Anybody use those disc airstones??

[viking]

I saw one of these in the lfs today and it was putting out a rather large amount of air and making little mini bubble twisters!!!
Anyway who here uses airstones in there tank and what do you think of this thing?

 

[jacksonpt]

If it's the thing I think you are talking about, I like them. They seem to put out a lot of bubbles, and I like the way that looks. I use a standard air stone in my reef. I run it at night for about 6 hours to keep the surface stirred up... otherwise I get a film of dust, oil, and crap that builds up.

 

[viking]

so is it acting like a protein skimmer in a way or is that ---- that is coming from your airpump??
I was thinking or putting it under a large peice of dead coral and let the bubbles come up throught it.

 

[broomer5]

If you like the look of an airstone in a saltwater tank, I suppose that's okay.
Personally I don't like the look, and try to eliminate any source of air bubbles in my tanks. The saltcreep and mess the bubbles produce when they pop at the surface is a royal PITA, and if allowed to build up, will decrease the amount of light reaching your tank inhabitants.
A well positioned powerhead will do more for your tanks water circulation than an airstone.
As always - this is my opinion only

 

[viking]

thats a damn good point broomer

 

[fender]

Also the crud on the surface is the same junk that a skimmer pulls out of the water. Your airstone is causing the pollutants in the tank to 'cling' to the bubbles riding to the surface, exactly what a skimmer does.
Thats why hang on skimmers work better with a pre-skimmer or surface skmming attachment. There is more crud at the surface than below it.
Also if you have sponges or corals in your tank, the air bubbles can cause some dead spots.