my new tank from Texas

Thanks!

 

Thanks!

 

welcome to the forum! I have the same size tank. A water change usually involves removing a percentage of tank water (like 10% of water volume) and adding in that same amount of newly mixed saltwater. It allows for a replenishment of things that are needed by your tank inhabitants and a chance to take out gunk. I would suggest that it may be very helpful to read a lot while you are cycling. You are correct in that you don't want to add any livestock until your tank has finished cycling. Take it slow.

 

Welcome and good luck with your tank!

I'm not the resident expert on corals by any means, but I would wait a good while for a stable tank before adding any corals. Go nice and slow with it. Best of luck!

 

A couple of things you might consider are a sump and a protein skimmer

 

I would highly recommend an Auto Top Off (ATO). It will keep your salinity stable which you definitely want if you are going to get into coral.

The only dumb question is the one not asked so please ask away.

Welcome to 3Reef!

 

Yes wait until completely cycled, if you are planning on some clowns (cheap ones) you may wish to put in a pair, I had no issues but they may not make it, but looks better than tank full of water. Are you lighting tank daily as you will when you are completed cycling?
I'm not familiar too much with small tanks but if you aren't running a skimmer you may want to do water change more often, but look around on that. I change 50 gallons at least monthly out of 400 gallon system and run a large skimmer, not so highly stocked yet. If you don't have a refractometer pick one up, you will need one, as well as a decent test kit, I have been using Red Sea for some time pricy but worth it.
The two I would say are necessary are the nitrate kit and the reef foundations? Tests for calcium magnesium and alk/dKh.
You will have to fill back up with salt water as you are taking salt water out. You will be adding just ro water to replace evaporated water.

 

it's kind of "frowned upon" to add fish until a tank has cycled completely these days. We know that it can be very harsh on the animal to get through the ammonia stage - so adding fish at the beginning is not done much anymore (used to be more common). One thing to keep in mind is that the first fish you add will likely establish a territory in the tank so you want to stay away from adding fish that have aggressive tendencies likes clowns or damsels.

 

Some call it a "hobby".... I think it is more of an addiction!...

Welcome to 3reef and our addiction...

For water change out... let distinguish between "replacing evaporation" and "water change out".

To replace evaporation, most folks use RO water as you describe. Folks with larger tanks use automatic top off (ATO) systems, folks with smaller tanks just add RO water. In evaporation, the water evaporates, but the salt stays in the tank for the most part.

For water change outs, you are draining salt water from your tank and replacing it with fresh salt water made from RO water. The point is that you need to use salt water ... not just RO water as you described... Removing the salt water in the change out removes salt, thus you need to replace it.... If you were to just use RO water without salt, you'd dilute the salinity in the tank and that would be bad...

Hope that helps.

M