Air stone (bar) not creating bubbles? What could be wrong... video included...?

Question

I just bought a new air stone/bar tonight & I hooked it up to the pump recommended (both are the same brand & reference each other on the boxes). The problem is no bubbles are coming out of it. I hooked it all together with a clam at the end& the clam is producing some bubbles, so I know some air is going thru it. I soaked for over an hour like it said on the instructions & the pump is supposed to be able to operate up to 3 ornaments/air stones...Here is the video I took... I am talking about the blue bar in the back. Also is the clam making the right amount of bubbles or is it supposed to make more? Oh yeah, I will put a couple of answers to questions that may be asked...

10 gallon tank with back filter

Air pump connected to tube with check valve

Tube from check valve to bar

Tube from bar to clam

Soaked in water 1hour+ before activating

Pump is one recommended for particular ornaments/air stone

Visa Versa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8KFQt1CZKE

Answer 1

Ive had the same issues with the air stones in the past. Most of the time the issue was with the air stone itself. Have you tried replacing the air stone?

Answer 2

from what i see, i think you have too much air coming out of the clam, the clam is not supposed to be throwing out bubbles continuously. rather, air should collect slowly until there is enough to lift the cover and let the bubbles escape. air will follow the path of least resistance so all the air is escaping through the clam, what you should do is insert a valve or clamp to limit the air going to the clam and the air-stone should then work.

Answer 3

try puting more air to air stone good luck

Answer 4

The bubbles are coming out too fast and too large out of the clam.  Do you have your clam and airstone attached to the same air pump?  If so, then there's a problem where you're splitting the lines.  If the clam and airstone are attached to two different pumps, then you have two problems, one with the clam and one with the airstone.          

         Is some of the air to the clam supposed to be diverted to the airstone?  Those large bubbles mean that you have not properly attached the airstone.  Air isn't getting to the stone.  The tubes and connections are supposed to be airtight so that the air is forced from the pump down the tube through the airstone.  Check your connections; the bubbles are escaping into the clam when they should be pressured through the airstone.  You'll know the airstone is connected properly when tiny bubbles come out of the airstone.  Tiny, tiny bubbles.  Then, once air starts coming out of the airstone, the bubbles coming out of the clam should come out less frequently and smaller.

Answer 5

for any future answerers... he is not talking about the clam... It's doing what its meant to be doing. he's talking about the air stone at the back of tank.

take the stone out of the water and blow into the inlet. because it is wet you should see lots of bubbles escaping... if not, buy a new one.

If that seems okay check that air is coming out of the pump.

If air is coming out of the pump then it can be one of two things:

1. you have several hoses join and going to the one outlet. so all the air is going to one stone not the other(buy small taps so you can change the flow to even it out)

2.the diaphram inside the pump is broken. check to see if air is coming out when the airstone is held just below the surface or even out of the water. (the pressure builds up the deeper the water so this pressure may become too great so its easier for the air to escape out of the leaking diaphram.)