BTA amd PAR assimilation

[116]

Getting back in to the hobby and it's my first time with LEDs. I'm so excited I set up 2 tanks lol. Anyway I want to make a dedicated BTA only tank which is cycling now. Yes I realize BTAs need a mature tank and I'm willing to wait 6-8 months or longer after adding fish if need be.

I just measured PAR and have anywhere from 250-425 PAR. I know BTA will move to where they feel most comfortable but I'm worried about a newly bought one that has been kept in lower lighting at either a LFS or online vendor. I do have a few areas in my scape where theres a cave like structure and shaded areas where it could retreat to but I'm still paranoid about bleaching one.

Since LEDs are programmable I was thinking maybe start at 50% intensity and gradually raise it to max over the course of a month. Is that a good plan? Too long or too short of an assimilation? Am I overthinking it since the BTA can move to the shade if need be?

 

[Ron Reefman]

First I wouldn't just assume an LFS or online supplier is running low PAR. IMHO, way more often than not, they run high PAR to help with growth.

In your tank, I'd place the nem in an area with PAR at 250 (I assume near the sand). Then let the nem decide where to go. They are fairly adaptable and should do OK in terms of your lighting.

Good luck and welcome back into the hobby.

 

[mike550]

My BTA was in the same spot for months sitting low in my tank in a spot where I thought it had great flow and light. Then just this week it started a walk about and is now up high in a corner of the tank. Not a lot of light or flow. So not sure what that’s all about. But they just seem to move.

My point is that your BTA will figure it out

 

[116]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm just being paranoid about bleaching a new addition. Been doing my research and wondering how nems get bleached since they're mobile but they could have just been an unhealthy nem to begin with or other factors I guess. That's the fun and difficult part of the planning stage... trying to think of getting everything right and covering every base just for everything to go another way when you execute your plan lol.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You couldn't be more right about this comment. "That's the fun and difficult part of the planning stage... trying to think of getting everything right and covering every base just for everything to go another way when you execute your plan lol." I have a 16g tank that is a breeding tank just for Rock Flower Anemones and even with 20 years of experience in the hobby, things don't go as planned!

Good luck.

 

[joseph scott]

I have about 30 BTA’s in two different tanks. I’m beginning to think that every BTA is different when it comes to light preference. I have some on top of the highest rock just inches under water being lit by AI prime HD’s at full power. In the same tank some are doing just fine 15 inches down. Then I have some in another tank 20 inches down under black box Viperspectra’s that only at 75% . When I had the lights at 90% all three of the BTA’s crawled under the rock, turned it down and they moved back up.

 

[hounddog01]

Following this thread. I just got a BTA and used to raise them. Have an older setup that I just restarted, Put the bta in. Tank has been up for about 3 months. I put it near the top (I have 400 w 14 k halides) 2 of them over a 180 acrylic it has two openings. When I first put it in it moved down to the sand. Put it back and it attached and moved down. So put it on the sand between rocks and it attaches to the glass and when the lights come on during the day it detaches. Back years ago my nems loved the light. This nem was kept in a tank with led not much white light. No bubble tips I would guess due to the low lighting. I am wondering how long it will take for it to adjust to he halide lighting.

 

[116]

Following this thread. I just got a BTA and used to raise them. Have an older setup that I just restarted, Put the bta in. Tank has been up for about 3 months. I put it near the top (I have 400 w 14 k halides) 2 of them over a 180 acrylic it has two openings. When I first put it in it moved down to the sand. Put it back and it attached and moved down. So put it on the sand between rocks and it attaches to the glass and when the lights come on during the day it detaches. Back years ago my nems loved the light. This nem was kept in a tank with led not much white light. No bubble tips I would guess due to the low lighting. I am wondering how long it will take for it to adjust to he halide lighting.

Could it maybe be flow related? Is the flow different in places you placed it and to where it moves to?

 

[Keen4]

I have about 30 BTA’s in two different tanks. I’m beginning to think that every BTA is different when it comes to light preference. I have some on top of the highest rock just inches under water being lit by AI prime HD’s at full power. In the same tank some are doing just fine 15 inches down. Then I have some in another tank 20 inches down under black box Viperspectra’s that only at 75% . When I had the lights at 90% all three of the BTA’s crawled under the rock, turned it down and they moved back up.

What are your settings on the Prime? I just got it and my bta is being super weird now in the acclimation. I wasn't even sure what settings to use to set the Prime 16 hd for acclimation. Ive got wrinkly tentacles and long extensions now. Before I was using a Pixie30 and it loved that light. Was always a perfect bubble tip.