OK, what is the necessary additives for an anemone? Other questions too?

[cirionrc]

Ok so getting my metal halide in and as for corals, have a blue xenia, orange button polyps, and green star polyps. I figure I am going to try my first anemone BTA. Tank running 7 months. Big 3 water parameters 0. So what additives am I supposed to add. I have been using iodine. Is phytoplankton absolutely necessary? If so, the lfs recommends the frozen stuff. What is DT? They also have phytoplankton in a bottle. Trace elements? Should I add this as well?

Also, having trouble understanding. I just set up my refugium with spaghetti algae. Now from what I understand, this is supposed to suck of the nitrates and nutrients in the tank. Why supplement trace elements if the whole point of the refugium is to get rid of the nutrients?

Also, should I vaccuum EVERY time I water change?

Also, If I got a 125 gallon and swapped all my stuff into the new tank, is that like starting new? Will my corals and anemones survive?

[TellyFish]

Anemones should not require anything crazy. Trace elements are probably unnecessary if you do regular water changes. Try to keep your Calcium/Alkalinity in check.

I have not cared for BTA, but my LTA could care less about phytoplankton. He wants big old cocktail shrimp! Also, the phyto dosing can be a lot for the tank to handle if you over do it and there's not enough export.

The spaghetti algae (I am assuming you mean chaetomorpha sp.) will use nutrients to grow. This will help clean the water, but nutrients are not the same as trace elements. Don't confuse the two. Trace elements are typically minerals.

Feel free to vacuum as much as you feel able. If you like a clean floor, you gotta clean it. I have not vacuumed my tank in 2 years, but I have pretty high flow which keeps the detritus off the floor, and in the water column where it is removed by the skimmer. I find this to be the ideal situation.

If you swap all your water/ live rock to a new tank, there should NOT be a new cycle. However, if anything dies in the process, you may experience a small ammonia spike and then a mini-cycle. Transferring to a new tank is not the same as starting new, you should be fine.

Hope that helps!
-j