General beginner enquires

finley · Apr 21, 2026

Wow! It’s been nearly 4 years since I shut down my last nano tank, and to be completely honest I’ve forgotten everything. I am going to be setting up a new tank when I go to uni in September, so am just tying to re gain my knowledge. I’m planning on having a fluval evo 52l with an ai blade, and several other upgrades. My main question/the part of knowledge I lack currently is filtration. What do I have in the back chambers ? I know I need like some filter floss or a sock, but what else? Also, I am planning on having a pair of clowns, and maybe a Xenia, GSP, and a couple zoas etc. Will the tank require any dosing of any sort ? I’m trying to minimise any extra maintenance, so ideally wouldn’t want to be dosing, but if it’s something I need to do then I will.

Gumbies R Us · Apr 21, 2026

finley said:
Wow! It’s been nearly 4 years since I shut down my last nano tank, and to be completely honest I’ve forgotten everything. I am going to be setting up a new tank when I go to uni in September, so am just tying to re gain my knowledge. I’m planning on having a fluval evo 52l with an ai blade, and several other upgrades. My main question/the part of knowledge I lack currently is filtration. What do I have in the back chambers ? I know I need like some filter floss or a sock, but what else? Also, I am planning on having a pair of clowns, and maybe a Xenia, GSP, and a couple zoas etc. Will the tank require any dosing of any sort ? I’m trying to minimise any extra maintenance, so ideally wouldn’t want to be dosing, but if it’s something I need to do then I will.

Depends with dosing. Some tanks do just fine with water changes, while others need to have dosing. With what you want in your tank, you should be able to get by with water changes. However, I would test often, and if your water change routine doesn't meet your tank's demands, then I would start dosing.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 21, 2026

If you have live rock in this tank, and want coralline on it, it will likely need at least some dosing of alk and calcium, unless you use a high alk and calcium salt mix and do regular water changes with it. Dosing is likely easier and cheaper.