BTA strange behavior?

BoneXriffic · Mar 29, 2016

About a week and a half ago i replaced my hatian with a bta. Did the normal turn flow off and mid him about mid tank in a good area of flow. First few days he stayed open and when the lights went off at night he closed. Now he has moved under an upper rock and is usually closed for the day and starts to open at night. His new location is upside down and under the return so no flow. The tank is a 29. 15gal sump. Water quality is good. And im running a 250w MH. Return is 800gph. Could the lighting be too strong? I have some leathers xenia and zoos which all seem fine. Fish wise just a small blue damsel. A snowflake clown. An ocellaris and a bi color blenny. Nothing seems to mess with bta. Any thoughts?

Tahoe61 · Mar 29, 2016

That is a lot of light for a 29 gallon. What is the temp on the tank? How old is the bulb? Could be in the process of cloning, not unusual for a BTA to clone after acclimation.

BoneXriffic · Mar 29, 2016

Temp is 77f. Its a fairly small bta...will they clone in a small size?

BoneXriffic · Mar 29, 2016

Oh and bulb is a bit old.

ngvu1 · Mar 29, 2016

Since you have had a nem before, I am assuming the water chemistry and reef experience are efficient to keep nem. Nems like a caves to hide their feet AND the flow is just right above the tips of there tentacles. If the power head is pointing at them, they will move for sure....
On the side note, when the water is not good and the nem is un-happy, they oftens move around a lot then when runs out of option, they die! That, the last sentence, is just my personal experience with bubble tip nems.

BoneXriffic · Mar 29, 2016

Where its moved to its remained for the last 2 days. Eats fine also. And the hatian i had i kept in there for a year. The corals ive had between 3 and 9 months. No losses of anything except the occasional hermit crab killing another for its shell. Ill retest water again. And maybe see about a new bulb. MH can lose their intensity after a while i suppose

Tahoe61 · Mar 29, 2016

MH between 6 to 9 months, is right around when I change them out. Sometimes you can see the color change as the bulb ages. You'll still need to acclimate your corals to the new bulb. Sounds like the anemone is just acclimating. I would change out the bulb though if the bulb is over a year.

BoneXriffic · Mar 29, 2016

https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/8023/MHS-02502404.html This bulb seems to be the replacment. T15 14k seems ok for this right? I could put this in lighting area if more appropriate

Tahoe61 · Mar 29, 2016

You want a better bulb, yes they cost more.

Definitely start a thread for replacement bulb suggestions.

http://www.marinedepot.com/250_Watt...ht_Bulbs-Hamilton-MB6816-FILTBUMHSETW-vi.html

BoneXriffic · Mar 29, 2016

Thanks for the help guys. I posted in lighting to get feedback. Im willing to spend the money on the right stuff. When i typed ballast info that was the first one. Thanks again im sure ill have many more questions

BoneXriffic · Mar 30, 2016

He has now moved a tad further back but was open all day....odd thing is he is between the rick and glass in back just smooshed up against the glass....

tmac18 · Mar 31, 2016

My bubble tip I'd doing the same thing. I moved my rocks around so it could be seen. After the move he placed his foot deep in a cave. But when lights are on it stretches out to meet the light. When lights go out it retreats back inside the cave. Hasn't moved in a week. So... I'm guessing it's happy there. Not really where I wanted it. But if it's happy then I can't complain.

BoneXriffic · Apr 3, 2016

So i recently bought a torch coral. Yesterday actually. And my small ocellaris has been circling closley and eying it up. Even put his face in it once.... so does this seem like the behavior of him taking the torch as a home? And can it handle him? Expanded the coral is about 6 to 8 times his size.

Side note bta has spent alot of time inside out or half inflated.... only one in tank who seems unhappy