Dramatic BTA’s

[bjsreefer]

Hey all new to keeping but with my BTA’s in my tank they both shrink EXTREMELY small like almost can’t see the tentacles during the day. My rainbow one droops and looks like gapes…. But both always bounce back, no bleaching, and they both have stayed put since finding their respective spots. Any tips to help them find their bubbles again?

Both of these happen multiple times per day. LFS suggested maybe overfeeding? I don’t really spot fed them anymore besides any leftover reef foods after I get my corals twice a week. Parameters are all stable and good, so just don’t know why I don’t have the normal shrinkage instead of this playing dead. Thanks all!

 

[PPBlimpy]

what does your lighting and flow look like?

 

[bubbgee]

Anemones are a mood. They have their own mind. Like a cat.

Anyway, lower flow brings back the bubbles. At least from my experience

 

[bjsreefer]

I have a blade glow and grow combo but both are mounted high and intensity way down plus in acclimation mode. Once acclimation mode is done I’m going to rent a par meter and check par around the tank. Have main lights on the helloreef preset so 10 hours total on plus the glow has deep blue and uv moonlight at 2% for a couple hours extra that changes based on moon phase.

Flow is just a sicce power head pointed at the surface and across to the front corner to add surface movement and gas exchange plus to randomize the flow (copied that flow guide from my LFS who also has a helloreef tank in the front) . Nothing too intense pointed at anything.

 

[bubbgee]

They normally sulk as they adjust. Heck when I moved my nems to their new nano, they just hid and now they are roaming around rocks trying to find their happy place. Just let them be. One day they look like they are dying and then they’re fine.

Make sure you just have higher phosphates and nitrates. You don’t have to feed them necessarily, especially if you have fish. They’ll eat whatever is in the water and soak in the nutrients.

 

[PPBlimpy]

only time i feed my BTA, is if my porcupine puffer doesn't finish his shrimp dinner. and i pick a random BTA to feed, pretty sure i have more then 50 in my tank currently

 

[bjsreefer]

50? That’s wild! Yeah I’m just letting them ride at this point. Salinity is a consistent 1.025-1.026, temp is 77.5, nitrates are around 25 so a tad high but nothing crazy, phosphates are at .1 everything else is standard as well (Kh 9.0, Ca and Mg within normal standards and not changing). I think they’re just moody!

 

[PPBlimpy]

50? That’s wild! Yeah I’m just letting them ride at this point. Salinity is a consistent 1.025-1.026, temp is 77.5, nitrates are around 25 so a tad high but nothing crazy, phosphates are at .1 everything else is standard as well (Kh 9.0, Ca and Mg within normal standards and not changing). I think they’re just moody!

yea fair warning though. I have only bought 3 since starting back into saltwater nov 2023
a green - has never split
a rainbow- has split about 8 times
a rose - has split countless times. I have sold full rocks with 20+ on it to clear them out. every water change they would split. lost power to the house for 3 days and ran on backup generators, no lights etc. Power came back on and I swear they doubled in numbers. full moon- sure they get ticked and split(not literally but they are that finicky)

I have sold 40+ in the past 4 months. cheap- most @ $10 each
I just transferred my 125 to a 300g and may just let them take over the 300g. Thinking I may start a 40ish gallon tank to run as a mixed reef and transfer all my corals into it.

anyways I love them and just warn others

 

[bjsreefer]

Well when I get to that level I’m planning on getting a bigger tank for sure- but nothing splitting right now. Have one green and the rainbow which is much duller than it started as well, but def not bleached. Still working on getting everything happy and acclimated. Once my lights are through the acclimation settings like I mentioned earlier I’ll see how they do. 15 more days before I’m at normal strength!