Airstones diffuse the airflow from your air pump into many smaller bubbles. They are weighted, keeping the air feed to the bottom of the pond/shelf. The surface disturbance of the bubbles increases oxygen levels in your pond water. Over time airstones can become clogged from the dust particles sent from the airpump and/or covered in algae which block the tiny holes. If you see a decrease in your air flow or fewer but larger bubbles, it may be time to replace your air stone. Wayside stock a range of size and shape airstones. Most are compatible across different brand air pumps.