So I’ve read dozens of threads on keeping fancy BTA anemones with other basic BTA. Like Colorado not doing well with any BTA, Chicago being ok with rainbow BTA’s, etc… Some making it work. Others not so much.
I just wanted to give my 2cents on this as I did a quick experiment with surprising results.
Moved my small rainbow BTA from a 60gal mixed reef that for some reason hasn’t been happy for 6 months or so. No leathers and no other BTA’s. Tank is 2 years old and he grew very fast for first 18months. Split twice naturally, which I rehomed, but then went downhill. Not sure why. Always open, but definitely not happy.
So my male clown became as ******* and started killing new fish added to the tank so I bought a waterbox 15gal peninsula and transferred them there with rainbow BTA. They never cared for the anemone but here’s me hoping the anemone will host them one of these days. That was 1 month ago.
Bought a Chicago BTA from TSA as I read they are OK with other anemones, otherwise I was have bought a CSB anemone. They were in the same 15 gallon for 3 weeks or so. I ran two 5gal packets of chemi pure blue which contains gfo and activated carbon. Po4 is good at .04 or so but I can never tell when carbon runs out, until now.
Three days ago both BTA’s closed up drastically. The rainbow was completely closed for 3 days. The Chicago BTA very small. I’ve had the rainbow BTA for 2 years and he has never closed up for 3 days straight. I instantly thought of chemical warfare and after 2 ticked off BTA’s for 3 days I threw in some fresh activated carbon. 3 hours later…rainbow BTA opened up.
This kinda proves that there is a lot of chemical warfare that we don’t see happening. The only other coral in nano tank are few premium small mushrooms, 1 small micro carpet anemone and 2 small rock anemones. There are only 2 clowns and some cleaner snails, sexy shrimp and 1 cleaner shrimp. Nutrients are in check. I only have soft coral as I didn’t want to have to dose. Weekly water changes. Been doing this for 2 years and my experience has come from a lot of losses. I was just blown away that some activated charcoal and 3 hours of time fixed the water where both BTA’s were happier. My 2 cents… =)
I just wanted to give my 2cents on this as I did a quick experiment with surprising results.
Moved my small rainbow BTA from a 60gal mixed reef that for some reason hasn’t been happy for 6 months or so. No leathers and no other BTA’s. Tank is 2 years old and he grew very fast for first 18months. Split twice naturally, which I rehomed, but then went downhill. Not sure why. Always open, but definitely not happy.
So my male clown became as ******* and started killing new fish added to the tank so I bought a waterbox 15gal peninsula and transferred them there with rainbow BTA. They never cared for the anemone but here’s me hoping the anemone will host them one of these days. That was 1 month ago.
Bought a Chicago BTA from TSA as I read they are OK with other anemones, otherwise I was have bought a CSB anemone. They were in the same 15 gallon for 3 weeks or so. I ran two 5gal packets of chemi pure blue which contains gfo and activated carbon. Po4 is good at .04 or so but I can never tell when carbon runs out, until now.
Three days ago both BTA’s closed up drastically. The rainbow was completely closed for 3 days. The Chicago BTA very small. I’ve had the rainbow BTA for 2 years and he has never closed up for 3 days straight. I instantly thought of chemical warfare and after 2 ticked off BTA’s for 3 days I threw in some fresh activated carbon. 3 hours later…rainbow BTA opened up.
This kinda proves that there is a lot of chemical warfare that we don’t see happening. The only other coral in nano tank are few premium small mushrooms, 1 small micro carpet anemone and 2 small rock anemones. There are only 2 clowns and some cleaner snails, sexy shrimp and 1 cleaner shrimp. Nutrients are in check. I only have soft coral as I didn’t want to have to dose. Weekly water changes. Been doing this for 2 years and my experience has come from a lot of losses. I was just blown away that some activated charcoal and 3 hours of time fixed the water where both BTA’s were happier. My 2 cents… =)
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