Dumb Question, can I dose without a sump?

[laezur]

Hey!

I'm wanting to spend a few weeks testing and finding out what I'd need to dose, as I want to make sure some of my corals have enough trace elements, calcium blah blah, but I was wondering if you're able to do this without any sump equipment? I just have a large Fluval FX2 cannister filter, I would just hang it under the cabinet and feed up to the back of the aquarium.

This of course means I also don't currently skim.

 

[kbnh]

You can dose straight into a high flow area of the display, either right in front of the return or a powerhead

 

[crusso1993]

Hey!

I'm wanting to spend a few weeks testing and finding out what I'd need to dose, as I want to make sure some of my corals have enough trace elements, calcium blah blah, but I was wondering if you're able to do this without any sump equipment? I just have a large Fluval FX2 cannister filter, I would just hang it under the cabinet and feed up to the back of the aquarium.

This of course means I also don't currently skim.

1.) No such thing as a dumb question, @laezur !
2.) Please let us know some info about your tank. (Size, parameters, current inhabitants, etc)
3.) In short, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to dose directly but #2 question is important.

 

[Koh23]

Sure u can.....

In terms of dosing, sump have no role....

Just try to dose in area where are no corals and in high flow, so that solution can be dispersed trough tank quickly....

 

[laezur]

1.) No such thing as a dumb question, @laezur !
2.) Please let us know some info about your tank. (Size, parameters, current inhabitants, etc)
3.) In short, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t be able to dose directly but #2 question is important.

Haha, well I don't know about that one!

I'll have to do some testing tonight and come back and update this post, I'm at work right now. The tank is just under 2 years old and honestly I haven't tested in a long time now... size is 37 gal display, not sure how much is in the cannister.

Current inhabitants would be 2x Clowns, cleaner shrimp, some snails, and a Mandarin. Corals are mostly softies, with an elegance and a frogspawn, but looking to get into SPS. 2x AI Prime 16HD's for lighting.

Anything else I can help with there?

 

[crusso1993]

Haha, well I don't know about that one!

I'll have to do some testing tonight and come back and update this post, I'm at work right now. The tank is just under 2 years old and honestly I haven't tested in a long time now... size is 37 gal display, not sure how much is in the cannister.

Current inhabitants would be 2x Clowns, cleaner shrimp, some snails, and a Mandarin. Corals are mostly softies, with an elegance and a frogspawn, but looking to get into SPS. 2x AI Prime 16HD's for lighting.

Anything else I can help with there?

Thanks for the tank info!

Only other question is: do you do water changes and, if so, how many gallons and how frequently?

Edit; Ok, I lied, there is one more question: are you in Manchester, England?

 

[laezur]

Only other question is: do you do water changes and, if so, how many gallons and how frequently?

I do, I tend to try and change 10-20% every other week, depending on how happy I am with how things in the tank are looking. I've been going very much by eye for a long time, could be to my own detriment haha

 

[crusso1993]

Haha, well I don't know about that one!

I'll have to do some testing tonight and come back and update this post, I'm at work right now. The tank is just under 2 years old and honestly I haven't tested in a long time now... size is 37 gal display, not sure how much is in the cannister.

Current inhabitants would be 2x Clowns, cleaner shrimp, some snails, and a Mandarin. Corals are mostly softies, with an elegance and a frogspawn, but looking to get into SPS. 2x AI Prime 16HD's for lighting.

Anything else I can help with there?

I do, I tend to try and change 10-20% every other week, depending on how happy I am with how things in the tank are looking. I've been going very much by eye for a long time, could be to my own detriment haha

Thanks for all the info!

Based on the provided info, with the regular water changes, I cannot see a real reason for dosing anything currently as most everything is being provided by your WCs. However, your testing results will bear out more info.

As previously stated, should you need to dose, no reason you cannot add directly to the tank right near where your canister return is located.

Also, are you from Manchester, England?

 

[laezur]

Thanks for all the info!

Based on the provided info, with the regular water changes, I cannot see a real reason for dosing anything currently as most everything is being provided by your WCs. However, your testing results will bear out more info.

As previously stated, should you need to dose, no reason you cannot add directly to the tank right near where your canister return is located.

Also, are you from Manchester, England?

Awesome! I did know the salt had some elements but was unsure how much of that is useful, and if there's anything else I might need to add seperately. I'll do some testing, thank you so much for your advice.

I WAS, I lived in Manchester about 4 years, but I've moved back home to the Leeds area now, moving again this year which is going to be awful - might hire a professional to move the tank as it was a nightmare last time and I lost some coral.

 

[crusso1993]

Awesome! I did know the salt had some elements but was unsure how much of that is useful, and if there's anything else I might need to add seperately. I'll do some testing, thank you so much for your advice.

I WAS, I lived in Manchester about 4 years, but I've moved back home to the Leeds area now, moving again this year which is going to be awful - might hire a professional to move the tank as it was a nightmare last time and I lost some coral.

Yeah, get the testing done. We’ll see what the results show. Bear in mind, if you’re planning on adding SPS then demands will change.

Moving a tank can be a daunting task. However, nothing you cannot accomplish yourself with some good planning and execution especially given your tank is 37 gallons. Additionally, I do not believe that hiring a professional mover will necessarily negate the loss of corals. My friend, @907_Reefer , just did tank relocation and it went well for him. You may want to check out his build thread for pointers and/or contact him directly too. A link to his thread is below.


Thread '907 Tank & Stand Build - 55 Gallon'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/907-tank-stand-build-55-gallon.905830/

 

[laezur]

Yeah, get the testing done. We’ll see what the results show. Bear in mind, if you’re planning on adding SPS then demands will change.

Moving a tank can be a daunting task. However, nothing you cannot accomplish yourself with some good planning and execution especially given your tank is 37 gallons. Additionally, I do not believe that hiring a professional mover will necessarily negate the loss of corals. My friend, @907_Reefer , just did tank relocation and it went well for him. You may want to check out his build thread for pointers and/or contact him directly too. A link to his thread is below.


Thread '907 Tank & Stand Build - 55 Gallon'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/907-tank-stand-build-55-gallon.905830/

Oh it was so unplanned. I was told with a couple weeks notice of my moving, and so I didn't even know where I was going until a week or so prior, and then I had no equipment to do it properly and I was unfortunately out of work at the time so could not afford to buy anything... Resulted in an absolute disaster really.

It's a shame, because my tank was in a beautiful spot after finally getting over some growing pains, and then this happened and it reverted right back to algae outbreaks and cyano after the move, mostly due to me not being able to run large parts of my tank in temporary accomodation, and having to run on absolute bare minimum, with no money.

Thankfully, I'm now in a great job and I have money to spare, and I'm getting it back to the way it was, and falling back in love with it. Not everythings perfect, I'm still missing a few essential bits and bobs but we are making progress.

When I move again, I will be prepared, and I will have the money to do it properly. Anyway, sorry for the tangent haha and thank you for the resources, I'll have a read through his thread!

 

[crusso1993]

Thankfully, I'm now in a great job and I have money to spare

Well now, since you’re bragging, how about throwing some of that big coin this way!

Seriously, though, happy that life is more stable for you now.

If you’re ever looking for a great, local resource, my friend @SPR1968 is an example of an excellent one. He’s fine chap and even has a “man castle”! You’ll have to check out his thread to see what I’m talking about.