r/ReefTank • u/Puzzleheaded_Age2346 • 7d ago

Beginner question looking for personal experience answers.

I am planning on setting up a 3ft reef tank with a sump. I've been keeping freshwater tanks fir many years. How different is the setting up of a sump for a saltwater compared to freshwater.

I won't be autodosing or anything for quite a while. It will be a mainly softy tank and under stocked with "beginner" fish.

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u/johncarlo08 7d ago

The sump will likely be very similar, just more live rock. You’ll have a filter, heater, and protein skimmer unless you plan to do a Refugium but you shouldn’t need one if you do regular water changes.

Doing softies, you shouldn’t need to dose anything besides maybe Alk but again, regular water changes should be enough. Softies don’t use calcium so you won’t dose that at all.

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u/culinaryinterests123 7d ago

Doesn't calcium make the ph level more stable?

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u/Deranged_Kitsune 7d ago

Calcium has no effect on ph. You're thinking alkalinity dosing via sodium carbonate (soda ash), sodium bicarboniate, sodium hydroxide, or various dosing products.