Save some pennies by learning how to clean and rejuvenate old clogged air stones to reuse them with these simple instructions from your Guides.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Over 2 to 4 Days
Here's How:
- Rinse the air stone(s) in freshwater, lighting scrubbing any excess build up off the outside.
- Allow to air dry.
- Boil in freshwater for 10 minutes.
- Allow to air dry.
- Soak in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 3 parts freshwater for 24 hours.
- Remove from bleach solution and attach an air line from an air pump to the stone and place it in a container of freshwater, letting it run for 5 minutes.
- Remove from freshwater and continue to let the air pump through the stone for 5 minutes.
- Allow to completely air dry, then store for future use.
Tips:
- To help remove hard calcium deposits, vinegar can be used in place of bleach in Step 5, or you can repeat Steps 5-8 alternating with both solutions.
- DO NOT dry air stones of any kind in an oven, as this will melt the plastic hose coupling.
- The above steps can be reduced, but for the best results, do ALL of them.
- By repeatedly drying the stones, this allows them to absorb the different liquids and then expel the reduced contaminants.
- This cleaning process can be used for any type of air stone material; i.e. wood, ceramic, mineral, etc.
What You Need
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Freshwater
- Water Container
- Used Air Stone(s)

