Doser question from noob new reefer

[roccomorra]

Should I have a doser
ready when I get my 40 gal cube wet, or wait until the dosing is necessary?

 

[jaren45]

Wait until your alk/calc drops too much between water changes to replenish.

For example, my tank drops .8dkh a day. If I do a weekly water change only with no dosing my alkalinity will drop slowly until coral death occurs.

Shouldn't be something you have to worry about until your tank is heavily stocked with lps or sps coral.

 

[Auquanut]

100% agree with @jaren45. Before you start adding corals, you may want to start testing for Alk, Cal and Mag. Just to get used to the testing regime and get a feel for the tank's parameters. Initially, your water change schedule will probably be enough to replenish your major elements. As your coral's demand for the major elements starts to exceed water changes, your testing will let you know and you can start manually dosing every few days or weekly. Over time, you've gotten used to the rhythm of the tank, you will see the demand increase, and will just know it's time to start autodosing.