BTA New tank vs Matured tank

[Funston07]

I believe your incorrect in your thinking here, I've seen many people with newish tanks claiming to have perfect parameters but their nems are still withering away. What in your opinion are they doing wrong that your doing right?
And I don't mean to be rude but lets be real here, the point of this thread was that you have a bta being shipped to you and wanted to know if it'll survive in your tank.

Anyways once again I wish you luck and that nem looks amazing!

If my thinking is incorrect then there's gotta be a direct correlation to a mature tank and a nem other than just stability. Didnt think you were rude at all like I said before just been trying to figure this out and the nem being shipped to me wasnt the initial cause of this, I fully believe the BTA I got will survive. I know someone else with a tank thats 4 months older than mine that also wants a nem but is absolutely against getting one until later just from what he has read and then there's me that think its absolutely possible to effectively keep one in a newer tank. Not that im trying to get him to get one sooner but im curious of what makes people have these 2 different opinions and what is the actual cause, which just keeps doing a circle back to stability

 

[Funston07]

Glitter bombs are wicked little strains of BTA, buddy of mine had a tank full of em. I have always loved the look of nem driven tanks with a couple clowns running amongst the tentacles.


That being said after reading the thread, I agree that the main thing people are missing is STABILITY. Thats with all corals though too. If you plan to have a reef stability is your best friend. You got the right idea doing all your research and seeking the answers.

My baby black widow really enjoys TDO mini pellets, also the maroon feeds the nem the flakes that are too big.. Probably the coolest thing to watch her drag a monster flake piece to the nem then spit it out to it. She feeds it. The nem protects her.

I wish you luck keep us updated!

Its definitely a unique coloration for a BTA. Thats awesome your clowns do that, hopefully mine will eventually. They havent even went near it which I don't really expect them to for awhile especially with how small the BTA is right now. My goby on the other hand got super close, close enough I think he learned his lesson lol he hasnt ventured anywhere in that area since.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

If my thinking is incorrect then there's gotta be a direct correlation to a mature tank and a nem other than just stability.

You may be correct but it doesn't seem like we're getting close to an answer. Maybe a nem guru @ReefSquad @OrionN could chime in

 

[rob s.]

i put my first BTA in at three months. I started my tank with live rock and a healthy dose of bacterias. The nem did wonderfully, grew like a weed and just last week split. Now there are two very healthy and happy nems in my tank. I here so many different opinions on this site, mostly good, but some of you more experienced reefers need to open your minds a little and not be so finite with your replies. Every tank, just like every reefer is different and i'm learning to trust in my gut as to what will work and what won't. I say if you feel your ready for a nem then by all means get one. Had i waited as some recommended i still wouldn't have put one in my tank and like i said earlier i now have two so i must be doing something rite.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

i put my first BTA in at three months. I started my tank with live rock and a healthy dose of bacterias. The nem did wonderfully, grew like a weed and just last week split. Now there are two very healthy and happy nems in my tank. I here so many different opinions on this site, mostly good, but some of you more experienced reefers need to open your minds a little and not be so finite with your replies. Every tank, just like every reefer is different and i'm learning to trust in my gut as to what will work and what won't. I say if you feel your ready for a nem then by all means get one. Had i waited as some recommended i still wouldn't have put one in my tank and like i said earlier i now have two so i must be doing something rite.

There's nothing wrong with adding a nem quickly if your using good live rock. With a bunch of live rock your tank can be instantly established

 

[rob s.]

There's nothing wrong with adding a nem quickly if your using good live rock. With a bunch of live rock your tank can be instantly established

maybe i'm wrong,but i think what he was asking is what "established" really means.

 

[Funston07]

maybe i'm wrong,but i think what he was asking is what "established" really means.

No, I know what "established" really means. I agree with kenny, live rock would make a big difference in the subject we've been discussing.

 

[jordan9095]

In my experience, the BTA is very easy to keep as well as some other anemones. They are pretty hardy. People say to wait so that you have figured out your tank and can maintain stable params. An aggressive oversized clown can do the most damage to smaller BTA. Note that splitting often is usually a sign of stress and can happen if you do a very large water change or change parameters.

 

[rob s.]

yes i realize this but he split case he was getting to large for the crevis he called home. When i got him he was at most 3" inches across when fully extended. just before he split he was almost 8 inches across. Maybe stress of not enough room triggered it but both are now about 3" across fully extended everyday, eating and great colors. It's a rainbow BTA and the centers of both are beautifully colored and bright.

 

[KingTideCorals]

Its definitely a unique coloration for a BTA. Thats awesome your clowns do that, hopefully mine will eventually. They havent even went near it which I don't really expect them to for awhile especially with how small the BTA is right now. My goby on the other hand got super close, close enough I think he learned his lesson lol he hasnt ventured anywhere in that area since.

Way I have gotten every single one of my clowns to host is pull up a chair and set up your computer right in front of the other nem. On youtube they have a 8-10 hr long video of just "relaxing ocean views" and one of the video is just clowns playing in nems for hours.

I would set it up in front and just play the video. Took one clown 5 min took the other clown 5 hours. Not proven to work, but has worked for me every time. Or taping a photo of a clown in a nem to the tank.

 

[92Miata]

I believe your incorrect in your thinking here, I've seen many people with newish tanks claiming to have perfect parameters but their nems are still withering away. What in your opinion are they doing wrong that your doing right?

Generally, being newbies, and not knowing what good parameters actually means.

My BTA went into my tank at 3 weeks. Fish went in on day 3. I can do that because I generally know what I'm doing and can course correct quickly when I see problems.

Newbies don't know what they're doing and don't notice problems, wait too long to do anything, and then generally do way too much. IE, the same reasons newbies kill everything from mushrooms to zoas to fish.

 

[rob s.]

Generally, being newbies, and not knowing what good parameters actually means.

My BTA went into my tank at 3 weeks. Fish went in on day 3. I can do that because I generally know what I'm doing and can course correct quickly when I see problems.

Newbies don't know what they're doing and don't notice problems, wait too long to do anything, and then generally do way too much. IE, the same reasons newbies kill everything from mushrooms to zoas to fish.

I've killed nothing and my tank is thriving.

 

[92Miata]

I've killed nothing and my tank is thriving.

I don't think anyone said you did.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I've killed nothing and my tank is thriving.

10 yrs in and I've killed lots of things and my tanks are thriving. Just sayin...

 

[Rjukan]

I had waited for a year before I got my first nem because that's what I read was needed. It didn't matter, it lasted maybe a week and disappeared in the tank.

While my tank was very stable, it was stable in a way anemones don't like. It was a very low nutrient system and in hindsight I think that's what did it in. I've battled low nitrates and low phos for a while, only when I get those at a stable and controlled value will I try another anemone.

After seeing others put nems in their tanks very early on and be successful, I'm not inclined to believe it's a "mature tank" thing anymore. If you have the parameters they like, and can keep those stable you will be successful.

 

[Funston07]

I had waited for a year before I got my first nem because that's what I read was needed. It didn't matter, it lasted maybe a week and disappeared in the tank.

While my tank was very stable, it was stable in a way anemones don't like. It was a very low nutrient system and in hindsight I think that's what did it in. I've battled low nitrates and low phos for a while, only when I get those at a stable and controlled value will I try another anemone.

After seeing others put nems in their tanks very early on and be successful, I'm not inclined to believe it's a "mature tank" thing anymore. If you have the parameters they like, and can keep those stable you will be successful.

That sucks. I definitely don't have a LNS, I have to dose Red Sea algae management to keep my no3 and po4 down. Its been keeping it very steady though.

 

[kzitzman1]

The seasoned reefer statement is totally understandable. Even if everything does go good for me I wouldnt recommend it to just anyone either, I see plenty of people having issueswith their tanks when they start out. My thing is everyone brings up the bacteria thing with a mature tank but what is a nem benefiting from bacteria? All I can see that benefiting is more or less with stability in the system itself but if you can keep it stable before that beneficial bacteria is there I dont see why you cant get a nem to live healthy. Nice tank btw.

Here’s my two cents. I agree with the idea that stable is a better/more important wording than mature. Mature doesn’t mean stable. Secondly, and more importantly, is knowledge base. I’m a researcher and like to study and learn before I do. I’m always amazed at how much I didn’t know before I started to research and ask experts, even if I had a decent base of knowledge. Being willing to ask questions, learn from experts and discover what you didn’t even know you didn’t know is important. It’s very plausible to learn from experts and avoid mistakes.

it sounds like your system is stable. You also sound like you’ve been trying to learn but only you can know how much you’ve asked and learned. My best advice is to always ask questions and learn and hopefully things will go well when you do move forward.
One last thing.....I’ve heard the idea that since anemone’s move around it can be good to add your anemone before your tank gets too full with coral so it can move and find its desired spot without risk of damaging corals.

 

[JulianHuntToronto]

@xxkenny90xx

It's pretty. Not much out there on this, but it is still an Entacmaea quadricolor. To appeal to the part of you that is "good with science", my 2 cents is that anemones can be temperamental creatures. But then again so can my cat. In the wild anemones have lifespans that are measured in decades not months. So for someone who is not aware of their parameter swings etc, I agree this would be a very bad choice. In my old tank back in 1996, I had two btas that I added after only a few weeks following cycling. At that time I was running a 90 gallon with power compact fluorescents, very low tech and they lasted in that tank for 16 years quite happily. I ended up moving to Vancouver so had to sell/give them away. I have just recently, as of 8 months ago, I set up a new tank (40G) that is anemone dominant. Currently there are 3 btas, 8 mini maxi carpets (Stichodactyla tapetum) and 9 rock flower anemones (Epicystis crucifer). They all have their spots and as often anemones do, found where in the tank they like it best. With the exception of one of the MMC, they have all pretty much stayed near where I first placed them. Most of them went in after a cycle with dry rock and I believe I used Bio-spira as well. I now have better lights with the new LED technology out there. They are all doing very well, I feed 1-2x a week, chunks of a raw seafood mix I get at the grocery store with frozen octopus, clams etc. Though do beware of other slower-moving inverts, the other day I had a $60 superman rhodactis mushroom detach and was carried right into the larger carpet and it was gone in minutes.

I say as long as you read up and research these fascinating animals you should be just fine. If you search on YT, Than from Tidal Gardens did an episode on anemones and he found 2 of them living in a huge sump/mixing tub, quite happily attached to the hot water pipes and they are as happy as pigs in ... I guess just don't get mad at them when they decide that sitting nicely at the front of the tank is not for them and they vanish to the back. Acclimate slowly via drip, turn off all pumps, ideally in the evening, put them where you would like it to live and keep your fingers crossed it stays there. Wishing you the best with your new venture. After all... "with fronds like these, who needs anemones"!

Oh, DO get something to cover powerhead intakes etc.

But hey, I cannot keep Xenia to save my life.

 

[Nikoliter]

Okay so I'm interested in eventually putting a couple BTAs in my tank but want to research more on this exact subject. Many people say you need your tank to be mature (6-8months) to start adding any nems. But why exactly? I'm not necessarily asking for just opinions or past bad experiences but what exactly causes a nems to not thrive in a new tank vs an old tank? Where is there actual research of this idea? They get their nutrients from lighting, periodically feeding, and nutrients from the water column so what does a mature tank have that a new tank doesn't that is going to be beneficial to its health? Outside of your regular parameters what else could be an issue causing people to be unsuccessful with nems in new tanks? I ask this because although people suggest having a mature tank I also see people post about adding a BTA to a 1 day, 1 month, 2 month, and 3 month old tanks with good success so what are they doing differently? It's obviously possible I'm just trying to research the cause of failure with nems in new tanks.

I ordered a Red Sea Reefer 250 in May 2020, and after 30 days, I added a rose BTA, an apple scoly, 2 clowns, and 2 orchid dottybacks. At 2 months, I added a wrasse and 2 purple firefish. I am starting month 3 now and I have not had any issues with anything in my tank. I read all of the risk but I don't have much patience, and I went against everything I read. So far everything seems to be doing great, but I do realize if i start having issues it is my own fault for not following all post I have read in the forum about how to properly setup a tank. I do skim very wet and I have had a refuguim going since 30 days. I also dose 5ml daily of red sea NO3/PO4.

 

[JulianHuntToronto]

Way I have gotten every single one of my clowns to host is pull up a chair and set up your computer right in front of the other nem. On youtube they have a 8-10 hr long video of just "relaxing ocean views" and one of the video is just clowns playing in nems for hours.

I would set it up in front and just play the video. Took one clown 5 min took the other clown 5 hours. Not proven to work, but has worked for me every time. Or taping a photo of a clown in a nem to the tank.

Haha - that's great. Being old!!! When I set up my tank in 1996 we did not have computers and this thing you call the YouTube, to get the clowns back then to get the anemone to host them, I cut out a ton of photos from a reefing magazine and taped them to the ends of the tank. Next day... symbiosis (commensalism).