Don't judge me, but...

[1stNoel]

I decided to add some nems to my display tank, so I bought some Rock Flower Nems and a Rainbow BTA.

Here's the problem:
My display tank is catered to SPS and has an insane amount of flow (4 Gyres and 4 MP40s in a 300g tank --- SPS like it). I placed the nems in 2 separate areas where I believed there'd be the least amount of flow, and I turned off the MP40s while they acclimated.

They all grabbed a foothold, but the minute I turned on the MP40s...they all became unhappy. BTA left its rock and started walking.

My concern is that the BTA is going to find a powerhead, kill other corals, or anchor down in a place where he wouldn't be seen...so I surrounded it with frag tiles, waited for him to walk onto one, and removed the BTA and the rock flowers from the tank.

I have a 55g QT tank used for initial observation of fish, not medication. Light flow and great lighting. However, phosphates are sky high (like 2.5 --- I wasn't testing in that tank). My thought is to let the nems live in that tank. I drip acclimated overnight, and so far the nem looks good.

And finally the question:
If aiptasia are happy in the 55g (I have to nuke them with Aiptasia-X every few months), then can I assume other nems will be happy even with the high initial phosphates and the parameter changes as I slowly lower the PO4? All other parameters are in line, and the QT tank has been up for 2 years.

 

[James M]

I wouldn’t transfer them if you just added them to the DT. That’s going to cause even mor stress on them. If it was me I would leave them in dt
That’s the things you have to consider before buying a nems.

 

[Scdell]

I have a BTA in an SPS tank with tons of flow. It actually split, so I now have two. They are happy as heck. Leave them be. They'll find a place they like and settle in.

 

[1stNoel]

I have a BTA in an SPS tank with tons of flow. It actually split, so I now have two. They are happy as heck. Leave them be. They'll find a place they like and settle in.

How did you get it to settle in?

Ideally I'd like him on the middle right, lower rockwork (in the area above the acclimation box). But since I haven't started gluing down frags, I don't mind where he goes as long as it's somewhere I can see it. I just don't have many spots on the rockwork that's not getting blasted with flow.

 

[Scdell]

How did you get it to settle in?

Ideally I'd like him on the middle right, lower rockwork (in the area above the acclimation box). But since I haven't started gluing down frags, I don't mind where he goes as long as it's somewhere I can see it. I just don't have many spots on the rockwork that's not getting blasted with flow.

I put him where I thought he would like it. He stayed there for a bit, then he moved to where he wanted. He's been there since. He's in pretty good flow. It took about a week or so for him to settle. They will pick there spot. It's not just about flow. They want correct lighting also.

 

[Oshengems]

With nems you can’t call it they are crazy, I have 3 Rock Flower they been in the same spot where I placed them when I got them, I got a 4th and placed him in the same area there was an open spot so it was “perfect”, this dude said nope I’m free like a peacock ended up on the other side of my tank under
My chalice, week later disappeared went black to the other nems then moved back to the other side and decided to park right smack down the middle of my Green buttons polyps, it’s been there like 5-6 months

 

[Oshengems]

Also have a baby BTA on the run it seems to like my back panel, my big BTA only moved when my monti cap started shading it, did the slight shift to be in direct light

 

[1stNoel]

I put him where I thought he would like it. He stayed there for a bit, then he moved to where he wanted. He's been there since. He's in pretty good flow. It took about a week or so for him to settle. They will pick there spot. It's not just about flow. They want correct lighting also.

Ok. Other than my return line, all flow is off in the display tank. Here is where I've placed the BTA. Let's see how it goes...

 

[Scdell]

that's where he ended up. Been there over a year. And grown about 4 fold. Excuse my tank. Treating it for bryopsis.

 

[Oshengems]

Ok. Other than my return line, all flow is off in the display tank. Here is where I've placed the BTA. Let's see how it goes...

Beautiful nem! He will find his spot, in my friends tank all of his nems like the area where they are not seen the back of his rockwork facing the wall lol he only noticed because one of clowns kept squeezing back there lol it’s been more than a year he doesn’t care at this point

 

[Scdell]

Ok. Other than my return line, all flow is off in the display tank. Here is where I've placed the BTA. Let's see how it goes...

Don't think he'll like it that high. He'll move down.

 

[Scdell]

Don't think he'll like it that high. He'll move down.

Leave the flow on. Let him choose.

 

[Oshengems]

Leave the flow on. Let him choose.

Yup

You gotta set it.... AND FORGET IT! Lol

Keep everything the way it’s supposed to be you don’t want him settling then turn on the pumps and he doesn’t like the flow a go on the run again they will choose what they like

 

[1stNoel]

Leave the flow on. Let him choose.

He hasn't grabbed a foothold yet. When I tried to place him there, he initially floated away with the flow (just Gyres; no MP40s).

I had to grab him and hold him in my palm while I moved over to the control switch (about 4 feet away) and turned off the Gyres. By the time I went to put him back, he had sucked onto my palm and I had to patiently wait for him to scoot onto the rock.

I don't mind redirecting a few of the pumps. I've been meaning to put 2 of the Gyres on the backwall. Now I have a little incentive since I don't want him crawling back there...

 

[Oshengems]

Ah yeah keep the flow off until he’s settled you might want to start him low since the top I’m guessing will have stronger flow once on, the lil nem I have on the run doesn’t take more than 10-15 mins to reattach once I move it I’ve moved it 2 times since Jan it keeps going to my back panel for some odd reason

 

[Scdell]

He hasn't grabbed a foothold yet. When I tried to place him there, he initially floated away with the flow (just Gyres; no MP40s).

I had to grab him and hold him in my palm while I moved over to the control switch (about 4 feet away) and turned off the Gyres. By the time I went to put him back, he had sucked onto my palm and I had to patiently wait for him to scoot onto the rock.

I don't mind redirecting a few of the pumps. I've been meaning to put 2 of the Gyres on the backwall. Now I have a little incentive since I don't want him crawling back there...

Put him in a low flow spot with the flow on. He'll pick where he wants to be. If he settles someplace without the flow he'll move when you put the flow back on. Then you'll be back to square one. Put him low as possible. He'll go where he wants.

 

[1stNoel]

Put him in a low flow spot with the flow on. He'll pick where he wants to be. If he settles someplace without the flow he'll move when you put the flow back on. Then you'll be back to square one. Put him low as possible. He'll go where he wants.

I'm working on cutting baseboards, so I periodically walk back in to check on him. And like Kaiser Soze, "he's gone"...

 

[1stNoel]

I'm doing play-by-play now.

After some vigorous searching, "I seeeeeee you"... and yes, that is the Hippo Tang jumping into every picture.

He's inside the cave of my rockwork. I'll turn some flow back on...

 

[1stNoel]

Turning on the Gyres was a fail. It sucked him under one of those rocks, and I can't reach him. :mad:

I'll keep the flow off and hope he finds a good spot.

 

[clm65]

And finally the question:
If aiptasia are happy in the 55g (I have to nuke them with Aiptasia-X every few months), then can I assume other nems will be happy even with the high initial phosphates and the parameter changes as I slowly lower the PO4? All other parameters are in line, and the QT tank has been up for 2 years.

I know you are going a different route than the QT tank, but to answer your question...and I'm certainly no expert... but I don't believe success with aiptasia will translate to success with other more desirable creatures. I asked a similar question regarding majanos.