What is an air stone?

Question

I posted earlier here about a sick Betta (thank u all for the replies) and someone recommended an "air stone" I've never heard of these?

thank you everyone....now I figured out what they are, have seen them in tanks :) thanks alot!

Answer 1

It is a stone that gets hooked up to an air pump. It puts bubbles in the water which helps to add oxygen. However, these are necessary for bettas. They breath atmospheric oxygen using an organ called a labyrinth. Even if your water had a ton of oxygen, he would still need to get to the surface to breath.

Answer 2

It's a unit (usually blue or green) that attaches to an air pump to disperse the bubbles. They come ranging from little cylinders to rods that extend across the tank. By recommending an air stone what that reply was really reccommending was that you increase surface movement and water movement in the tank - this can be done with air stones, but also with filters or air powered ornaments. If you go to the fish store and ask, they'll show you all sorts of them.

Answer 3

This is just something that you put on the end of airline tubing to make the bubbles coming out smaller. There are kinds made of glass beads, others are made of plastic or wood. (see catalog links for examples: http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/info/23662/category.web )

All any of these do is move the water around so that dissolved oxygen near the surface circulates through the tank better (you can also use them to power an undergravel filter or sponge filter; a powerhead is more efficient for this, but creates more flow in the tank).

Answer 4

Definitions of Air Stone on the Web:

A finely perforated ceramic, glass or wooden block which diffuses air from an Air Pump into the water in the form of tiny bubbles.
www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_glossary.php

porous diffuser used to release tiny bubbles; usually made of fused sand.
guppyplace.tripod.com/Glossary.html

A stone with tiny holes that is attached to airline tubing which diffuses air from an air pump into the tank in the form of bubbles.
www.aquaticswest.com/glossary.html

Answer 5

you put it on the end of your air pump and it filters the air and makes it better for the fish and puts it in the water better.