Starting a BTA Propagation Tank - Feedback wanted

[PDR]

So I decided to start a BTA propagation tank for fun/maybe make some extra $$. I just picked up a 36" 6 bulb ATI sunpower dimmable for a great deal.

For the tank I am looking at the 48x24x12 deep blue. I plan to go bare bottom and sumpless for now, with a AC110 for media and add a HOB skimmer when needed.

Here are my questions.

1. What would be the best budget powerhead for this setup? Also what is the best way to protect against the anemones getting sucked into them?

2. What should I have in the tank for the anemones to attach to? Should I make something multilevel? I don't want rock due to the difficulty of removing the anemones. I was looking into the marine pure spheres for biological filtration.

3. I want to keep some fish in the tank to help keep the bio filter stable. What would you recommend for this size tank? I would really like a pair of Clarkii or Maroon clowns, but I hear that they may bother healing anemones.

4. Would any type of CUC be necessary?

5. Ive read a lot about BTA's needing a mature tank, but this is never mentioned in propagation tank threads. Is this not a factor in propagation tanks? If so, why?

6. Any other comments or suggestions welcome.

Thanks!

 

[jayjigga]

My only question is where are you located? Hopefully you're nowhere near all these other people with the same idea, lol...

 

[PDR]

Haha, I know what you mean. I really do want to do it mainly for fun, but I did speak with one of my LFS about possibly purchasing some and they seemed positive. Worst case scenario I could sell them for store credit, get some salt lol. Oh and I'm in the upstate of SC. Not many people that do much around here so far.

 

[jayjigga]

Haha, I know what you mean. I really do want to do it mainly for fun, but I did speak with one of my LFS about possibly purchasing some and they seemed positive. Worst case scenario I could sell them for store credit, get some salt lol. Oh and I'm in the upstate of SC. Not many people that do much around here so far.

Then that should work well! Once you get going, you could easily use it for store credit to fund your tank. The LFS by me takes in BTAs from several hobbyists and it works well for all parties.

As for your questions, I'll reply more tomorrow when I'm by a computer

 

[jayjigga]

So I decided to start a BTA propagation tank for fun/maybe make some extra $$. I just picked up a 36" 6 bulb ATI sunpower dimmable for a great deal. - Great light for the tank you chose!

For the tank I am looking at the 48x24x12 deep blue. I plan to go bare bottom and sumpless for now, with a AC110 for media and add a HOB skimmer when needed. - It's amazing because this is the exact setup I have planned for my baby shark...AC110, HOB skimmer, and all...literally same setup.

Here are my questions.

1. What would be the best budget powerhead for this setup? Also what is the best way to protect against the anemones getting sucked into them? - I'm planning to use an RW-15 on my DB. For you, I would just shield whatever you use with a wide netting/basket type DIY setup.

2. What should I have in the tank for the anemones to attach to? Should I make something multilevel? I don't want rock due to the difficulty of removing the anemones. I was looking into the marine pure spheres for biological filtration. - People use baskets, but if you did tonga or something that isn't overly creviced, it's quite easy to move a BTA.

3. I want to keep some fish in the tank to help keep the bio filter stable. What would you recommend for this size tank? I would really like a pair of Clarkii or Maroon clowns, but I hear that they may bother healing anemones. - IMO, no fish is more stable than adding fish. You'll still be feeding the nems, so there's still going to be a bioload. I wouldn't risk a healing nem because of an overly attached clown

4. Would any type of CUC be necessary? - Doesn't hurt IMO to deal with left over food.

5. Ive read a lot about BTA's needing a mature tank, but this is never mentioned in propagation tank threads. Is this not a factor in propagation tanks? If so, why? - Deal with the bioload and waste, and I think you'll be fine. The problem with new tanks is the lack of bacteria to deal with the ammonia, nitrate/trite, so if you can simulate a mature tank immediately, then it's tilted more in your favor for success.

6. Any other comments or suggestions welcome.

No comment, just a love of nems:

Thanks!

 

[PDR]

Thanks for the info! Would you advise against a small tang for algae control?

 

[jayjigga]

Thanks for the info! Would you advise against a small tang for algae control?

It wouldn't hurt the system for that specific purpose, but you would end up supplementing feedings, which would add to the waste. I would try it minimally at first and only having to feed the nems.

 

[PDR]

It wouldn't hurt the system for that specific purpose, but you would end up supplementing feedings, which would add to the waste. I would try it minimally at first and only having to feed the nems.

Here is my thought process on having fish. Having setup several much smaller frag tanks in the past (but never a bta tank), I am not too comfortable with the idea of adding a bta right after cycling the tank. I would prefer the tank to "mature" somewhat first. The best way I can think of is to add a couple small fish after the cycle to keep the bio filter active and let the tank settle in over the next several months so I can test and make sure all my parameters are stable. When I am confident everything is stable, then I would start adding bta's.

Is my thought process flawed?

Thanks

 

[jayjigga]

Do you have a tank running at the moment? I have 4 different bacteria homes running on my tank: live rock, Siporax, k1, and Marinepure biomedia. I can start a tank at anytime and have bacteria from an established tank in the quantity of a mature tank. Ammonia and waste would be what's needed to keep that population going, whether fish or nem produced. I'm assuming you would feed the nems with the fishless scenario.

 

[reefnfeef]

make sure to give the anemones flow right you cut them.

 

[PDR]

Well I changed some things up even more lol, but I have the following ordered.


Tank: 30 gallon breeder
Heater: 100w Cobalt Neotherm 2x
PH: Cobalt MJ1200 with hydor flo 2x (will add additional as needed)
Filtration: AC110
Bio: Marinepure Block
Lighting: ATI Dimmable 36" 6 bulb

My current plan is to seed the tank with some matrix media I have from an established tank. Add CUC once it cycles, (still haven't decided on if I want any fish in this tank) then add my first BTA. I plan to watch and see how it reacts to the tank, and once its "happy", feeding, and healthy I will start propagating.

Thats the simple version at least. I'm sure there will be many unexpected changes along the way.

Any and all advise is much appreciated.