Do you guys regret owning a BTA?

[philosophile]

I put in a BTA three years ago, and its split once in that time. it really hasn't moved around much at all.

Last year I took the deep dive and put in a Colorado sunburst and it moved when it outgrew the little hole it had settled in. That was a bit of a gut turning experience because it had decided to stay in a place where I couldn't see it, attached to two pieces of rock. So I had to move it. I slowly moved one rock and it let go of the rock pretty easily, then turned the rock around so bbn I could see it. It hasn't moved since (this was about a month ago). Its my favorite thing in the tank! So no regrets!

 

[Captain Quint]

No regrets here.

I generally thin the 'drops' to the tune of 3 or 4 a month to good homes.

 

[Lukas75]

I definitely do not regret it. I have gone from a one tank system to a two tank system because of it though. I've had the nem for several years now and it just keeps splitting. The parent nem has been in the same spot for about two years now but when it splits one will invariably wander. Thus I have a coral tank and a nem tank now plumbed through the same sump, it's just easier that way.

 

[mwilk19]

Absolutely. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't. They grow too big, reproduce and kill my corals. I now have a dedicated anemone cube but I still have 3 in my display tank that I can't get out.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Love my BTAs had a red rainbow that's split only once, also got a green BTA but it bleached (problem with lights when went all holiday for a week) hoping to get it's colour back.

Usually find they find a spot and If they stay there for a few days then they are going to stay there for the foreseeable.

I move my corals to accomodate the nems, I love the diversity and will try and get as much as can of everything.

 

[DarthSimon]

No regrets here.

I generally thin the 'drops' to the tune of 3 or 4 a month to good homes.

Hey Captain!!
Can you help me out? I currently have a big issue going on in my reef. My display tank is predominately SPS. I started with one little RBTA about 12-16 months back. They are starting to take over my tank. I probably have 18-20 of them now. How do you get them off the rocks safely?

 

[Jvesche20]

I know the title says bta but I had a lta and I had to get rid of it. It would stay in 1 spot for 1-2 months then decide to move on me. I have 50+ sps corals in my tank and it kept hitting my corals so I said time to go. Thing was 12+ inches and took 3 hours to get the foot to come off the glass

 

[Yvonne Wong]

I would like a BTA if it is in a dedicated anemone tank w clownfish. Otherwise not worth the worries it will sting other corals or die if it will move near a wavemaker/intake.

 

[jordan10]

So seexxyy!!!

 

[Rabidwolf]

Anyone know if the foam mp40 guards stop the nems crawling over the top of them?
Just about to release 3 BTAs and 3 mini maxi nems into my new tank and contemplating turning the mp40 off for a while

 

[Captain Quint]

Hey Captain!!
Can you help me out? I currently have a big issue going on in my reef. My display tank is predominately SPS. I started with one little RBTA about 12-16 months back. They are starting to take over my tank. I probably have 18-20 of them now. How do you get them off the rocks safely?

Beautiful system my friend. I for one keep corals in my children's 180's (since I no longer keep multiple tanks in my home...getting too old...arg) and keep this dedicated for my BTA's.

To remove them safely I place the LR on a bucket with some saltwater in it...use a couple of pieces of wood or PVC and the BTA's will generally release and drop into the bucket within ~30 minutes. I do this as to cause no damage to the foot, nor any tearing.

If its 2 or 3 on a small piece of LR, I give the whole enchilada to the person I am giving to and they get a piece of pest free rock with pods and mini brittle starfish as well. I enjoy playing if forward.

Here's a pic from a friend I gave 3 to about 3 weeks ago in a couple of his tanks...one for his Maroon...and the other two for his main DT. He got a piece of LR and simply had to set it in place.

 

[Captain Quint]

I would like a BTA if it is in a dedicated anemone tank w clownfish. Otherwise not worth the worries it will sting other corals or die if it will move near a wavemaker/intake.

Run a couple of tanks for the different livestock. Then, no worries. :)

 

[Captain Quint]

Anyone know if the foam mp40 guards stop the nems crawling over the top of them?
Just about to release 3 BTAs and 3 mini maxi nems into my new tank and contemplating turning the mp40 off for a while

They definitely help, but they also collect a good deal of food sticking to them and frequently need to be rinsed out good.

 

[jordan10]

Hey Captain!!
Can you help me out? I currently have a big issue going on in my reef. My display tank is predominately SPS. I started with one little RBTA about 12-16 months back. They are starting to take over my tank. I probably have 18-20 of them now. How do you get them off the rocks safely?

I have always pointted a power head at it till it gets mad and moves and scoopnit up why it's moving.

 

[Ardeus]

I have over 30 BTA's and the only fish that use them are the 2 banggai cardinals.

There's a trio of ocellaris that much prefers the magnifica on the right.

I don't worry too much about the pumps and the BTA's. There are 2 x 30.000 litres/hour pumps on each side of the anemone structure.

Carbon is your friend when accidents happen and the total volume of water helps too.

When I catch a wanderer, it goes into the refugium.

The magnifica, being a much larger animal does worry me.

 

[Alex Costa]

In an acro dominated tank, never more!
They walk....they split.....they expand tentacles and touch things.
I already removed 3.....it's still one to go.

 

[Rabidwolf]

Moved these into new tank a few hours ago, looks like 1 is splitting straight away!!

 

[rknott]

Great thread. Thank you to all the contributors. As an inexperienced reffer, I have been thinking about this for a while. I have a very mature 14G biocube and I am building out a 75. Planning on taking everything out of my cube, putting into by 75. Thinking about making my cube a dedicated clown/BPA tank.

 

[swoons]

I have a flame rose tip bubble anemone which was beautiful in the tank at first until it decided he didn't like the flow anymore and moved his way on the backside of my rock work. Hoping it settles back into a spot where I can view it.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

My wife and I love nems. Here 32 Biocube is her nem pride and joy.

Older pic there are quite a few more in it now 14-18. I did transfer one to my 144....ya it already split now there is two, possibly 3. I like them and my Maroons love them but I kind of wish I would have tried a different species. Before it's said and done they might be moved back to her tank. :)