Red1313

I've had 3 air stones fall apart on me the last little while and I was wondering if this was usual or not.

gremlin

Oh yes - the blue ones especially. There are white ones that hold up better...but then, they are more expensive too.

navyscuba

I recommend the wands better. Like you said the stones break with time.

TedsTank

None of them last too long....., and I usually end up getting clogged ones too!!....I clean my big ones for Koi Pond every year. A quick swish in some bleach water then rinse and run them in a bicket for a while to "blow" them out.

Had to edit: I'm referring to the ones that make the real fine bubbles. I think there is a different type of bacteria and algaes that grows and clogs at that aireation point

Red1313

The one that broke today was in one of my sponge filters. I looked over at the tank and was like, wait... where are the bubbles? The top came out of it as I pulled it out of the sponge.

aquarist48

Hello Red. Air stones can crumble even if they've never seen water. Sometimes it just happens. I always like to keep a pack of fresh spares.
Ken

Red1313

Thanks everyone nice to know i'm not losing my mind.
(and yes the ones that crumbled were blue and one was green)