Adding LTA to DT

[User]

Hi guys

I need to move my LTA from QT to DT- been 16 days isolated from the other corals in its own 10g with a bowl of sand, but I just can’t decide how to do it.

Going to be in the morning (of whatever day I get the balls to do it) since I want a full light period for it to find a spot.

But I’m worried about flow. It didn’t dig into the sand like I expected, instead it pretty much just sat on the top and waved its red base around occasionally. The flow from an aqua clear 20 hob seemed to be too much for it. If it doesn’t attach, its going to end up blown around with the gyres and return flow. I can turn them down to 15-20% and increase once it’s settled, I guess, but if it finds a spot it likes then I increase the flow, it’s liable to move.

I’m going to put the mesh covers in the gyres, I’m certain about that. I don’t want a repeat of its first few hours in the QT when it got sucked into the ph. It recovered fine, as far as I can tell.

So- dig out a spot in the sand so it feels glass then hope it stays? Or put it somewhere with good light and hope it sticks around.

I know I’m going to need to watch for it moving regardless and it’ll settle where it wants to, but do I just put it down somewhere or select a spot and try to make it comfortable?

Anyone have any insight into how they transitioned their LTA?

Current light in its QT is a 24w par38 full spectrum. I have 3 165w black boxes over the 180g DT for now and plan to move the par38 into a preferred corner of DT to see if it’ll help him settle there

Thanks

 

[mta_morrow]

I followed the advice of @Ron Reefman when I added my LTA earlier this year.
Approx 4” deep sand.
A cove with choices to be a bit shaded or direct light.
Some rockwork available, and sand available.
Dig hole to the bare bottom and place.

Here is the spot I created

It’s a bit larger now and still resides there.

I have a nice mild flow from my gyres across the sand bed.

 

[User]

Awesome, thanks.

Was thinking here-

But my Randall’s goby just relocated and moved in under the rock.


Alternate site here- I could turn the left hand rock to make an overhang and put some rock debris around the back . Plus the clowns have taken to hanging out here

 

[mta_morrow]

Awesome, thanks.

Was thinking here-

But my Randall’s goby just relocated and moved in under he rock.


Alternate site here- I could turn the left hand rock to make an overhang and put some rock debris around the back . Plus the clowns have taken to hanging out here

I like the second location personally.

I have 3 gobies and 3 zebra darts that burrow under the rocks.

They regularly relocate so ya never know if a goby will move in under the nem. Hasn’t been enough to irritate mine yet

Please post a pic once you have it in place!

 

[User]

Weird question- but when you place it on the glass... will you feel it stick? Or you just place it in the hole and push sand up around it, and it’ll stick on later?

I’m used to rbta. This is my first sand anemone

 

[mta_morrow]

Weird question- but when you place it on the glass... will you feel it stick? Or you just place it in the hole and push sand up around it, and it’ll stick on later?

I’m used to rbta. This is my first sand anemone

A good question!
Make the hole till u feel the glass bottom.
Some sand will fall back In but that’s ok.
Don’t make it huge cause after you place the nem, you will move the sand back around it.
You may dang near bury it, but it will be fine.
It will settle in and attach pretty quick.

Occasionally I move sand back around mine. As they open and close, it pushes away some sand.

I usually do that when it’s balled up some mornings like a BTA does.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Mike

 

[User]

Last one. Should I ball up when I go to move it? When I brought it home from the store and put it in the sand container, it stayed pretty inflated.

I’ve only seen it ball up about 80% two times in almost a month

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Last one. Should I ball up when I go to move it? When I brought it home from the store and put it in the sand container, it stayed pretty inflated.

I’ve only seen it ball up about 80% two times in almost a month

When I moved my lta from QT to the DT, it was the same. It did not ball up at all, like it didn't care. Dug down, found glass, some sand fell back in like mentioned above, and it has not left the spot. I did exactly what you are looking to do as well. Give it a choice to hide a little or shift some, but be generally where we wanted it. No issues and it has been there over a year now.

But what @mta_morrow is saying, it think lol, once it settles and you catch it in a ball or sort of ball, you can move some sand back around its foot.

 

[User]

 

[mta_morrow]

Last one. Should I ball up when I go to move it? When I brought it home from the store and put it in the sand container, it stayed pretty inflated.

I’ve only seen it ball up about 80% two times in almost a month

Your LTA looks very happy and healthy, and may not ball up when you move it.

Mine was inflated when I placed it. It’s fine if it’s inflated.

You can move sand back around it any time.

 

[User]

Your LTA looks very happy and healthy, and may not ball up when you move it

That’s great to hear- thank you! Frankly, I’ve been a little worried since I lack specific experience. I appreciate the help

 

[mta_morrow]

That’s great to hear- thank you! Frankly, I’ve been a little worried since I lack specific experience. I appreciate the help

Glad I can help.

Went thru it all myself too and received great help and support here at R2R.

 

[Ron Reefman]

@neilp26, when you get the LTA placed and it's settles in, please post some pics.

BTW, just to be clear, I haven't dealt with any LTA's in many years. I'm a RFA, mini-maxi, RBTA, and other small anemone keeper. Having 35 RFA's in my 40g cube means not much room for big boys.

Best of luck.

 

[mta_morrow]

How’s the LTA doing?

Can’t leave us hangin’ like this!

 

[User]

How’s the LTA doing?

Can’t leave us hangin’ like this!

Still in QT- hoping to get to it tomorrow!

Thanks

 

[User]

Ok, finally got the time to do this!!

I left the anemones light off this morning, so she’d be a bit more compact when moving.

With rerun pump and gyres switched off, idropped a 3” pvc union right where I wanted her to go and siphoned out a nice bare patch inside. Then I went downstairs and got the LTA in a small Tupperware container, lifted her out of that and into the DT (avoiding as much water xfer as possible, put her into the glass in the pvc union, gently lifted the union out and watched the sand gently settle around her. Success!!

Then she wiggled to the top of the sand, inverted and balled up. So I scooped out a bare patch as before, placed her down and practically covered her with sand.

Let her sit for 15 minutes then added return flow and gyres at 20% each

Before I’d even put the lid on, the clowns were investigating but have backed off for now. I fed everyone to make them happy again- Michael j Foxface went COMPLETELY BLACK- and I’ll start dialing up the flow every hour by 10% until I hit my regular levels

Thanks for all the advice guys, appreciate it! Especially @mta_morrow ! Appreciate it

 

[mta_morrow]

Ok, finally got the time to do this!!

I left the anemones light off this morning, so she’d be a bit more compact when moving.

With rerun pump and gyres switched off, idropped a 3” pvc union right where I wanted her to go and siphoned out a nice bare patch inside. Then I went downstairs and got the LTA in a small Tupperware container, lifted her out of that and into the DT (avoiding as much water xfer as possible, put her into the glass in the pvc union, gently lifted the union out and watched the sand gently settle around her. Success!!

Then she wiggled to the top of the sand, inverted and balled up. So I scooped out a bare patch as before, placed her down and practically covered her with sand.

Let her sit for 15 minutes then added return flow and gyres at 20% each

Before I’d even put the lid on, the clowns were investigating but have backed off for now. I fed everyone to make them happy again- Michael j Foxface went COMPLETELY BLACK- and I’ll start dialing up the flow every hour by 10% until I hit my regular levels

Thanks for all the advice guys, appreciate it! Especially @mta_morrow ! Appreciate it

That’s awesome! I’m glad it went well for you.

I hope the clowns keep exploring!

Oh........PICS!

 

[Bayareareefer18]

I followed the advice of @Ron Reefman when I added my LTA earlier this year.
Approx 4” deep sand.
A cove with choices to be a bit shaded or direct light.
Some rockwork available, and sand available.
Dig hole to the bare bottom and place.

Here is the spot I created

It’s a bit larger now and still resides there.

I have a nice mild flow from my gyres across the sand bed.

How much par?

 

[mta_morrow]

How much par?

If I had to guess, maybe 180ish.

I have a Seneye so maybe I will check it sometime.

 

[User]

She took a walk...

Literally to the other side opposite where I put her