Air-stone output

[Scottypostal]

I just bought an air-stone system from B3, and have done 3 batches with it so far. I've noticed that hardly any air comes out of the stone and foaming is never a problem. How much air should be fizzin' out into the wort, should it be breaking the surface? I haven't had a fermentation problem from lack of oxygen but I haven't brew a big beer yet with the system.

Thanks

[28paws]

Try boiling it. When that didn't work for me I hooked up my 5 hp air compressor to it and that got it going.
Good luck.

[spiderwrangler]

It should look similar to an aeration stone in a fish tank, yes?

[Scottypostal]

Yes it looks like an air stone to a fish tank, but it's really weak, and it's metal of some sorts and not "stone". I wasn't sure if it was 'spose to be as strong as a fish tank stone.

I'll give boiling it a try. Thanks

[foomench]

And don't touch the stone with your hands, as the oils will clog it.

[alanzo]

FUCK AIR STONES.

They're such a pain in the ass. I went through quite a few (without touching any of them) before I said "fuck it, not using this POS anymore". I remember I threw my last one over a nextdoor house's roof.

People who don't have issues with air stones are using pressurized Oxygen. That will push through the air stone no problem which is why they can use .5 micron stones whereas with aquarium pumps you can only do 2 micron (when it fucking works!).

All I do is pitch the yeast and bubble through filtered air into the wort for about 15-20 minutes. No stone, just the tube, filter, and aquarium pump. Has worked very well for me up to a 10% Black IIPA that I did a few months ago. Note that pitch the yeast BEFORE aerating. That way the yeast are in there to obsorb the quickly-escaping oxygen. Got that tip from Palmer during a Brew Strong episode.

[Kbar]

Hoem Depot O2 tanks are cheap. No issues to date with my Stone. They are made from sintered Stainless, I am assuming.

[Scottypostal]

I heard the same brew strong about air, which got me to buy it. If boiling doesn't work I'll just go with straight up bubbles without the stone. Thanks