nitrogen cycle testing
 

I need some advice on how often to change water during nitrogen cycle. I have not started anything yet.... What is the best way to go about this?... base rock will be coming in shortly, i have some live sand as well, and plan on buying a couple pounds of live rock. 45 gallon fowlr.

wait until you see the diatom bloom before doing a water change.

Okay, and should I just go about the lighting as if there were fish in there? Also, should I have my filtration running?

Yes & yes.

To be honest, with live sand and a little bit of live rock, you won't see much of a nitrogen cycle. The most important thing is to wait for the diatom bloom to pass, start to see some coraline algae growth, and get comfortable with the alkalinity & calcium test results and required dosing. At this point you can consider your system mature and be comfortable adding almost any fish.

Okay, my testing kit only provides solutions for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and PH. Can these tests be used to determine calcium and alk. or do I need separate tests?

seperate tests.

your going to want at the minimum ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, alk, ca, mag and temp. your also going to want something to test salinity and i suggest a refractometer over a hydrometer any day. check ebay for one cheap. what brand test kits did you get? your also going to want suppliments to dose for alk, ca and mag.

yeah i bought a ca. supplement and ph buffer. I already have a hydrometer. I just need to get a alk, ca, and mag, tests. i bought an API master test kit

dont confuse a pH buffer with an alk product, they may not be the same. if you keep your alk, ca and mag at proper levels you shouldnt have a hard time keeping good pH. your also going to want something to dose for mag. API is a decent brand, so good choice there.

I think that the API REEF Test Kit has Calcium and Alk tests in it. I bought seperate Ca and Alk tests that are a little more accurate from my LFS.

Ya the API reef kit does but for some reason mine just says API Saltwater kit... no calcium or alk. test in it :(