Best and safest way to remove a Bta?

jasonandsarah · Oct 17, 2015

Hello All,
Ok so my 75g is starting to get a little to Bubble tip heavy. I currently have 7 and my green will probably spilt any day now.
So I'm hoping someone has a good(but proven) trick to get these suckers of the rocks they're on? Kinda trying to hurry as well because I sold one that in supposed to bring to my local swap tommorow. Appreciate any and all help thanks.
Ps. All natural splits so they're foots are pretty set.

Reef Pets · Oct 17, 2015

Take an ice cube or just your finger and aggressively rub the foot of the anemone where it attaches to the rock. The foot start to detach. Just keep rubbing and the anemone will come detached in no time.

FarmerTy · Oct 17, 2015

Just depends where they are but aiming a powerhead at them worked for me in the past. Once you see them start moving, peel with your fingers.

Obviously that doesn't work if they are near the sandbed as you don't want to create a sandstorm in your tank.

jasonandsarah · Oct 17, 2015

Reef Pets said:
Take an ice cube or just your finger and aggressively rub the foot of the anemone where it attaches to the rock. The foot start to detach. Just keep rubbing and the anemone will come detached in no time.

So once it's shrunk up just rub on the base? I think there's one that I can get to the base but the others all have there foot in a hole.
Thanks so much for the help! [emoji3]

The Macro Guy · Oct 19, 2015

If you can remove the rock, buddy taught me to just hang it upside down, and it will droop and eventually let go of the rock, no damage. 10-15min?

eea60 · Oct 19, 2015

I tried the ice cube trick without success but I was able to blast it with a power head to get it to turn loose. Just be ready to catch it.

jasonandsarah · Oct 19, 2015

The Macro Guy said:
If you can remove the rock, buddy taught me to just hang it upside down, and it will droop and eventually let go of the rock, no damage. 10-15min?

This is a great idea, but I have a fully stocked tank with probably 100 lbs of liverock. Most of of my Bta's are on the bottom of my rock piles.

jasonandsarah · Oct 19, 2015

I actually ended up getting it off by rubbing it's foot like suggested, but the Bta did suffer a couple minor cuts. I'm hoping for the best and it seems to be getting better all the time.
I thought the one I picked would be the easiest but it had been in the same spot for 2 years so I guess I should of known better. Hard to tell witch ones foot is exposed the most. Natural splits! [emoji20]

Reef2zach · Oct 19, 2015

Black out your tank for a couple days watch the nem carfully. You should be able to catch it while it walks around the tank looking for another light source

ReefMadScientist · Oct 19, 2015

What I typically do is rub the foot gently to agitate it. When the anemone starts to shrivel up, keep rubbing the foot again and it will slowly lift.

MÃ¤ge · Oct 20, 2015

Hi Nem-Freaks
need some help too

heard something about metal spoons could help... somebody tried that... and witch metal?
I had an idea to try something out with voltage, breaking my brain how to achieve it. Effect to the muscles...

Too many NEMS but big mama loves it!
Cheers Mäge

-Logzor · Oct 20, 2015

Rocket launcher? J/K

I've also heard the ice cube trick is effective.

Sometimes to remove stubborn corals I'll use bone-cutters on the rock that the coral is attached to and pop off a section of rock instead of breaking the coral. Depending on your rock this might be pretty easy and limit the impact to the BTA.

dbl · Oct 20, 2015

I've tried the powerhead method, the ice cube method, the rubbing it's foot (at least as close as I could get - I can't get to the foot of the one I want to remove). I had someone suggest by putting a little dab of kalk paste on it's foot, it will irritate it enough to let loose. Haven't tried it yet, but thought I would share the idea. Supposedly it works well.

jasonandsarah · Oct 20, 2015

I actually cut a lot of rock off to get to it. It was a pita but the foot was barried.
I think from now on I'll try the plant pot trick as I think that's the safest method if you don't have to get it out asap.

dbl · Oct 20, 2015

jasonandsarah said:
I actually cut a lot of rock off to get to it...

I would do that in a heart beat, but it would require a total demolition of my rock work, and that's a task I'm just not up to. And the corals that the rogue RBTA are bothering are completely imbedded at this point. To think, I was so excited the thing split, and now, not so much. :mad:

jasonandsarah · Oct 20, 2015

dbl said:
I would do that in a heart beat, but it would require a total demolition of my rock work, and that's a task I'm just not up to. And the corals that the rogue RBTA are bothering are completely imbedded at this point. To think, I was so excited the thing split, and now, not so much. :mad:

Have you tried the flower pot?

dbl · Oct 20, 2015

Not sure what the flower pot method is to be honest. Can you expand on that a bit please?

jasonandsarah · Oct 20, 2015

dbl said:
Not sure what the flower pot method is to be honest. Can you expand on that a bit please?

You take either a ceramic or plastic flower pot and cover the anemone with it for a couple days. Where the only light is getting will be through the little hole at the bottom of the pot, it'll eventually go towards it and then be right inside it for easy removal. [emoji3]

dbl · Oct 20, 2015

Holy cow, I didn't know about that one...thanks for the tip. That would be great if it works. I'm signing off now so I can get to the store to pick up a flower pot!!!!

jasonandsarah · Oct 20, 2015

dbl said:
Holy cow, I didn't know about that one...thanks for the tip. That would be great if it works. I'm signing off now so I can get to the store to pick up a flower pot!!!!

That's a oldie but a goodie from what I heard. I'd get plastic ones if I was you. Then if you have to make any changes is easy to do.