SHARKDIVER
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Ok so I know this is the getting started forum, and although I am not exactly "getting started" I thought this was an appropriate forum for my question, sorry if it's in the wrong forum. I am not really new to fish or aqariums but having not owned a tank in some 12 years I have noticed equipment which may not be new, but is new to me...such as protein skimmers. Now from what limited information I can gather they seem to be a saltwater thing. Or so I thought, I have read some debate as to wether or not they can be benificial in a freshwater tank. Which is what I have...so my two questions are, first and formost what in the world are they for and what do they do, besides the obvious from their name. Second question, is this something that could be benificial in my freshwater aquarium.
A little info on my aquarium may be needed, 50 gallon bowfront tank (will be a 200+ gallon tank within the next two weeks) residents in the tank are as follows 2 Tiger Oscars about 3 months old and approx. 2-3 long. 1 Albino Oscar of same age and size. Two Peacock Bass 4 months old and about the same size, and one Plecostomus about 4-5 inches long, age unknown. One air pump, supplying air to a full lenth stone (approx 35 inches long across the back of the tank) Tetra heater, and Hot Magnum filter, which I believe to not be enough filtration for the greedy messy eaters I have in the tank. Feeding goes as follows, Oscars get pellets twice daily (Spectrum sinking Ciclid Pellets morning, and Tetra Floating pellets in the afternoon) The Plecostomus seems to be more of a dominant eater when I use the sinking pellets hence the use of floating pellets too. Peacock bass get 6 small feeder fish once every other day.
So, is a protein skimmer something I would want to invest in? Pros and cons?
I know this post was long, but I figured the more info I provide the more accurate answers I will get, and I don't mean to be rude but please only answer if you are truely knowledged in aquarium care, I don't need some answer I could have gotten from the 15 year old kid at the local fish store. Thanks in advance for the help
Oh yeah, another piece of equipment I was curious about is what I believe is called a power head...again same two questions...function and needed or not.
A little info on my aquarium may be needed, 50 gallon bowfront tank (will be a 200+ gallon tank within the next two weeks) residents in the tank are as follows 2 Tiger Oscars about 3 months old and approx. 2-3 long. 1 Albino Oscar of same age and size. Two Peacock Bass 4 months old and about the same size, and one Plecostomus about 4-5 inches long, age unknown. One air pump, supplying air to a full lenth stone (approx 35 inches long across the back of the tank) Tetra heater, and Hot Magnum filter, which I believe to not be enough filtration for the greedy messy eaters I have in the tank. Feeding goes as follows, Oscars get pellets twice daily (Spectrum sinking Ciclid Pellets morning, and Tetra Floating pellets in the afternoon) The Plecostomus seems to be more of a dominant eater when I use the sinking pellets hence the use of floating pellets too. Peacock bass get 6 small feeder fish once every other day.
So, is a protein skimmer something I would want to invest in? Pros and cons?
I know this post was long, but I figured the more info I provide the more accurate answers I will get, and I don't mean to be rude but please only answer if you are truely knowledged in aquarium care, I don't need some answer I could have gotten from the 15 year old kid at the local fish store. Thanks in advance for the help
Oh yeah, another piece of equipment I was curious about is what I believe is called a power head...again same two questions...function and needed or not.