Rbta might need some help

[JNoyes1026]

So I found a tank on Facebook marketplace a Fluval flex 32.5 that came with everything. Sounds like it hadn’t had any care taken of it other than some marine flake food every couple days. Any ways it came with a RBTA that is to me large when it’s all the way open about 8” across. But got the tank moved (1 hour drive) set it up and it seemed happy for the first full day. Day 2 it starts moving it traveled about 2’ worth of distance around the rocks Still looked happy. Day 3 more travel 2-3’ worth of moving and stopped under an arch in the shade. Day 4 turned down the lights to about 40% whites during the day. Seemed a bit happier. Day 5 comes out then detached from the rock and floated. I turned off the power heads and let it re attach and seemed ok. Today day 7 I will attach pictures of it. It goes from happy looking to grumpy and back all in a few hours. Could it be looking to try and split or any ideas.

The last pic is it before I picked it up for reference of fully happy.
Thank you in advance

 

[dvgyfresh]

Parameters? And it could be adjusting I bet the move stressed it a little

 

[fishguy242]

hi, i second ,both above

 

[JNoyes1026]

Alk- 8
Nh3-0
No3-30
No2-.5
PH- 8
Using the Red Sea test kit
salinity was a 1.024 using a float dial.... I know I need a real tester. Lol

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Alk- 8
Nh3-0
No3-30
No2-.5
PH- 8
Using the Red Sea test kit
salinity was a 1.024 using a float dial.... I know I need a real tester. Lol

No3 is a little high. The move probably stirred crap up. Do a few water changes over the course of a few weeks to help bring that down. Do not do a massive one to try and drop it quickly. Btas are tough and 30 is not life threatening, but will surely annoy it if it is not used to it.

The move also stressed it more than likely. Plus if the rock, power heads, etc was not put back exactly as it was, you changed what the nem was used to, so it will move. The power heads need to stay on, but they need guards. A nem will never fully settle with them off, then back in once it gets somewhere.

You can make guards for just about any powerhead with cross stick vinyl mesh. 3 bucks for a pack of 4 at Walmart. Just heat it with a blow dryer to soften it up if you have to form it for tunze or some not exactly round powerhead. Then wrap around power head and use small zip ties or fishing line to put the 2 ends of the mesh together. Be sure to also lace that around the powerhead mount.

Hope that made sense about the powerhead guards lol. If not, I can get you some pics.

 

[Uncle99]

Looks a bit unhappy, but was recently moved.
He will wander until happy.
Test your water chemistry to see if the moved has stirred something up.
If waters good, let him be.

 

[JNoyes1026]

No3 is a little high. The move probably stirred crap up. Do a few water changes over the course of a few weeks to help bring that down. Do not do a massive one to try and drop it quickly. Btas are tough and 30 is not life threatening, but will surely annoy it if it is not used to it.

The move also stressed it more than likely. Plus if the rock, power heads, etc was not put back exactly as it was, you changed what the nem was used to, so it will move. The power heads need to stay on, but they need guards. A nem will never fully settle with them off, then back in once it gets somewhere.

You can make guards for just about any powerhead with cross stick vinyl mesh. 3 bucks for a pack of 4 at Walmart. Just heat it with a blow dryer to soften it up if you have to form it for tunze or some not exactly round powerhead. Then wrap around power head and use small zip ties or fishing line to put the 2 ends of the mesh together. Be sure to also lace that around the powerhead mount.

Hope that made sense about the powerhead guards lol. If not, I can get you some pics.

I think I understand but would like a pic. I am assuming you leave the exit of the power head open just cover anywhere it could pull it in.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Nitrate is high. I question the water you used when you set tank back up - Was it RODI water or tap water from the faucet. Did you fill tank and drop everything in ?

Acclimation is necessary
salinity 1.025
temperature 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
ammonia < .03
nitrate < .03
Phos < .04

Moderate not bright light and moderate water flow. if too little flow, it will not be happy

 

[JNoyes1026]

Nitrate is high. I question the water you used when you set tank back up - Was it RODI water or tap water from the faucet. Did you fill tank and drop everything in ?

Acclimation is necessary
salinity 1.025
temperature 77-79
ph 8.1-8.3
ammonia < .03
nitrate < .03
Phos < .04

Moderate not bright light and moderate water flow. if too little flow, it will not be happy

The water was one of my biggest concerns. I ended up taking all the water from the tank and put it into a container and put the same water back in. But yet the substrate did have lots of matter in it detritus and who knows what. And it was about 6 gallons low on water. That was filled with purchased premix from the pet store. I do plan on getting a RODI in the future

 

[JNoyes1026]

Ok so looks like it’s much happier today. Looks like it got its foot deep into the rocks and is latched on good (obviously in a back corner where it’s hard to see). The only thing is it keeps making a transparent bubble by its mouth. Looks like the mouth is closed just like what would be a lip inflates. I tried to get a decent picture. Any ideas why or if that’s a concern?