I like the short answer and agree some import of microorganisms, DOC, and nutrients with old water might help.Shortly - yes. But in that case - I would use 50% old water and mix it with new salt water.
Sincerely Lasse
My point however, is that maybe I have been thinking incorrectly. My process has always been: 1) Establish a nitrogen cycle with ammonia/bacteria... easy enough; 2) Stock fish and let the system adjust and stabilize as the ugly phase progresses... again easy enough, but time consuming; 3) Begin to stock corals near the end of the ugly phase; and 4) Stock more sensitive corals after the uglies are done and the initial corals start to flourish. I suppose that's my own paradigm and, I assume, many others might be there also. I'm beginning to think there is a better way to get to the goal line, a new paradigm for me and maybe others on the forum. I thought your 15 step process pointed in that direction. Maybe it could be expanded and modified to create a new roadmap for people like me, with limited understanding of how things work, to help us establish a mature reef system with less fuss and frustration.