No Texas Trash Palys. They are impossible to get rid of.

Why can't you add cheato to a dsb section on a refugium? It's not going to cover the sand, but float above it. DSB are going to have some detritus buildup anyways. Agree with the circulation advice.

This is the part where you need to have carefull planning. Don't rush and don't add anything your not too sure about. Do your research and get a coral and fish list together this month. Then add a fish or two at a time when you get back.

A clean up crew is a must, so just add those while your gone. You (and the house sitter) can always drop a little bit of food into the tank to make sure they and the bacteria have something to eat.