Air stones are an integral part of any healthy and functioning fish tank. They introduce diffused oxygen into the water by allowing a constant stream of tiny bubbles to be circulated via an electric pump. This promotes water oxygenation better filtration, helps in gas exchange and creates resistance for your fish to work against. Basically, they're like an oxygen generated treadmill to allow them to 'just keep swimming'.
There are an infinite number of air stones on Amazon, including trusted brands like Hygger and Uniclife. This article will help you decide on the right air stone for your fish tank or aquarium. From bubble wands to discs, we've ranked the top 10 best air stones in the UK that will help you create a thriving and mesmerising underwater world!
Quick List - Top Air Stones
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The majority of air stones will likely fall under this category, they are typically made from either porous ceramic, rock or sometimes wood. As they are constructed from natural materials, the bubbles produced will differ in size.
Standard shapes include cylinders, discs, spheres and bricks. There are also some mega bubble making disc air stones with a jetting volume of 28 L per minute, which will oxygenate even the largest home fish tanks of 300 L and beyond.
However, when it comes to peak performance, the shelf life can be less than 6 months for smaller, more inexpensive options. Thankfully, it's very simple to swap them out for new ones with zero trouble and minimal expense. Just be sure to check their weight to find out whether they'll sink on their own accord or if you'll need to weight them to the bottom.
The major benefit of using air stone wands is that they always produce uniform bubbles and tend to last longer than their classic air stone counterparts. This is because they are typically made from hard plastic instead of natural minerals, making them a cheaper option in the long run.
These wands, or walls as they're also known, come in a wide variety of lengths, from 15 to 80 cm. Another great feature of these wands is that they always have strong rubber suckers attached, so you can stick them to the walls or floor of your fish tank with ease.
These ornamental bubble diffusers help create the underwater world you and your fish have always dreamed of. Their themes can include almost anything - from the traditional volcanoes, shipwrecks, coral, driftwood and skulls to pop culture characters and icons.
They are made from eco-friendly resin, so your fish are safe to swim and play with these decorative bubble creators. These ornamental pieces come equipped with a classic air stone, but be sure to check the size as many focus more on style than substance.
If the lack of bubbles will be a problem, you could always tuck a classic air stone out of sight to accompany your ornamental one. Doubling up like this will certainly create a joyous and oxygenated tank for your fishy family.
Finding the right air stone for many avid fish tank enthusiasts comes down to its bubble output. Once you find an air stone that really zings, you'll need to ensure there's a good amount of bubbles circulating oxygen around your tank to keep your fishy friends healthy and happy.
An air stone's output is typically called its 'jetting volume' or 'output airflow'. This is measured in terms of potential litres per minute, with the smallest cylinder air stones having around 1L per minute of output and the largest reaching up to 28L. This is an easy way to understand how oxygen-rich your fish tank may become from any given air stone.
Providing them with an adequate home is an essential part of owning fish, but it's equally important to feed them a balanced, nutritious diet. Take a look at our 10 best fish foods to ensure you're doing your best!
Electrical air pumps are the engine room of any functioning air stone. Their total output (in watts) is an essential factor to consider when perfectly pairing a pump and stone - even more so if you already own an air pump!
These air pumps have varying degrees of electrical output, typically anywhere between 1-17W. Most standard pumps will have a 2 - 4W output, which will pair nicely with small to medium-sized air stones. Any air stone with a jetting volume of 10 litres or more will need a higher wattage pump to enable its full bubble making potential.
Air stones come in such an array of shapes and sizes that understanding their measurements can become a little confusing. To get the right stone for the job, it's imperative to gauge their size first.
Length, width, height and diameter are all important measurements for gaging an air stones total size. It is advised to get a ruler out and compare sizes against your fish tank, especially if buying online, as photos of products are often not to scale.
Air stones typically come with a recommended fish tank size. This is the maximum volume (measured in litres) that it can be safely assumed an air stone will be able to generate ample oxygen for its fishy occupiers. From small tanks under 70L to large tanks exceeding 150L, there's certainly an air stone that's suitable. You just need to remember to check!
Looking to upgrade your fish tank? Take a look at our list of the 10 best in the UK!
You can now find air stones that include LED lighting in their design. This modern addition can turn your air stone from zero to hero in a flash of multi-coloured lights. Just picture atmospheric lights and bubbles emanating from an ornamental volcano! So if your fish are stuck in the 80's disco era, now is your chance to let them boogie between bubbles with style. Just kidding... or not?
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hygger Ultra Silent Aquarium Air Stone | ![]() | An Ultra Silent Nano Air Stone | |
2 | Nicrew Volcano Ornament Bubbler Kit | ![]() | An Erupting Light and Bubble Volcano | |
3 | uniclife Air Stone Disc Bubble Diffuser | ![]() | A Large Disc Air Stone With Suckers | |
4 | Supmaker LED Fish Tank Air Stone | ![]() | Changing LED Lights That Show Through a Stream of Bubbles | |
5 | Uniclife Mineral Air Stone Ball Shaped | ![]() | A Sturdy No Fuss Stone | |
6 | Uniclife Large Cylinder Air Stone|Pack of 2 | ![]() | A Large Classic Air Stone for Tanks Over 100 Litres | |
7 | Saim Mineral Air Stone Bar | ![]() | A Mineral Air Stone Wall That Comes Highly Rated | |
8 | Uniclife Small Cylinder Air Stones|Pack of 10 | ![]() | 10 Small Air Stones to Keep Your Fish Thriving | |
9 | Slocme Fish Tank Decor With Air Stone | ![]() | A Cute Baby Groot With Hidden Air Stone | |
10 | FuninCrea Fish Tank Bubble Wall Air Stone | ![]() | An Air Stone Wand Designed for Maximum Effect |
This air stone features a Nano design with a ceramic disc. This gives it an abundance of tiny bubbles, meaning more oxygen for less power. It's also very quiet as air stones go, perfect for a fish tank in the kid's bedroom.
The sleek and modern design give it an inconspicuous and desirable look. And with a jetting volume of 3L, it's ideal for small and medium-sized fish tanks. A state of the art ceramic air stone that will undoubtedly give your fish the oxygen-rich water they so deserve!
This fabulous ornamental volcano will surely be the main feature of any fish tank. The volcano is made from a non-toxic resin that's environmentally-friendly and safe for your fish to swim and play with.
The 6 LED lights shine through the top of the volcano, along with an eruption of bubbles produced by the mineral air stone. It comes with the tubes and power adapter, so once you get a 4W air pump, your fish and their tank won't know what hit them!
This classic air stone from Uniclife produces 12 L of jetting volume, making it a great option to oxygenate medium and large tanks, including those over 150 litres! It also comes with rubber suckers, so you can stick it wherever your heart desires.
Uniclife is a market leader with a range of air stones that boast both longevity and superior design at a very affordable price -which is why they feature so heavily on our list. This quality-made disc air stone is no exception, which is why it deserves your attention.
This dazzling air stone features 6 LED multi-coloured lights that will intrigue fish and friends alike. This one, in particular, has struck a chord with fish enthusiasts wanting to bring some vibrancy to their tanks.
The jetting volume is unspecified, but it can be assumed from the size that it will suit small fish tanks best. It even has rubber suckers to help you stick it to the bottom or sides of your tank. Overall, it's a unique and desirable air stone for the goldfish to groove with.
The design of this air stone from Uniclife is perfectly suited to sit flat on the bottom of your tank. With a jetting volume of 20L per minute, it's a strong stone that really packs a punch.
This 20L per minute allows it to be used in fish tanks of 150 litres, giving it good oxygen-producing capabilities for medium-sized tanks. Just note that it needs an air pump of at least 6W to get it purring with plenty of bubbles.
These large air stones from Uniclife produce a good amount of bubbles with a jetting volume of 5L per minute per stone. If you connect both of them to one heavy-duty pump, you could get a whopping 10L per minute, which is enough to oxygenate fish tanks over 100 litres!
They won't be winning any awards for looks or sophistication, but that doesn't stop them from being a trusted pair of air stones that you can rely on to produce endless amounts of oxygen-rich bubbles.
This air stone comes highly recommended, with many happy users branding it as the best wall air stone on the market. It's a quality mineral air stone that's guaranteed to produce the ultimate cascading curtain!
Unfortunately, Saim has not included much information on this air stone. While the specs are limited, from its 40 cm size, we can make an informed assumption that it will suit medium-sized fish tanks and should require a 4W pump.
This 10 pack of small cylindrical air stones will perfectly suit a fishbowl or small fish tank. Although smaller in size, their 1.3L jetting volume will have any small tank thriving with an abundance of constant bubble making.
A perfectly cheap and cheerful set of air stones that your fish will love. Buying this pack of 10 at such a reasonable price means you will benefit from saving money every time you need to change them.
Here is a movie-themed ornamental air stone that has everyone head over heels. This little guy has taken the fish tank world by storm, with many happy shoppers opting for his cute, bubbly presence.
He comes with a small spherical air stone that produces bubbles out the top of his head. Unfortunately, the jetting volume isn't specified, but you can count on it being minimal. This is a classic case of style over substance, but this should be more than adequate for a small fish tank.
This wand will produce a delightful wall of bubbles that's sure to impress! Its two rubber suckers give it a firm hold onto any suitable surface of the fish tank, and there will be no need to replace this one in a hurry with its hard plastic design.
It can even be extended with additional bubble walls via an internal, compatible connector. So its bubble potential is basically endless. The only hitch is that you'll have to make the bubble holes in the plastic yourself, which some may find off-putting.
No. 1: Hygger|Ultra Silent Aquarium Air Stone
No. 2: Nicrew|Volcano Ornament Bubbler Kit
No. 3: uniclife|Air Stone Disc Bubble Diffuser
No. 4: Supmaker|LED Fish Tank Air Stone
No. 5: Uniclife|Mineral Air Stone Ball Shaped
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