Do I need an air stone?

Greyling49

I have an array of natural plants in my aquarium, do you guys think it's worth adding an air stone? The tank is home to smaller cichlids and mbuna.

SamuelTheGreat

I would say, it's not required, but I would still add one as it's definitely going to help with -

Oxygenation: It ensures that fish receive sufficient oxygen, which promotes good health.
Water Clarity: The circulation prevents stagnant areasand reduces the risk of algae growth.
Nutrient Distribution: For planted tanks, air stones will help to distribute nutrients evenly around the tank.

Proper water circulation rapidly exchanges dissolved gases. Fish produce gases including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen. The tiny oxygen bubbles transport these unwanted gases to the surface and release them into the atmosphere.

Greyling49

Ok that makes sense. So what size air stone should I be looking at for a 400L?

Alison

I was always told a minimum of one inch of air stone per 200 litres, to provide sufficient agitation

Deeno1990

Any recommendations for a reliable air pump? Mine never seen to last more than a year before getting noisy

Alison

Unfortunately i dont have much luck with their reliability either. Im trying a Hitop one from amazon at the mo.

Greyling49

So I ended up getting this exact one and have been using it for a good few weeks now. It's pretty quiet and adds a bit of aesthethic value to the tank with the bubbles. Hopefully it helps with the health of my fish/plants long term too