Do I Need Protein Skimmer?

HI Friends!
I have an equipment question. My friend gifted me with an already cycled (though neglected) 30 gallon tank. I've had it for 2 weeks. It came with 3 Platys, 3 8yro tiger barbs, drift wood, and a plant (?). I've added 3 gouramis, 5 cory cats, 4 black neon tetras and 1 spotted pleco.

My issue is is that I'm having a problem with algae. I've read that protein skimmers are a must have for saltwater tanks, and I'm wondering if it would help me keep the water clearer in my freshwater tank.
Maintenance: I've been doing small water changes which seems to help, yet it causes a small bacteria bloom for a day. Day 2 the water is clear, and by day 3 I feel the need to do another small water change. Does anyone have an idea that would allow me to do less water changes? Maybe a protein skimmer?

 

First of all, fish selection. 3 platy: are they female or male? It would be ideal for 1 male 2 females. Otherwise, 2+1female would be bad for the lady. Neon tetra: increase the school number. 4 is very poor number. Gourami: are they all male? 3 in a 30 gallon? They might fight. Keep an eye on it. Pleco: what’s the species? Common pleco? 30 is tooo small for it.

Then get to the question, true algae can be easily fixed by UV sterilizer.

Or put in more live plants to divert the nutrients.

 

HI Friends!
I have an equipment question. My friend gifted me with an already cycled (though neglected) 30 gallon tank. I've had it for 2 weeks. It came with 3 Platys, 3 8yro tiger barbs, drift wood, and a plant (?). I've added 3 gouramis, 5 cory cats, 4 black neon tetras and 1 spotted pleco.

My issue is is that I'm having a problem with algae. I've read that protein skimmers are a must have for saltwater tanks, and I'm wondering if it would help me keep the water clearer in my freshwater tank.
Maintenance: I've been doing small water changes which seems to help, yet it causes a small bacteria bloom for a day. Day 2 the water is clear, and by day 3 I feel the need to do another small water change. Does anyone have an idea that would allow me to do less water changes? Maybe a protein skimmer?

I don't think protein skimmers work the same way in Freshwater tanks.. because of the chemistry of saltwater, proteins cling to the molecules differently.
I have a surface skimmer in my Freshwater, but it's not for algae.
Is it an algae bloom? Diatomes? What color is it? Is there any sunlight on your tank? What kind of lighting are you using?

Sorry so questiony!

 

First of all, fish selection. 3 platy: are they female or male? It would be ideal for 1 male 2 females. Otherwise, 2+1female would be bad for the lady. Neon tetra: increase the school number. 4 is very poor number. Gourami: are they all male? 3 in a 30 gallon? They might fight. Keep an eye on it. Pleco: what’s the species? Common pleco? 30 is tooo small for it.

HI Georgelee,
All my platys are female, thank goodness! I was wondering about the tetras. They don't school and seem sad, and I was thinking about getting more. All my red neons died, so I was experimenting with the four black ones. Maybe they'll be happy once I get more (yay more fish!!). I think I have one male blue Gourami, and two smaller female gold Gouramis (as determined by myself by their dorsal fin). They were all purchased from the same tank and get along well. I treasure my peaceful tank, and won't get any more. The pleco was sold to me as a smaller variety, but he's already doubled in size! I see that I might have to re-home him when he outgrows my tank.
Ps I thought I'd get scolded about the tiger barbs! I know they're not supposed to be good tank mates with the platys, but they've been together for 8 years. I'm not getting any more, though, as the barbs at the pet stores seem much more aggressive than mine.

I don't think protein skimmers work the same way in Freshwater tanks.. because of the chemistry of saltwater, proteins cling to the molecules differently.
I have a surface skimmer in my Freshwater, but it's not for algae.
Is it an algae bloom? Diatomes? What color is it? Is there any sunlight on your tank? What kind of lighting are you using?

Sorry so questiony!

HI AmStatic: The algae is green, though I also have some dark colored algae leftover from the previous owner. Not sure how to tell if its an algae bloom or what Diatomes are.
There is lots of sunlight - please don't ask me to move my tank! Maybe the addition of more live plants will help.
May I ask what you use your protein skimmer for if not for algae?

Then get to the question, true algae can be easily fixed by UV sterilizer.

Ok, I just read up on them and I see that this is just what I need! Thank you!

First of all, fish selection. 3 platy: are they female or male? It would be ideal for 1 male 2 females. Otherwise, 2+1female would be bad for the lady. Neon tetra: increase the school number. 4 is very poor number. Gourami: are they all male? 3 in a 30 gallon? They might fight. Keep an eye on it. Pleco: what’s the species? Common pleco? 30 is tooo small for it.

Georgelee,
Since you've suggested more tetras: I'm concerned about the bioload in my tank. I have no idea how many fish is too many. From the fish I've described, do you think I have room for 4 more black neons?

 

Georgelee,
Since you've suggested more tetras: I'm concerned about the bioload in my tank. I have no idea how many fish is too many. From the fish I've described, do you think I have room for 4 more black neons?

Yea I think so. What’s your filtration system?

 

It's HOB. I think I may need to replace at some point as it doesn't seem too powerful. I've also wondered if that's why I need to keep doing water changes.

 

HI AmStatic: The algae is green, though I also have some dark colored algae leftover from the previous owner. Not sure how to tell if its an algae bloom or what Diatomes are.
There is lots of sunlight - please don't ask me to move my tank! Maybe the addition of more live plants will help.
May I ask what you use your protein skimmer for if not for algae?

I don't use a protein skimmer (a vertical tube of heavy bubbles that creates a scummy foam that bubbles over into a cup for removal).. I use a surface skimmer.. it removes the film off the surface of a low turbulence surface (I have a low-flow, still-water setup for a community tank.. its a floating cup that's added to my filter intake that water overflows from the surface into.

UV might, as mentioned by another poster, help. Let me know.. I'm considering getting one for myself!

 

AmStatic your setup is amazing! Thank you for sharing a pic!

 

Do you use a water conditioner?

I have a 60 gallon that has been 2 months since a water change. But the thing I did is use a pothos plant sticking out the top and it eats the nitrates. (Or nitrites, the one that you do water changes to get rid of. )
It takes the Ns out of the water and that keeps the algae at bay. Even as much sun as the tank gets....

I don't know for sure, but I doubt if the filter change would get rid of algae. It doesn't filter it out of the water, it just takes gunk out of the water column.

If you want one, the filter is always fun and may be a good idea for other things, but as far as algae goes, it probably won't help.

 

Hmmmm...... I have a small Pothos plant sticking out of the top and also IVY. I’ll try getting more Pothos plants in addition to the water changes. Since this tank is new to me and I’ve added lots of new fish, I’m thinking that maybe the bacteria haven’t quite caught up yet.

 

This is all I have, so I don't know if quantity of plants or root size is what matters... I o ly can have the one tank, so experimenting is hard

Last picture is momma and her babies. Third batch so we'll see if they keep any this time.

Not to hog the post, but you know grandparents

 

Do you use a water conditioner?

I have a 60 gallon that has been 2 months since a water change. But the thing I did is use a pothos plant sticking out the top and it eats the nitrates. (Or nitrites, the one that you do water changes to get rid of. )
It takes the Ns out of the water and that keeps the algae at bay. Even as much sun as the tank gets....

I don't know for sure, but I doubt if the filter change would get rid of algae. It doesn't filter it out of the water, it just takes gunk out of the water column.

If you want one, the filter is always fun and may be a good idea for other things, but as far as algae goes, it probably won't help.

Agreed! I have Pothos in mine as well.. it seriously sucks up nutrients.. and it grows like a weed and looks great falling over the edge of the tank..

I've seen this aquarist on YouTube.. check out what Pothos did to her algae.. she had purposely been growing it for years and... Well.... You'll see..

 

So here's my setup with pothos growing out of the tank and also Ivy growing out of the tank. I've also planted pothos IN the tank, and the fish leave it alone. All are growing water roots. The fish seem to really like to play in the roots too!

This is all I have, so I don't know if quantity of plants or root size is what matters... I o ly can have the one tank, so experimenting is hard

Last picture is momma and her babies. Third batch so we'll see if they keep any this time.

Not to hog the post, but you know grandparents View attachment 475626View attachment 475627View attachment 475628

So beautiful! Your angels are lovely!

Agreed! I have Pothos in mine as well.. it seriously sucks up nutrients.. and it grows like a weed and looks great falling over the edge of the tank..

I've seen this aquarist on YouTube.. check out what Pothos did to her algae.. she had purposely been growing it for years and... Well.... You'll see..

I can see my tank is FAR TOO small.
ps its a 36 gallon, not a 30 like I'd thought.

 

Thank you.

What did you mean to small? You want more, or your fish need more?

 

Oh yes, I see your point. I think my fish might want more space. I notice that most people’s tanks don’t seem as populated as mine .

 

Yeah. Mine is probably more populated than most, but the amount fish swim and interact probably has a lot to do with how populated a tank looks.
And I'm less adept than average at keeping my fish population under the recommended size LOL