When I started setting up my new tank, I let water flow for cycle.with live rock, sand. mangrove,chaeto and seaweed we called it lato in tagalog in my refugium no more water changes what so ever.those plants I mentioned are the best for nitraite ammonia remover and decoloration of the water. In natural way.and when I saw green algae in my tank, and that's the time I put snail for a start. after a week, some fish and so on.