Hydroponic gardening is the latest and among the most innovative form of growing plants. Some time ago, no one would have believed if you told them that it was possible to grow plants without soil. But how is it then possible now?
Well, the principle idea is to have a water nutrient solution that replaces the role of fertile soil in helping the plants grow healthy. You may have heard something like the Deep Water Culture and the wick system – all forms of hydroponics.
A plant’s root system needs air, or it will choke and die. In a hydroponic system, the best air stones and air pumps ensure plants get a fair share of the air they need to thrive.
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Reviews of the Best Air Stones for DWC
Aquatix Pro Air Stone Large Premium 4″
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Apparently, three are always better than one – or what do they say? Aquatix Pro Air Stone Large Premium 4″ is a pack of three stones of premium quality to offer the best of services. The air stone is disc-shaped, providing an optimum surface area for the diffusion of air – the shape is quite functional. And the stone is quite versatile in a sense since you can use it in various places such as ponds and aquariums, you name them.
Pros
- Disc-shaped for optimal air diffusion
- Provides adequately small bubbles of air necessary for plant growth
- Circulates the nutrients as bubbles making root absorption easier
- 4-inch long for durability and strength to support any system
- It is quite versatile as you can efficiently use it in an aquarium, hydroponic system, and ponds
Cons
- Can effortlessly float and which is not a good thing
VIVOSUN Air Stone 2PCS 4 X 2 Inch Large Air Stone Cylinder for Aquarium and Hydroponics Air Pump
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This coke can-shaped air stone is not only appealing and easier to handle but is designed to provide an optimum level of oxygen and support nutrient circulation – quite something! Vivos is an authority when it comes to agricultural products, so you are assured of quality. Far from that, the air stone is thick enough to provide long-term service.
Pros
- A quality air stone from a trusted organization
- Cylindrical-shaped for optimal oxygen diffusion
- Gives off fine bubbles for sufficient absorption
- 4mm diameter for the long-term service
- Ideal for aquariums, ponds, and hydroponic systems
- Weighs 1.65lbs to sink to the right spot beneath
Cons
- The bubbles may not be adequate
- It may be challenging to clean
Sawfly Air Stone Cylinder Bubble Diffuser Airstones
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With a jetting volume of 1.3 L/min and easily driven by nano pumps, this airstone is probably one of the best you can get for your hydroponic gardening. Sawfly Air Stone Cylinder Bubble Diffuser Airstones come as a package of ten air stones – enough to provide you with a long-term service. However, you will need an air pump of more than 2.5W for them to work effectively.
Pros
- A jetting capacity of 1.3 L/min is adequate for most gardening needs
- Sturdy and durable to last a decent amount of time
- It is comfortable to use and clean
- Comes as a pack of ten stones to take you a long time
- Produces a good stream of bubbles consistently
- Quite inexpensive
- Come in an appealing ocean blue color
Cons
- It may not be as effective as other shapes and products on the market
Uxcell Aquarium Fish Tank Bubble Diffusers Maker Round Air Stones
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These blue-colored mineral stones are disc-shaped for efficient air production. It is heavy enough to stay where you need it and perform its task effectively. And with a good pump, this air stone produced a decent amount of bubbles to keep the water aerated and turned effectively – it’s just what your plants need.
Pros
- They are disc-shaped for efficiency
- The stones are not quite noisy
- Sturdy and durable to go a long time
- Easy to use – connect and clean
- This is a budget-friendly stone
- Quite ideal for your hydroponic gardening
- The bubble output is quite pleasing
Cons
- The attachments may not be secure
- May need more stones to work effectively
JW Pet Company 1-Inch Aircore Sand Airstone Aquarium Accessory
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This stone comes in a unique shape that is easy to identify among others. The product has a very porous surface for efficiency in air diffusion. Air production is also pretty consistent – ideal for the fishes and hydroponics. It comes with a full-size stem for effective tubing – you will not need to drill holes. This means that there’s pretty of space for water flow ensuring effective diffusion.
Pros
- A unique shape and porous surface for effective air diffusion
- Ensures a consistent flow of air
- One-inch durable air stone.
- A full-size stem and drilling are not necessary.
Cons
- This cannot be cleaned; you will need to replace them
- They may not last – they break quickly after a short period of use
Why is Air Stone Necessary in DWC Hydroponic Gardening?
Air stones are quite common, especially among people that have aquariums. However, they have gradually found some use among hydroponic gardeners. But is it vital to have an airstone supply air to the plants and root system?
You can still utilize other ways to supply air to the tank. However, air stones are believed to enhance air diffusion. Air stone is easy to use, quiet, and produces oxygen efficiently.
Deep Water Culture (DWC) is among the most straightforward and practical forms of hydroponic gardening. Typically, a plant’s roots are dipped in nutrient water solution in the reservoir. Air stones connected to special pumps then supply the plant with the appropriate oxygen.
So, How Much of this Air does DWC Require
For adequate growth, plants demand a sufficient amount of oxygen. But the question is, how much is sufficient? What happens when there is little or more of in the nutrient solution?
Ideally, 100 Liter Per Minute (LPM) of oxygen is enough for 100 gallons of nutrient solution. This translates to about a liter every minute for a gallon of solution.
Too little would cause growth problems and reduced production – this is not what you want. An excess amount of it is not also right – you know what they say about too much of anything? Excess oxygen production can cause heat and affect a plant’s growth process while encouraging the growth of algae.
How do Air Stones Function?
The best air stones break air into small bubbles that travel through the attached tubes to the reservoir. The smaller the air bubbles, the better the air conductivity, and the better the diffusion. Plants benefit more when the bubbles are smaller as they diffuse readily in water where the root system picks them up.
The Different Types of Air Stones you can get for your Hydroponic.
Just as there are different products from different manufacturers – it’s a free market out there, literally – there is quite a large variety of air stones. The following are the most common and best airstones you can get for your hydroponics.
Gold Ball Air Stone
The name of the air stone provides a clue as to what the air stone looks like – but it’s not golden, of course. They are pretty standard in aquariums, and you may have come across one fizzling some bubbles for the pet fish. The stone has about 25 mm diameter and is sufficient for an air pump of 5LPM.
The Ceramic Disc Air Stone
This comes in a flat round shape, and it is made from a ceramic compound, making them among the most durable. Its shape and surface area allows the disc to distribute more excellent bubbles, adequate for larger tanks. The airflow capacity of this air stone is between 2.5 and 10 LPM – suitable for most hydroponic gardening.
Coke Can Air Stone
The cylinder air stone – another name for the coke can air stone – is perfect for large reservoirs. This air stone is ideal for tanks that demand an airflow of between 5 and 10 LPM. The product produces a blend of small and big air bubbles as a result of its cylindrical shape.
Air Stone Placing
There’s often some confusion, especially among new hydroponic gardeners, as to the ideal spot to place the air stone for optimal oxygen diffusion. Well, the thinking of some is that suspending the air stone is perfect, but nothing could be further from the truth.
The best spot for your airstone is at the deepest end of your reservoir or tank – simply, at the bottom. This allows some distance for optimum level diffusion to the delight of the plants. At the bottom of the tank, the air stone successfully gives off oxygen and has a chance to mix optimally with the water.
Furthermore, placing the air stone at the bottom allows the nutrients opportunity to mix with the water. The bubbling and the sufficient space in between enable diffusion and mixing of air, nutrients, and water, all of which lead to more plant produce.
Conclusion
Hydroponic gardening is now the ‘in thing,’ and more people are venturing into it – it is associated with a reasonable rate of harvest for the gardener to smile all the way. However, the root system needs a good flow of oxygen. The best air stone to ensure a decent amount of air diffusion from the air pump makes sure that the plants are getting their fair share of oxygen. Any choice above will serve you well. However, our top choice is Aquatix Pro Air Stone Large Premium 4″.
The 4-inch long disc-shaped stone gives off a considerable number of air bubbles from the air pump. It is durable and also ensures a decent circulation of nutrients to ensure your hydroponics are as healthy as can be – the ideal.