Can Add BTA to Established Reef?

[Dark_Knightt]

So I want to add a BTA to my reef tank. Its been running for about 6-7 months, and I want to do something nice for my clowns lol. But Ive just realized and read that of course since BTAs arent sessile they can sting corals when they move around. I have a nice spot where I think it will thrive, but i dont know. I dont have too many corals, just 6 in my 20g. Theyre all small except my torch which ive put on top of my rockwork. Is there anything I can do to put one in?
Thx #reefsquad

 

[Spare time]

Mine stay in place. You might be able to get it to stay at a certain spot, just put it in a little crevice where it can hide its food and try from there.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

If possible, try and place it in the area you want it to be, and pray it stays. I find it'll usually move to an area it's happy and stay.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Mine stay in place. You might be able to get it to stay at a certain spot, just put it in a little crevice where it can hide its food and try from there.

I know a perfect place near the bottom of the tank. High lighting, little "cave" where it can wedge itself into the rockwork, and somewhat medium flow. Ive moved my bubble coral out of the way so that a small BTA wont sting it if its tentacles lengthen.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

If possible, try and place it in the area you want it to be, and pray it stays. I find it'll usually move to an area it's happy and stay.

Good think i dont have too many corals for it too sting lol, and the only fish in the tank are clowns.

 

[Moxtrain]

Mine stay in place. You might be able to get it to stay at a certain spot, just put it in a little crevice where it can hide its food and try from there.

Hide its food? I think I'm missing something.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

Hide its food? I think I'm missing something.

Yeah same lol.

 

[Moxtrain]

Yeah same lol.

Just occurred to me it's probably an autocorrect from foot.

 

[chizerbunoi]

A BTA is nice and my choice as I am a nem lover. But know that it will wonder around and could sting all your other corals. It could also not host your clowns. It could also thrive and grow too big, and split multiple times.

Your clowns could host other types of corals which you might want to consider also. Elegance, Torch, Frogspawn, Hammer, Duncan, etc.. Some other options. I see you already have a torch so they could choose to host that, or maybe your powerhead instead. Lol

Have you considered other anemones that don’t split such as long tentacle or Malu Sebae. They will grow large also but if you don’t feed them, it will take many years to outgrow your tank. And they stay down in the sandbed and would be unlikely to sting your other corals.

 

[terraincognita]

Just be ready for it to move man.

If you place it, and then just hang nearby for at least 1-2 hours, you'll be able to make sure it doesn't do something stupid or crazy like getting sucked into a power head............

They're funny creatures man.

You can't control them no matter what, fish you can scare, anemones, they just will keep trying.

Lastly' I've had them move after 6 months as well.

I think it depends on a lot. Normally though they'll settle, and just chill forever.

Also if you don't go BTA, then go for Saddle or Carpet. I dont recommend Condy or Sebae, while they can sometimes host in them, it's more of a game of chance, same with hammers/frogspawn etc. they kind of might or might not.

But i've found with Carpets they host instantly almost, and BTA's after a short while.

There's 2 kinds of carpet nems though, 1 that grows like 24 inches and one that grows 6-8. Dont get the one that grows like 24 inches lollll.

BTA's can also grow huge though technically so idk.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

A BTA is nice and my choice as I am a nem lover. But know that it will wonder around and could sting all your other corals. It could also not host your clowns. It could also thrive and grow too big, and split multiple times.

Your clowns could host other types of corals which you might want to consider also. Elegance, Torch, Frogspawn, Hammer, Duncan, etc.. Some other options. I see you already have a torch so they could choose to host that, or maybe your powerhead instead. Lol

Have you considered other anemones that don’t split such as long tentacle or Malu Sebae. They will grow large also but if you don’t feed them, it will take many years to outgrow your tank. And they stay down in the sandbed and would be unlikely to sting your other corals.

Ill take a look at those. I do love the look of BTAs, but any anemone will do.

 

[Spare time]

Hide its food? I think I'm missing something.

The base of the anemone likes to hide in a crevice or a rock. They do this and then reach out to get light. I think it is a means to protect themselves.

That was a typo, I meant foot hahaha!

 

[George81]

I just added a bta to my tank which has been running since feb 2019 2 weeks or so ago, knock on wood, it’s Stayed where I placed it and seems happy, bottom of my tank On its own rock, not getting battered by flow but enough that it’s tentacles moves every now and again.
I was really worried it would move and was ready To relocate any coral if I needed to.
my luck after posting this, it’s gonna get up and move around.

 

[Dark_Knightt]

I just added a bta to my tank which has been running since feb 2019 2 weeks or so ago, knock on wood, it’s Stayed where I placed it and seems happy, bottom of my tank On its own rock, not getting battered by flow but enough that it’s tentacles moves every now and again.
I was really worried it would move and was ready To relocate any coral if I needed to.
my luck after posting this, it’s gonna get up and move around.

that would be a shame lol.