BTAs in New Tank

ReeferReefer · Jun 23, 2019

I have 4 BTAs that I have been keeping for about 4 years now in my 90g. I have a new Nuvo 30L that is just finishing its cycle. I want to transfer my BTAs to the new tank, which has mostly freshly cycled dry rock (most of the rock in my 90 isn't nice reef rock).

I am bringing over a few pieces of live rock from my 90 as well.

Is this going to be ok for my nems?

Jon Fishman · Jun 23, 2019

I put mine in a brand new nano. 20g tank, new sand, one 25lb rock from my other tank..... It’s doing great. It will probably be fine.

ReeferReefer · Jun 23, 2019

Jon Fishman said:
I put mine in a brand new nano. 20g tank, new sand, one 25lb rock from my other tank..... It’s doing great. It will probably be fine.

Thanks for the reply. I'll try to bring over as much good rock from my old tank as possible at least to start.

I've always seen that BTAs need mature tanks but my 90 is being torn down so there really isn't much choice.

ReeferMaddness843 · Jun 23, 2019

I believe it has a lot to do with the stability of the tank as well. Since most more mature tanks are pretty stable that attribute transfers over as well. Take as much rock, make sure the parameters of you mixed up new water match those of current tank and that there are no shocking changes in flow and light. Should be good to go as long as the environment remains the same, but the enclosure is the only thing really changing.

ReeferReefer · Jun 23, 2019

ReeferMaddness843 said:
I believe it has a lot to do with the stability of the tank as well. Since most more mature tanks are pretty stable that attribute transfers over as well. Take as much rock, make sure the parameters of you mixed up new water match those of current tank and that there are no shocking changes in flow and light. Should be good to go as long as the environment remains the same, but the enclosure is the only thing really changing.

I have already been acclimating the nems to my new lights over the last 2 weeks so lighting should be good.

It's a bit nerve wracking to load a brand new tank to the brim with corals lol.

ReeferReefer · Jun 24, 2019

Tank is cycled now. I am going to do the transfer tonight or tomorrow.

ReeferReefer · Jun 26, 2019

Transfer went well. Nems seem to be adjusting alright. Had one split.

ReeferReefer · Jun 27, 2019

Here they are.

ReeferReefer · Jul 9, 2019

Just a quick update. When I pulled my BTAs from the old tank I had 4. Now I have 7.

They are doing fine but the environmental changes definitely caused them to split.

Rscott · Jul 10, 2019

Really fascinating here. Thanks for posting this as I am interested in picking up a BTA.
I have read many people say that they need a mature tank. Then marine depot and some other did a video on how that is just not true and they can go in new tanks as young as 4 weeks no problem.

I know you have seen some of my threads in the past. My tank seems to be doing well now and im considering one for my clowns.
Any updates or recommendations on how you did the transfer?

ReeferReefer · Jul 10, 2019

Rscott said:
Really fascinating here. Thanks for posting this as I am interested in picking up a BTA.
I have read many people say that they need a mature tank. Then marine depot and some other did a video on how that is just not true and they can go in new tanks as young as 4 weeks no problem.

I know you have seen some of my threads in the past. My tank seems to be doing well now and im considering one for my clowns.
Any updates or recommendations on how you did the transfer?

I think the biggest thing with keeping BTAs is not really the tank age, but the experience of the reefer.

In the first couple of months of my old tank I did not have an ATO set up. These guys can be sensitive to salinity swings.

With the transfer I tried to bring over as much existing rock as possible, to keep things stable.

The other thing to note is that my tank has an extremely low bioload. I have 0 fish. Just corals, 2 snails and a handful of hermits.

I would not use my case of an example for butting btas in new tanks since much of the rock is long established and I have a low bioload.

Rscott · Jul 10, 2019

ReeferReefer said:
I think the biggest thing with keeping BTAs is not really the tank age, but the experience of the reefer.

In the first couple of months of my old tank I did not have an ATO set up. These guys can be sensitive to salinity swings.

With the transfer I tried to bring over as much existing rock as possible, to keep things stable.

The other thing to note is that my tank has an extremely low bioload. I have 0 fish. Just corals, 2 snails and a handful of hermits.

I would not use my case of an example for butting btas in new tanks since much of the rock is long established and I have a low bioload.

Why is the rock so important if there is no bioload.

also, what is considerd a big salinity swing. My tank swings around 35 to 35.5 give or take but mostly due to water changes. regardless of how well I calibrate my refract meter when I do a 30% change I still have .5 swing according to my apex

ReeferReefer · Jul 10, 2019

Rscott said:
Why is the rock so important if there is no bioload.

also, what is considerd a big salinity swing. My tank swings around 35 to 35.5 give or take but mostly due to water changes. regardless of how well I calibrate my refract meter when I do a 30% change I still have .5 swing according to my apex

I don't think that a small salinity swing when doing water changes would be too bad for them. The bigger problem IMO is topping off only once a day. That makes the salinity rise all day long and then getting spikes once a day when you add the top off. An ATO will keep it stable all day long.

Although I have a very light bioload, its not a bioload of zero. My tank has a ton of corals in it and I feed my nems LRS Reef Frenzy every other week. The hermits get some of the left overs.

The established rock just adds more stability. I guess you wouldn't need it but I feel it helps. I also seeded my dry rock with established live rock during my cycle.

Rscott · Jul 11, 2019

ReeferReefer said:
I don't think that a small salinity swing when doing water changes would be too bad for them. The bigger problem IMO is topping off only once a day. That makes the salinity rise all day long and then getting spikes once a day when you add the top off. An ATO will keep it stable all day long.

Although I have a very light bioload, its not a bioload of zero. My tank has a ton of corals in it and I feed my nems LRS Reef Frenzy every other week. The hermits get some of the left overs.

The established rock just adds more stability. I guess you wouldn't need it but I feel it helps. I also seeded my dry rock with established live rock during my cycle.

I have an ATO
I see your point in rising all day

I get a .5 swing just on big water changes
Other then that the tank seems fairly stable

Will probably wait a bit