Water Change procedure for 6ft tank

[ryz]

Hi I'm due for my first water change for my 6 feet reef tank that already has lifestock in it. I am unsure of how to carry out this, what it seems to me as a, "major operation".I have done one prior water change for this tank but it was with no lifestock. so basically I just added water and salt simultaneously to the tank untill it was filled at the correct SG. Now that I have corals and fishes in it, I am a little apprehensive on approaching this prcedure.

I was thinking of doing a 50% water change. How should I do this?

I have no major water storage recipticles such as huge barrels etc. How will I mix the salt water required for the water change? Is such a recepticle a mandatory equipment if I were to carry out such a water change?

How do you people with tanks of such substantial water volume execute such a large percentage water change? I was thinking of draining out the water and shut off all pumps etc throughout the duration of the WC and slowly mix the salt water bucket by bucket and add it back into the tank. This seems to me like a supremely arduous and feckless way to do it.

Should I just get a large barrel or somethhing to mix the salt water in, and let it stand for a day for the chlorine and what nots to dissipate, then drain the water from the tank and pump this stored water in? Where would I be able to get such a barrel? Perhaps you can provide me with useful information to help me procure the required equipment for such a WC.

How are you people doing it? I was hoping to gain some insight from you gurus on this matter so as to facillitate me in this inescapable task. Sorry for the long story haha. Many thanks to all.