6-7 months, and try to include any latest or newly launched products if I feel so.
I am also aware of the fact that all the major brands are keep launching new air stones, so it’s better to keep all of my readers updated with that regard as well.
ToyBasics 4 Inch Air Stone
Features
- Easy to use.
- Well built.
- Value for money.
- Produces quality air bubbles.
The ToyBasics 4-Inch Air Stone diffuser features a 52.5 feet long 4 mm inner diameter and a 6mm outer diameter.
The package also includes four pieces of aquarium check valves for the fish tank that let you stop the water flow coming to the tank during the lack of electricity.
It’s often difficult when the airline tubing moves out of position. To keep a check on that, the package also includes six black silicone auction clips to hold the tubing in place.
This set provides all the possible checks and monitors you will require for your hydroponic system. Thus it has four pieces of “F” type air flow controller, with another four parts of control valve barbs to allow you to check the air volume in the aquarium.
Complete with fifty pieces of non-toxic gemstones, these air stones are all you need to complete your setup.
Pros
✅ It works perfectly with a 5-gallon bucket.
✅ Easy to use the blackline.
✅ Sturdy built.
✅ Produces a good amount of air bubbles.
Cons
❌ Bubbles produced are concentrated.
❌ The hose is a bit flimsy.
The Final Verdict
The stones are ideal for the price range.
Feelers 2″ x 2.75″ Crazy Air Stone Bubble Cylinder
Features
- Ideal for 5/16 inches tank setup.
- Enhances circulation.
- Perfectly shaped.
- Presoaking advised.
If your tank has a 5/16-inch inner tube diameter, these stones are perfect for you.
The Feelers 2″ x 2.75″ Crazy Air Stone Bubble Cylinder measures about 4″ in diameter and features a height of 2.76 inches.
Many users opine that these stones are the best option to provide oxygen to the hydroponic tank while reducing CO2 circulation. These can also be used in any aquarium or fish tank.
Unlike many other best air stones for hydroponics available in the market that float or lose balance due to their shape and size, these stones do nothing of that sort.
Thanks to their rounded shape and flat bottom, these stones are steady, helping lower oxygen consumption and enhancing fusion rate.
It’s recommended to soak the stones for s few hours before use.
Pros
✅ Great quality for the price point.
✅ Produces a good amount of bubbles.
✅ Ideal weight thus they stay put in place.
Cons
❌ A bit bigger than advertised.
The Final Verdict
The stones are as advertised. However, it’s essential to check the opening size before purchasing.
hygger Aquarium Air Stone
Features
- Produces fine bubbles.
- Excellent oxygen dissolving rate.
- Includes multiple air pump accessories.
- Uses quality nanomaterials.
As mentioned earlier, your tank needs to have sufficient oxygenation. Oxygenation helps the fishes and plants live and makes way for the right mixture of gases in the tank.
hygger Aquarium Air Stone is a perfect fit for that purpose owing to the tiny bubbles it creates. These bubbles are highly uniform and dense, leading to an enhanced water oxygen rate.
The entire setup is available as a kit and includes disk stones, control valves, and check valves. Besides, you also get a tee connector, two suction cups, and a reducer. Unfortunately, the unit does not include an air pump and air tubes.
Even though the stones produce an enhanced level of bubbles, you need not worry about the movie level. The unit is almost silent, and the bubbles only make a soft sound as they rise.
The stone weight is heavy, but not as much. Thus they sink to the bottom easily and do not require suction cups.
Pros
✅ It can be used both in fresh and saltwater.
✅ High durable.
Cons
❌ A tad bit difficult to set up
The Final Verdict
The stones are beneficial and of premium quality. Though they are a bit difficult to set up, the other benefits make them worthwhile.
AQUANEAT 2 Pack Air Stone
Features
- Wide scope of use.
- Excellent stone dimensions.
- Functions well with high output air pump.
- Made from safe and washable material.
The AQUANEAT 2 Pack Air Stone is cylindrical and aids the whole filtration process. The unit is available in multiple sizes, and you can make a pick based on your water quality.
The best thing about these stones is that you can use them in multiple aquatic setups – fish tanks, aquariums, ponds, and big reservoirs. The stones are also good to go in saltwater tanks.
This cleaner is non-toxic and washable. It fits any 3/16 inches standard tubing and helps accelerate the whole oxygen replenishing system in the water.
Many users have paired this unit with a high input air filter to increase the entire circulation process.
Like the hygger Aquarium Air Stone, this unit too releases fine bubbles in the water and thus does not disrupt the plants in the tank. It’s advisable to soak the stones for 30 minutes before use.
Pros
✅ Non-toxic in nature.
✅ It can be used in a saltwater setup.
✅ Easy to use.
✅ Creates fine bubbles.
Cons
❌ The unit is a bit expensive.
The Final Verdict
Overall the product is perfect for keeping the tank clean and fresh.
Clscea 4 Inch Air Stone Disc
Features
- Enhances the visual effects of the tank.
- Ideal for a depth of 80 cm.
- Easy to use.
- Perfect for 4/6 airline tubing.
Available in 8.5 cm) 3.3 in, the Clscea 4 Inch Air Stone Disc encompasses a large bubble area.
Unlike the other stones mentioned in the list so far, this unit creates a circle of nanobubbles which enhances the look and feel of the aquarium while keeping the water oxygenated for a healthier plant or fish life.
The stones have a ceramic base, which makes the units heavy enough to sink at the bottom of the fish tank.
The stones are best for a depth of 80cm/31 in. It’s recommended to use an air pump pressure of 0.020-0.025Mpa (20-25Kpa) for the rocks.
Pros
✅ Stays sunk.
✅ Premium quality.
✅ Ideal for a 75-gallon tank.
✅ Produces a good amount of bubbles.
✅ Easy to use.
Cons
❌ The stones are a bit expensive.
The Final Verdict
Though the stones are a bit pricey, they are an investment worth making for the ample benefits they offer.
Types of air stones
As mentioned earlier, air stones come in multiple shapes and sizes. You need to decide which one will suit your hydroponic system needs better than the other.
The options are:
- Bar
- Disk
- Cylinder
- Bubble
As a rule of thumb, the size and shape of the stones should be based on the size and shape of the reservoir.
A bar-shaped stone, for instance, works well for a big rectangular tank. However, it will not perform well in a five-gallon round tank.
On the other hand, a disk-shaped stone will create multiple bubbles in the bucket, but it might not be good enough for a large tank.
Though cylinder-shaped stones have many benefits, unless you preweight them, they topple and roll around more frequently than the other shapes.
Thus it’s essential to know about the characteristics of the stones to make an informed choice.
Are air stones and diffusers the same?
Air stones and diffusers are used for the same purpose – to oxygenate the water in a hydroponic system.
However, even though they serve a similar purpose, they are different tools. An air stone is basically a high-porous rock through which the oxygen generated by the pump passes.
The best air stones for hydroponics are inexpensive and ideal for smaller aquariums and tanks. They often don’t perform well in larger tanks or if you try to scale them.
On the other hand, air diffusers are made from flexible tubing that is shaped to fit the shape of the reservoir.
Unlike air stones, air diffusers distribute the bubbles more evenly throughout and don’t clog or break as much as stones. Due to their scale of use and range of benefits, they are preferred by hydroponic or commercial gardeners.
best air stones for Hydroponics Buying Guide (Exclusive)
Finding the perfect air stones for hydroponics can be challenging, especially if you are new to this method.
There are a few factors that you must consider while purchasing your best air stones for hydroponics in 2023. Even though you might be tempted into buying the first batch, you come across, hold the horses.
Below are the essential factors that you must consider. As long as your air stones have these features, they are good to go.
Bubble frequency
The bubble frequency of air stones is an essential factor that you must look into. As the name suggests, this factor is about the frequency of the bubble release and the bubble sizes.
Some large tanks will require bigger air stones to ensure all your plants have the necessary amount of oxygen delivered to their roots.
The next factor is checking out the type of pump to ensure it’s compatible with the air stones. The more powerful the pump, the more air it will pump through the air stones, thereby delivering more oxygen to the plant roots.
Compatibility
Your air stones must be compatible with your current hydroponic setup. If the air stones are unsuitable for your current setup, they will not function as you want.
The air stones you select should be suitable for your entire hydroponic setup; otherwise, you will have to spend extra to buy a new set of stones.
It’s advisable to check out the pump’s or the hose’s diameter that you will be using with your new air stones. This will allow you to determine the type of model you require.
Circulation
This is yet another crucial point to consider. The logic is simple- if the air stones do not increase the circulation level in your hydroponic setup, your plants won’t be getting the right amount of oxygen in the roots.
This might lead to root rot.
The ideal type of air stones will increase the air circulation, which will enhance the nutrient solution, thereby keeping your plant happy and nutrient-enriched.
Weight
Most often, small air stones or disc shapes air stones tend to float away if not weighted down well.
If that is the situation, you will need to add more weight to the air stones, so it remains at the bottom of the tank.
To stop the stones from floating away from the bottom of the tank, you need to opt for bigger options with ample weight.
You can also opt for air stones that feature suction cups. These are super easy to attach to the sides of the tank to keep your air stone in place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What size air stones do you need?
This will depend on the size and shape of your hydroponic system. If you have a small tank, small air stones will function well. For a larger system, bigger stones will be required.
Thankfully, air stones are available in multiple sizes, so you can get ones that suit your purpose.
As a rule of thumb, large air stones give more oxygen to the water, which is important for larger systems. These stones also prevent algae growth.
Do you necessarily need air stones in DWC?
Air stones prevent the growth of algae and other organic matter on the water surface. Such growth also damages the pump by making it work harder. Air stones come in handy both in open and closed tanks. It also helps save electricity by optimizing the performance of the tank.
Can you use an air stone in any hydroponic system?
Yes, it’s possible to use air stone in any hydroponic system. However, using the ones designed specifically for dwc systems is essential. Air stones function well in a deep water culture system providing a large amount of oxygenation to the water. Another system may not be able to give you the desired benefits.
Conclusion:
When choosing the best air stones for hydroponics system, selecting the ideal ones is essential. In this article, we have covered the top options you can consider while keeping the needs of your hydroponic system in mind.
