asking about a protein skimmer and a power head

[honeysuckle11]

Question with me having 2 hand on fliter one a 50 gallon the other a 20 gallon both bi wheels. 20 gallon run with bio wheel and fliter in it. 50 gallon runs with a bio and a nitriate bag and a prophere bag in it. i dont need a protein skimmer do i? plus whats the advanced of a power head? i have a 30 gallon tank do i need one?

 

[Sniperhank]

Is the 50 gallon a reef tank? If it is, the answer is yes. Things that remove nitrate and other things do not remove the same things as a skimmer. A skimmer removes straight garbage from the water. I wish I hadn't just emptied mine so I could show you what comes out.

 

[honeysuckle11]

its only a 30 gallon tank but i have a 50 and a 20 gallon fliter running in the tank

 

[Sniperhank]

Ok, question is still the same. Is it a reef or going to be one? If so, you'll need the skimmer.

 

[honeysuckle11]

this a setup i was sold and was told it would work. i mean i have 2 clown fish in my tank now. my tanks been running almost 3 weeks

 

[honeysuckle11]

i just have live rock in the tank i mean i plan on getting sea plants for the tank and all

 

[Sniperhank]

It sounds to me like you are confused about some things. Marine plants are macro algaes, and a couple of actual plants. Then you have corals. If you plan on having corals, you will need a skimmer. If you are planning on only having fish in the tank, then you will not need one.

Did you buy the system as it was up and running I assume? If not, then your tank is not cycled and you are slowly poisoning your fish with ammonia and nitrite.

 

[honeysuckle11]

Yea I mean I had gootn live rock and cycled water and I let it run for 2 weeks before I even put any fish in the tank. And now I have 2 clown fish that are doing fine in the tank and have had them about a week. All my level are fine. I mean I have some brown algea which I was told I could just brush off with a tooth brush. I'm just wonding if I should look into a protein skimmer and a power head for when I want to get like a plant for my clown fish and all. I'm new to salt water

 

[Sniperhank]

You should have atleast a small powerhead for your tank so you have some flow. If you aren't going to house any corals, you won't need a skimmer.

 

[honeysuckle11]

I'm going to house some coral but later on when I upgrade to a bigger tank

 

[Josh1158]

Look into a reefgium (misspelled) that hangs on the back. I have one from cpr that works good and it has a skimmer built in. as far as power heads go I prefer a the ones a company named I think korilla. There is another one too. But they are kinda egg shaped and they dont blow a jet of water it's more like a big push. You can plug them into wave makers too.

 

[honeysuckle11]

i got a small power head that a 500 gph