Green BTA not looking as puffy.

Bbutler · Mar 26, 2020

My green BTA has recently lost its bubbles and is not looking as puffy as it did.

Is it still healthy?
(Its color has not changed)

20-gallon setup
Temp: 77-79
Salinity: 1.025-26 (I don't have an ATO so this can sometimes fluctuate but I haven't seen any negative effects on my SPS)
PH: 8.5 (I live at a very high elevation so my ph gets pretty high. Again, no negative effects on corals)
Alk: 9
Calc: 420
Mag: 1300
Nitrates: 5ppm
Phosphates: less than 0.03

I have not tested for strontium, Iodine, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Nickel, Copper, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, etc.

Webslinger · Mar 27, 2020

looks fine, BTA's bubble up off and on, no one knows why.

Ewok1 · Mar 27, 2020

Bbutler said:
My green BTA has recently lost its bubbles and is not looking as puffy as it did.

Is it still healthy?
(Its color has not changed)

20-gallon setup
Temp: 77-79
Salinity: 1.025-26 (I don't have an ATO so this can sometimes fluctuate but I haven't seen any negative effects on my SPS)
PH: 8.5 (I live at a very high elevation so my ph gets pretty high. Again, no negative effects on corals)
Alk: 9
Calc: 420
Mag: 1300
Nitrates: 5ppm
Phosphates: less than 0.03

I have not tested for strontium, Iodine, Molybdenum, Vanadium, Nickel, Copper, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, etc.

Stop testing for all that stuff it’s a waste of time for a small tank. Just make your own water and buy good salt and do water changes every month. The nem looks fine it just doesn’t always bubble.

Webslinger · Mar 27, 2020

every month? 10% every week! I agree, the last time I tested my water was over a year ago.

Ewok1 · Mar 27, 2020

Webslinger said:
every month? 10% every week! I agree, the last time I tested my water was over a year ago.

I change my water like every three weeks but I have a bigger tank. Just feed less and have good water. Don’t try to feed your nem too often it can stress them out.

Dom · Mar 27, 2020

Ewok1 said:
Stop testing for all that stuff it’s a waste of time for a small tank. Just make your own water and buy good salt and do water changes every month. The nem looks fine it just doesn’t always bubble.

I think the Nem looks fine. They routinely expand and contract as a means of excreting waste.

But I also think that the size and frequency of water changes can't be determined without first knowing how much livestock is in the tank.

Also, water changes aren't about exporting nutrients only. It is also about replenishing nutrients consumed by life in the tank. Think Calcium and Alkalinity consumption by corals.

So a monthly water change may not be enough if there are corals in the tank consuming nutrients at a rate which is greater than they are being consumed.