When to install equipment meant for nutrient export, dosing, etc.

[Joshua Jordan]

I am in the process of starting a IM Nuvo 20g. I have been in the hobby for nearly 10 years but have primarily done FOWLR and Softie/LPS tanks that don't require dosing or much in the way of multiple nutrient export. I am planning on trying my hand at a mixed reef this time and my questions is concerning nutrient export, dosing and other equipment. It took me a few years to realize that all of this equipment we buy is meant to lower or raise certain parameters in the tank. Here is my question. I have already purchased a lot of equipment for this tank: (doser, HOB refugium, protein skimmer, etc.) Do I need to go ahead and install all of the equipment right away or should I wait until there is a need for that equipment. For example, I know that since I will have corals (sps) that have calcium carbonate skeletons, I will need to run a doser. Is it best practice to wait and install a doser or an additional nutrient export (protein skimmer PLUS a refugium) only AFTER I test and notice that it is needed? i.e. should I wait and install the doser only AFTER I see that Mg, Ca, Alk are low or should I install it from the beginning? I think a lot of beginner reefers see all of this equipment on established tanks and automatically think that you need to install this equipment from the beginning....I know I sure did.

Thanks so much,
Josh

 

[KrisReef]

On a small tank it is possible to do only frequent water changes (with careful attention to parameters) to keep alk, Ca in the good zone. If you don't want to do water changes, then starting with a dosing system from day one and carefully tuning it to keep abreast of coral growth is the safest way to achieve "balance" ime.

Adding a protein skimmer will increase evaporation, so having an ato set up to balance a protein skimmer is also a good idea. If the skimmer is running wet, then you will have to replace the salt that the skimmer exports during operations.

All of this activity can be managed with water changes. I would like to move to a tropical island where I could get water from the ocean pumped into my tanks constantly and never have to add anything except light and maybe coral food if the water was filtered (of plankton) before it came into the tanks. But if I lived there I probably would just snorkel most of the day and not bother with a tank. :cool:

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

the advantage of small tanks is that its easy and inexpensive to perform weekly water changes, so you don't need as much filtration as a large tank where water changes are difficult and costly. For example, a hob refugium on a 20 gallon is super overkill, even the skimmer is not really needed on this size tank (unless you intend to grossly overstock).

Personally I would just add equipment as needed based on test results.