Help With BTA in immature Tank

[Kirschy17]

Hello Guys,

New 2 REEF2REEF,

I have a problem. As the title suggests im in the podition to have a BTA in my about 3 Week old, newly cycled Tank. I am aware of the fact that you should not keep btas in immature tanks but i sadly didnt knew that early enough and the store wouldnt take it back. However after pannicing i started to read about BTAs and how to take care of them to keep mine alive.

So to my problem. After added to the tank my bta hardly moved(about an inch from where i put her with her rock) for the first few days. In comparison to how i bought hee she was way bubblier and had shorter tentacles. My Parameters are all pretty much perfect except for the fact that i had a problem with topping off my awuarium properly and somehow ending up with a too low salinity of about 1.023.( dont ask how that happened)

So 2 days ago i started topping off with salwater to gently raise salinty to about 1.025. I knew that sort of fluctuation was something that the bta woulnt like but i figured if the come from the store they survive salinity changes so i gotta fix that before i add any more lifestock.

Sidenote i did not feed my bta yet. I planned on starting after about s week.

My problem is after topping of with saltwater the first time my bta started moving and is now hiding on the underside of a big tunnel i build with 3 rocks.

She has longer tentacles now since shes getying less light there obviously.

I fear something is bothering her, what to do ?please Help.

For parameters its 0/0/0 phosphate below 0.1 und alk at about 8,5. Salinity as mentioned at sbout 1.0235 now and ph 8.1-8.2

The tank has 65gal enough flow, the maxspect rsx 200w led fixture and only snails hermits and an urchin as lifestock.

 

[hijinks7]

Well they hide for the first week or so in a new tank so give it time. One of the reasons people say put one in at 6 months is you tank goes through a lot of changes at first. So hopefully it'll pull through all that

 

[Kirschy17]

She ishanging upside down. It looks like shes stretched out somehow. I know they dont like fluctuation. Should i leave the salinity untouched untill she recovers. I feared the low salinty creeped her off in the first place. I hadnt had any spikes untill i got her. I measure frequently.

 

[Kirschy17]

Better picture:

 

[themcnertney]

Poor invert. I'd be surprised if it survives through the next few days. As with new hobbyist, I would recommend a year until they are added. What are your water parameters and lighting? How big of tank?

 

[Kirschy17]

Parameters as stated are 0 nitrate/ 0 nitrite 0 ammonia/ below 0.1 phosphate/ 8.5 alkilinity/ salinty 1.023(incrising atm) aiming 1.025

Tank is a 65 gal system with sump in back
And the 200w maxspect rsx led fixture.

 

[Kirschy17]

Ph 8.1 and temp 78-80

 

[cpschult]

What are you measuring salinity with?

Just leave it alone. If you try to move it, it will stress it out more. Hopefully it will begin to come out in a week or two to search for light.

 

[dutch27]

Best thing you can do is to leave it be, and just keep plugging along with your regular husbandry to keep things stable. IMO, 1.023 is fine salinity wise. A quick swing of .002 salinity either direction won't really do much harm.

 

[Kirschy17]

What are you measuring salinity with?

Just leave it alone. If you try to move it, it will stress it out more. Hopefully it will begin to come out in a week or two to search for light.

Refractometer, i also rinse with ro water after every use. Also i measure twice most of the time to make sure it is acclimated to the temperature of the water. I think the salinty dropped because my red sea max 250 has 2 returnpumps which arent exactlt level. Therefore one chamber has a lower water level at some point. I didnt realise and topped off with ro water too much. Since i didnt manage my skimmer settings perfectly i had to empty that a bit too often aswell. Thats how i must have lost salty water and lowered salinity...

I get my ato on monday so that wont happen again.

 

[Lance M.]

The main reason for not keeping an anemone in a new tank is stability. The second reason for waiting more than 6 months is experience in caring for and keeping a reef tank as over time you develop habits/ a routine in taking care of your tank as far as testing, cleaning, water changes, etc. It is possible to keep anemones in relatively new tanks that have completed a cycle if you are an experienced aquarist, not ideal. Just keep the water parameters stable, which is more difficult in newly set up tanks.

Your salinity is fine, although I would raise it to 1.025-26. The ato will help keep it stable. I would also monitor your water parameters frequently and just watch the tank in general to see if any changes are happening to the livestock. Go slow and keep it stable.

From your pictures, although very difficult to see, the rbta looks fine and is responding in a normal way by hiding in its new environment. Once it starts to come out and you can see more of it, post another picture with as much detail as you can. I would not feed or bother it for the next week. If after that time it is still hiding and in that position, I would rotate the rock so that the nem is sideways and can better extend in the light or stay in the shade.

I would also not shop at that store anymore if they did not advise against the purchase and did not allow return.

 

[goodefx]

I agree, if your lfs wouldn't take it back or didn't give you advice on it, then you need to go somewhere else. The only reason I prefer my lfs is the advice and experience that comes along with those pricey things I put in my glass cage!

 

[Sharkbate]

As said by others , early days for adding a Nem . That said it doesn’t look to bad from what I can make out . Whilst the tentacles are expanded/inflated this would be normal . We can’t see the mouth but hopefully it’s not wide open . Leave be for now but monitor , if the tentacles become thin and stringy I would be more concerned at that point ... hopefully it’ll pull through ..... stability is key ... good luck .

 

[Kirschy17]

Not at home atm but wanted to give a short update. For the last few days she has started being active again. Moved a bit here and there. Stayed in the shadows most of the time but since yesterday is peaking in the light again. Mouth is shut and she looks really good again imo. Thanks for your help. Ill keep u updated and add pictures.

 

[Kremis]

I didnt follow the wait a year rule for anemones, and added mine a month after cycle. everything went fine. you should be ok, hiding for the first few days is normal then it should come out.

 

[Kirschy17]

Sry for the blue, there she is. How would u guys go about feeding now? I tried a tiny bit of a krill today. She grabbed it but hasnt eaten yet. I dont plan on feeding much but since its 1 and a half weeks dince i got her i figured id try.

 

[Dancingmad]

+1 to keeping everything as stable as possible.

+1 on looking for another LFS, or at the very least being cautious about doing business there. They shoulda never let you leave w/ a nem if you told them your tank was so young and you're a new reefer. Just my opinion.

+1 Leave it alone and let it do its thing.

The bubbles aren't an indicator of health. Bubbles come and go.
If your lights are strong enough (I dont' know much about LEDS) it wont need a lots of food. If you have any other fish in there it'll get some food assuming you broadcast feed. If you feel you must feed it and its stressed the smaller the better.

My 2 cents. Good luck!

 

[foxt]

How did this work out for you?

 

[Kirschy17]

Doing great! Did my best to keep everything as stable as possible. Got an ATO, installed a tiny fuge with cheato and did pretty much everything as good as i could. Besides the nem i have plenty of corals that all do really good(softies,lps,sps)

Thanks for your support guys!

 

[Wildblue4]

I wished mine would recover like yours. You can look at my post. Mine looks to be on its last leg.