REALLY want a BTA, but afraid for fish/shrimp...

Raven8 · Mar 28, 2017

I've had a 13.5 Fluval Evo for about 2 months now, but I've since discovered that I need a bit more room, so today I ordered a 32g LED Biocube. Super excited to make the upgrade, already have my rock seasoning/seeding now, and will probably make the full switch in about a month or so.

However, there is one thing; my family and I have ALWAYS wanted an anemone, and my LFS has a number of rose bubbles for sale, many of which were actually cultured IN the Aquatop knockoff version of this tank, so I KNOW that they will survive here, especially since I intend to add some additional lighting. However, we have a worry... or rather 2 worries:

A Scarlet Skunk and a Yellow Watchman.

These little guys are family favorites, and we couldn't bare the thought of either of them being eaten. However, the owner of the fish shop where I work has assured me that it would be fine. For examples, he pointed out that we have scarlet skunks in with BTAs, and a yellow watchman in with a few condylactis. However, his word isn't enough for me to take that risk. I've done a bunch of general googling, but the best that I can come up with is a few people talking about their skunks cleaning their BTAs to annoyance, and one anecdotal story where a watchman was possibly eaten by accident when it panicked and swam into the mouth of a nem.

Does anyone have any experience with keeping BTAs and skunks/watchmen? Have you ever had any casualties? Can you share any insights/thoughts into this match-up in a 32g tank? I know that I won't be able to add a 'nem for 6 months to a year after the tank is established, but I REALLY want to get my ducks in a row.

Thanks in advance for any help that you may be able to give.

AcroNem · Mar 28, 2017

Never had any casualties, I wouldn't be very worried about them. I've had both several shrimp and gobies in systems with nems. At work we even have a pair of blood cleaner shrimp in our system with 40 or so bubble tips and 2 Sebae nems. They still manage to stay out of the way.

Travis Stewart · Mar 28, 2017

I have a peppermint shrimp, pistol/watchman pair and a BTA the size of a side plate. Never any problems and I've seen my six line cruise through him multiple times. I think it helps a little if you keep them fed so they aren't always looking for a snack!

Raven8 · Mar 28, 2017

Really appreciate the info, ANY experience that you can share really helps me out!

azbigjohn · Mar 28, 2017

I agree. I had a peppermint shrimp, and a Yellow Watchman Goby in with my RTBA for 2 years without issues.

I second keeping it lightly fed to keep it happy!

Travis Stewart · Mar 28, 2017

I have to share. This is in a 30 gallon cube with a mix reef of over 30 different corals

Raven8 · Mar 28, 2017

Travis Stewart said:
I have to share. This is in a 30 gallon cube with a mix reef of over 30 different corals

....okay, I have seen many, many reefs with a whole bunch of corals bunched together over the years and have always thought that it looked odd. THIS, however, is easily one of the most beautiful tanks that I have ever seen. Your bubble tips are majestic, your placement is phenomenal, and the entire thing is just... WOW! Seriously, thank you so much for sharing! How the heck long did it take for it to become such a masterpiece?

Travis Stewart · Mar 28, 2017

Raven8 said:
....okay, I have seen many, many reefs with a whole bunch of corals bunched together over the years and have always thought that it looked odd. THIS, however, is easily one of the most beautiful tanks that I have ever seen. Your bubble tips are majestic, your placement is phenomenal, and the entire thing is just... WOW! Seriously, thank you so much for sharing! How the heck long did it take for it to become such a masterpiece?

That's very nice, thank you! This tank is less than 2 years old and was moved here 10 months ago. I'll be honest..I think getting nice equipment for the important items has really helped this tank. Nice skimmer, ATO, light, and adequate flow, and constant temp and salinity. Water changes with exactly the same salinity and temp as tank has also done a lot for me!

Tim Thurman · Mar 28, 2017

I have a question. I have a green BTA and he was inflated and moved a lot. Finally settled in and now he looks limp and not to healthy. He ate a small piece of silverside and then spit it out 30 minutes later. I have a 14 gallon biocube

Travis Stewart · Mar 28, 2017

Are you sure he didn't poo?

Tim Thurman · Mar 28, 2017

I'm sure. It was the same piece he took in. It looked the same and he didn't digest much of any of it. As for the BTA any ideas as to why he isn't inflating or looking limp

Tim Thurman · Mar 28, 2017

My water tested good today and I did a water change yesterday. Maybe that bothered him?

Raven8 · Mar 28, 2017

Travis Stewart said:
That's very nice, thank you! This tank is less than 2 years old and was moved here 10 months ago. I'll be honest..I think getting nice equipment for the important items has really helped this tank. Nice skimmer, ATO, light, and adequate flow, and constant temp and salinity. Water changes with exactly the same salinity and temp as tank has also done a lot for me!

What kind of lighting are you running? Currently planning on hooking some Glofish LED bars to the inner rim of the tank, and going to TRY to jerry rig my current light into the hood somehow. Not sure if I will succeed, but worth a try!

Tim Thurman · Mar 28, 2017

And Travis your tank looks awesome! Hopefully I will get there soon

Tim Thurman · Mar 28, 2017

Raven I'm not entirely sure. I'm running the lights that came with the biocube.

Dahni · Mar 28, 2017

Nice!

CodyRVA · Mar 28, 2017

I've housed a yellow watchman with two RBTAs with no issue. Also had a coral banded shrimp who often checked out the nem and had no issues. Keep in mind there are more variables at play than just lighting. Just because a BTA is doing great in a knock off version of your system by no means guarantees it will do well in yours. I would focus as much on parameters and stability as livestock compatibility. As you mentioned, 2 month old system is very unlikely to sustain a nem, but good on you for doing your research before hand! ALK and salinity are huge factors for keeping these critters. Don't forget, too much light will kill much faster than too little.

@Tim Thurman You should create a separate thread so others can better assist you.

Travis Stewart · Mar 28, 2017

Raven8 said:
What kind of lighting are you running? Currently planning on hooking some Glofish LED bars to the inner rim of the tank, and going to TRY to jerry rig my current light into the hood somehow. Not sure if I will succeed, but worth a try!

I am running an ai prime!

Raven8 · Mar 28, 2017

CodyRVA said:
I've housed a yellow watchman with two RBTAs with no issue. Also had a coral banded shrimp who often checked out the nem and had no issues. Keep in mind there are more variables at play than just lighting. Just because a BTA is doing great in a knock off version of your system by no means guarantees it will do well in yours. I would focus as much on parameters and stability as livestock compatibility. As you mentioned, 2 month old system is very unlikely to sustain a nem, but good on you for doing your research before hand! ALK and salinity are huge factors for keeping these critters. Don't forget, too much light will kill much faster than too little.

@Tim Thurman You should create a separate thread so others can better assist you.

Right, currently watching my perimeters like a hawk and doing 25% water changes every 2-3 days. My current setup is fairly well thriving, with even a small piece of orange monti surviving and growing slowly. Trying to work out a way to keep that little guy alive in a biocube, and my best answer thus far is a little high-intensity in-tank LED spotlight that we have at work.

...the cube at work is odd. To my knowledge we haven't done a single water change on it since it was first set up, yet the 'nems are absolutely thriving and there is NO algae anywhere to be seen. Would be a perfect tank minus the majano infestation =P

Travis Stewart · Mar 28, 2017

Raven8 said:
Right, currently watching my perimeters like a hawk and doing 25% water changes every 2-3 days. My current setup is fairly well thriving, with even a small piece of orange monti surviving and growing slowly. Trying to work out a way to keep that little guy alive in a biocube, and my best answer thus far is a little high-intensity in-tank LED spotlight that we have at work.

...the cube at work is odd. To my knowledge we haven't done a single water change on it since it was first set up, yet the 'nems are absolutely thriving and there is NO algae anywhere to be seen. Would be a perfect tank minus the majano infestation =P

Get a peppermint shrimp. Mine cleaned house. Prob ate 12 within a week. They can smell them and will find them all!