RBTAs on a rock - bought from another reefer

[KSean]

Hi all!
I just got 3 small BTAs from another reefer and they are acclimating as we speak.
My problem is I never trust rocks/corals from anyone and my tank has been free of pests since I started this hobby (knock on wood!)
Now I am torn between coaxing the nems off the rock versus dropping the rock in the tank. How can I get them off the rock ? Also I assume I can't use Coral RX on the rock with nems. Or can I ?

 

[MSB123]

Hi all!
I just got 3 small BTAs from another reefer and they are acclimating as we speak.
My problem is I never trust rocks/corals from anyone and my tank has been free of pests since I started this hobby (knock on wood!)
Now I am torn between coaxing the nems off the rock versus dropping the rock in the tank. How can I get them off the rock ? Also I assume I can't use Coral RX on the rock with nems. Or can I ?

No coral Rx. No really easy way of removing them from the rock other then strong consistent flow(it’s taken up to a week for me) and most of the time it either doesn’t work or they just move on the rock itself. If you are worried, set up a qt tank and put the rock in there for 72 days, which will allow all parisites(if any) to die off.

 

[MSB123]

#reefsquad

 

[SPR1968]

When I needed to remove an anemone because it was killing my corals, I used a turkey baster and just keep squirting around the foot with saltwater and very quickly it released enough for me to remove it back to the LFS without harming it.

It worked very well.

And welcome to R2R as well by the way!

 

[VTBig053]

Hammer and chisel/screwdriver. Just be sure to put the chisel/screwdriver far enough behind the foot you don’t damage it. I’ve tried all sorts of tricks (lighting, flow, etc.) and this is the only thing that has worked to remove a BTA from a rock.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Like @SPR1968 mentioned. It takes time, I usually have to suspend mine above the water and the stretch out to get to the water. Once they touch I raise the rock a little more (amazing how far they can stretch!). I then take a baster or a syringe and gently spay the foot until they drop. This has taken several hours but it works for me. Our nem tank is small so I usually take a couple of small boards or anything else that you can rest the rock on so your not having to hold it.

 

[Captain Quint]

@KSean

I as you do not like to put other peoples LR in my tank for the same reason as you.

On several occasions I have put a small amount of water over a bucket and suspended the rock over the bucket and wait for the anemone to release from the rock into the bucket. It might take a couple of hours but it works with no harm to the anemone as It does not hurt for the anemone to be out of the water for a while.

 

[dylana407]

If you have a 10g QT tank, put the rock on 1 end, have the light on the 2nd half of the tank, it will walk over the next day.

 

[Ron Reefman]

If you have a 10g QT tank, put the rock on 1 end, have the light on the 2nd half of the tank, it will walk over the next day.

What an interesting idea! Have you done this successfully yourself?

I have new babies that have floated all over my tank which is about 80% covered with zoas. The RFA's seem fine with the zoas while they are so small (1/16"). But as they get bigger they will start to block light from the zoas nearby. I've used a variety of techniques to remove them, including using a small hole saw to drill/cut a circle around the nem and then 'popped' the rock core loose with a small screwdriver! But this idea has real merit.

Thanks!

 

[Captain Quint]

If you have a 10g QT tank, put the rock on 1 end, have the light on the 2nd half of the tank, it will walk over the next day.

Totally great idea! In fact pretty brilliant idea. Makes great sense and I would have not thought of it.

 

[dylana407]

What an interesting idea! Have you done this successfully yourself?

....

Thanks!

Yes I have done it many times. We are in winter, my house is kept at 70. I have the heater and the 10g HOB on the dark end, the temp probe on the light end. 3 of my BTAs walk to the light end when the light is on, and walk back to the heater when the light is off.