This BTA has me scratching my head

[Rugops]

As the title suggests, I have been having trouble with a BTA of mine.

I've had this nem since April but nem started to turn into a sad little blob during May.

Before:

Now:

Current Tank:

When I first got it, I had problems with excess nitrates because of livestock death but I have done water changes as a remedial and hasn't been a problem since.
I don't really test for nutrients anymore and just let my coral tell me what's wrong but I know that PO4 has been around the 0.06-0.03 range. I don't know about nitrates.

Ca: 485
Mg: 1380
Alk: 10.3

These 3 haven't changed for a while since I started auto dosing.

As for lighting, it should be on the lower par.
Flow is moderate and is probably why it looks like it does.
> I also played around with flow when I had it.

I tried doing water changes to see if that could help (50%) but there hasn't been improvement other than cyano growth.

I did feed it white worms when I first got it along with frozen food and flake if that is helpful.

For the meantime I have just let it be.

thanks.

 

[Jekyl]

Feeding isn't necessary as lighting should provide everything the nem needs. I haven't directly fed mine in years.

How old is the tank? What lights are being used? Lastly, we do need to know current and accurate measurements on parameters.

 

[exnisstech]

As for lighting, it should be on the lower par.

Bubble tips should be under higher par vs lower. Light is the only food source they need. Mine sit under 350 - 400 par and thrive.

EDIT: an example of where mine are. There are 6 noopsyche k7 V3 lights over the tank.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Bubble tips should be under higher par vs lower. Light is the only food source they need. Mine sit under 350 - 400 par and thrive.

EDIT: an example of where mine are. There are 6 noopsyche k7 V3 lights over the tank.

I agree with you, but I would have expected a healthy BTA to have moved its way into a higher lighting area if it was unhappy with the PAR. Mine as no problem stinging all my corals as it's making it's way to it's preferred lighting destination.

I am wondering if running some carbon for a couple weeks might help eliminate the possibility of the softies nuking the water. Depending on flow, the Euphy's could be stinging it - it's current state looks like my smaller BTA after my larger one runs it over.

Based on the powerheads, I can't imagine high direct flow is the issue. Hmm.

 

[Nano_Man]

Hi can you tell me your nitrate reading and phosphate. The last picture isn’t very clear is its mouth gaping or a clear white light picture

 

[Northern Flicker]

Maybe @OrionN might have some advice

 

[Rugops]

Feeding isn't necessary as lighting should provide everything the nem needs. I haven't directly fed mine in years.

How old is the tank? What lights are being used? Lastly, we do need to know current and accurate measurements on parameters.

Tank is 6 months or a bit more.
Currently using the AI Blade.

Phosphates are 0.03 atm.
I'll have to get nitrate readings when I get home.

 

[Rugops]

Bubble tips should be under higher par vs lower. Light is the only food source they need. Mine sit under 350 - 400 par and thrive.

EDIT: an example of where mine are. There are 6 noopsyche k7 V3 lights over the tank.

it was on the island where the leather was and it moved itself down into that little crevice.
The person who I got it from had it in a refugium light which was lower than mine.

 

[Rugops]

Hi can you tell me your nitrate reading and phosphate. The last picture isn’t very clear is its mouth gaping or a clear white light picture

PO4 is 0.03. I haven't tested Nitrate.

The mouth is not gaping. I'll try to get a better pic but the fish always swim in front of the camera lol.

 

[Dburr1014]

Not looking good.
It's brown. Did it ever have color? Do you know what type of bubble tip it is?

 

[Rugops]

I agree with you, but I would have expected a healthy BTA to have moved its way into a higher lighting area if it was unhappy with the PAR. Mine as no problem stinging all my corals as it's making it's way to it's preferred lighting destination.

I am wondering if running some carbon for a couple weeks might help eliminate the possibility of the softies nuking the water. Depending on flow, the Euphy's could be stinging it - it's current state looks like my smaller BTA after my larger one runs it over.

Based on the powerheads, I can't imagine high direct flow is the issue. Hmm.

I am constantly rubbing carbon. Maybe like 5 tablespoons worth.

I'll see if moving the torches can help.

I actually only use one of them powerhead (the one on the left).

 

[Rugops]

Not looking good.
It's brown. Did it ever have color? Do you know what type of bubble tip it is?

Worried about it nuking the tank.
I enhanced the color a bit just cause it was hard to see but it looks the same just slightly duller.

I'm trying to link a vid of it under slight blues.

It's just a RBTA. I'll post a pic of the mothers. From what I know, it was living in his sump for a while.

 

[Dburr1014]

I am constantly rubbing carbon. Maybe like 5 tablespoons worth.

I'll see if moving the torches can help.

I actually only use one of them powerhead (the one on the left).

Can you move the right power head to the front of the side panel(across from the left)? Now you can create random flow. Having 1 PH pointing across the front pane is creating a swirling effect. Having 1 in the front right and 1 in the back left is twice the swirling effect. Having them point at each other with both turning on and off at different times will create very random flow and not adding to much overall flow.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Normally I prefer to never touch or disturb my nems, but in this case, I might consider trying to move it to a breeder box or separate container. I'd be worried about it nuking the tank too. Would allow you to put it a bit closer to the light as well and adjust easier.

 

[Dburr1014]

Worried about it nuking the tank.
I enhanced the color a bit just cause it was hard to see but it looks the same just slightly duller.

I'm trying to link a vid of it under slight blues.

It's just a RBTA. I'll post a pic of the mothers. From what I know, it was living in his sump for a while.

Brown is a sign of not getting enough light.
Only if the nematocysts come off and hit coral. Other than that, it won't nuke the tank.

 

[Rugops]

Can you move the right power head to the front of the side panel(across from the left)? Now you can create random flow. Having 1 PH pointing across the front pane is creating a swirling effect. Having 1 in the front right and 1 in the back left is twice the swirling effect. Having them point at each other with both turning on and off at different times will create very random flow and not adding to much overall flow.

Worth a try. I'll give it a go.

Normally I prefer to never touch or disturb my nems, but in this case, I might consider trying to move it to a breeder box or separate container. I'd be worried about it nuking the tank too. Would allow you to put it a bit closer to the light as well and adjust easier.

I have tried to move it via the ice cube method and placing a tube over it so it could go in but it doesn't want to let go.

Brown is a sign of not getting enough light.
Only if the nematocysts come off and hit coral. Other than that, it won't nuke the tank.

I found it odd as its hiding away from the light (or perhaps flow).

I'll attempt to slowly increase light.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Too much flow and high phosphate is my suspect. While many do best under moderate-med lighting, they adapt well to most intensities. Top pic looks like a Long tentacle Vs BTA
Too much light and they hide and same applies to flow

 

[Rugops]

Link to a vid of pre-blob nem: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HVwtsmspo5RcHefz9

Mother colonies:

New item by Chris

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Rugops]

Too much flow and high phosphate is my suspect. While many do best under moderate-med lighting, they adapt well to most intensities. Top pic looks like a Long tentacle Vs BTA
Too much light and they hide and same applies to flow

After my nutrient blow up incident, PO4 has hit maybe 0.06ish max but recently it's been at the 0.03-0.00 range.

I also believe that flow is a problem.
I forgot to mention that I have return pump that pushes around 360 gph (probably a little lower) and the one powerhead on the left pushes around that range or a little higher as well.

 

[Jekyl]

Tank is 6 months or a bit more.
Currently using the AI Blade.

Phosphates are 0.03 atm.
I'll have to get nitrate readings when I get home.

Just using 1 AI blade? If so, I don't think is enough. Most of the posts I saw use these as supplemental lighting.