Bubbletip advice

Jonesyg · Dec 29, 2020

Hi all, I purchased a BTA from my LFS 3 days ago, in the display tank it was wide open and was being hosted by clown fish, the flow was very slow and high lighting. When I got him home on a piece of rock he was attached to I put him in a low flow area after 30 min acclimation. On the second day he moved around a little and then split into two, it was never as open as at the LFS but was not deflated. I have attached some pictures, id appreciate any advice, is this normal or is he unhappy? I read to not feed them for a week after splitting also.

Water parameters:

Salinity 1.025
PH 7.9-8.2
KH 9 dkh
Temp 25°C
Nitrates 10ppm
Phosphates 0.0ppm
Calcium 430
Magnesium 1300ppm

During split

How it looks today

OrionN · Dec 29, 2020

BTA do not like a lot of flow and do not like really bright light. Maybe decrease flow to him would help to get him to expand more.

Jonesyg · Dec 29, 2020

OrionN said:
BTA do not like a lot of flow and do not like really bright light. Maybe decrease flow to him would help to get him to expand more.

Ok, I have reduced the flow a little from the start, where he is sitting he is getting around 120-150 par when exposed to the light. Ill try lowering the flow further. Thanks

MCWL · Dec 29, 2020

I have had mine for about a month now. Very little movement. Not in a high flow, but defiantly a flow area. And decent light. You may have to let it settle where it like.
BTW...Did you mean 10 ppm for Nitrate?

Jonesyg · Dec 29, 2020

MCWL said:
I have had mine for about a month now. Very little movement. Not in a high flow, but defiantly a flow area. And decent light. You may have to let it settle where it like.
BTW...Did you mean 10 ppm for Nitrate?

Yeah im going to leave it alone and see how it does, im going away for 4 days today so will see when I get back. Yes 10ppm but its coming down, dosing nopox and have a huge ball of cheato in the refugium. Every other coral/animal in the tank is growing well and no issues, I agree the nitrate could be causing an issue for the BTA however the LFS had this BTA for a long time and they run higher nitrate levels than me, no idea why but just for background info.