Keep on losing BTA's

[jd371]

I set up a 20g anemone tank back in January. I have RF nems, zoas and some LPS's that are doing great but almost a year later I can't keep BTA's. The tank is almost a year old and stable, yet when I add a RBTA from my main tank or I buy from the lfs they don't last. Everything else in the tank is flourishing but the BTA's. I'm using Kessils and T5's on the main tank and a chinese black box (Viparspectra) on the nem tank. I feel bad for the clowns because soon after they take to the nem and host, it perishes.

tested 12/4
Mg- 1410
Ca - 440
Alk - 9
No3 - 10
Po4 - 0.01
Temp - 78

 

[lapin]

First thing comes to mind is lighting.

 

[reef lover]

Mags a bit high as well. But idk if that would effect them.

 

[Octane13]

I would think lighting or your clown is pestering them too much. Don't know if this would kill one but certainly keep them deflated for days at a time.

 

[RunBikeSwim]

I would recommend buying a BTA that has split from a local reefer. Tank bred/split ones seem to do better for me. The bigger the BTA, the better, since most clowns will be rough on its new home. Good luck.

 

[jd371]

All the RBTA's that were added to this tank were splits from the main tank. The only one that wasn't was a green BTA I bought from the lfs a month or so ago that died this past week. I added another RBTA split from the main a couple of weeks ago and so far it's doing good, crossing my fingers.

 

[stanleo]

I have a BTA and my mag is 1440 so I don't think its that. It could be the lighting. I had black boxes when I put the BTA ic and it was looking awful. I switched to Red Sea Reef LED 90s and it perked up and has been looking good since.

 

[jd371]

I have a BTA and my mag is 1440 so I don't think its that. It could be the lighting. I had black boxes when I put the BTA ic and it was looking awful. I switched to Red Sea Reef LED 90s and it perked up and has been looking good since.

Yeah, if I lose this one I will look at upgrading the light. That's the only thing I can think of.

 

[jd371]

So far the last one I put in there is doing a lot better than the previous ones. By this time if it followed the patterns of the others it would have been on the move deflated and looking bad. This one has stayed in the same spot and hasn't deflated except at night like normal. Crossing my fingers.

 

[Chefwheredyougo]

I use cbbs and my btas love it. 75% blue 15% whites 8" from the water. 2 of my LFS use them as well and have great looking BTAs. I'm not saying that isn't your problem, but it isn't one for me and those lfs...

 

[Mical]

All the above comments are feasible & your #s look good. What about SG between the tanks & temps? That's the only thing that comes to mind (and your clown pestering it)

 

[Phildago]

I had this issue when I got my first few nems. The issue was one of two. First, I've seen the guy at the LFS physically remove the nem from a rock, which never should be done because it will damage the foot and they often slowly die afterwards. Second because I didn't know any better and I move the nem from a rock to another part of the tank because I didn't know any better and probably damaged the foot.

In my experience, if you just drop him in the tank with the wave pumps off then turn the pumps on once he has enough foot hold, he will move to the nearest viable spot.

Sometimes if you turn your light on too late in the morning they can sense the day light and will move towards it and never settle into a good spot because they're confused by the daylight VS the light output from your lights.

Try to clear a nice area with lower flow and good light, drop em in first thing when your light cycle begins, and hope for the best.

 

[ajhudson15]

you could also do an icp test between both tanks and see if anything is off that you aren't testing for

 

[jd371]

All the above comments are feasible & your #s look good. What about SG between the tanks & temps? That's the only thing that comes to mind (and your clown pestering it)

SG is the same for both tanks at 1.025 and the temps are 77.5 - 78 for the nem tank and 78 - 79 for the main tank. The clowns at times can be a rough but have settled down considerably from a few months ago, so that could be a something.

you could also do an icp test between both tanks and see if anything is off that you aren't testing for

I will be doing an ICP test for the main tank because there's some corals in there that are not doing well at all and need to see if anything is out of whack.

 

[ajhudson15]

SG is the same for both tanks at 1.025 and the temps are 77.5 - 78 for the nem tank and 78 - 79 for the main tank. The clowns at times can be a rough but have settled down considerably from a few months ago, so that could be a something.

I will be doing an ICP test for the main tank because there's some corals in there that are not doing well at all and need to see if anything is out of whack.

might be a good idea to do the new bta tank also that way you can compare the tank there are doing fine in plus the new one