New BTA

Ab129 · 03/18/2018, 06:18 PM

So I just bought a beautiful BTA today, my first.
I’m a newbie getting my first tank going. So far I have a pair of oscellaris snowflakes, a melanaurus wrasse and my new BTA.
I turned off al pumps and flow when I placed him in the tank and left them off for 30 minutes. When I put the pumps back on the BTA stayed put so I assumed he was ok with that spot and everybody(me) was happy.
Went out for a couple hours and when I got home he was gone!
After a short panic I realized he had positioned himself behind my rocks underneath an outcropping. Called my lfs and they said he probably won’t stay there and even if he does, the tentacles will lengthen and come out for light.
I am wondering if perhaps my lights were set too high of an intensity and maybe that is why he moved.
I have a pair of new radion xr15 and I’m using one of the preprogrammed cycles, something like “typical reef tank”. It’s a 12 hour cycle with lights at %100 for six hours.
What do you guys think?
If he doesn’t move on his own what can I do?
Any input would be appreciated.
Pic is very poor and sideways and taken before he moved.

ChizerBunoi · 03/19/2018, 11:41 AM

The BTA will probably keep moving around for the rest of the week until it finds a new spot that it likes. You can make an island and surround with sand so that it doesn't move off the rock.

I would like acclimate it to the lights over time. 100% is probably too strong depending on the light intensity it had at the store. Unless your tank is super deep.

Joe0813 · 03/19/2018, 11:57 AM

100% is probably way way to strong.... I have my gen 2s at 40% and 12 inches off the water

Ab129 · 03/19/2018, 06:34 PM

So maybe cut the 100% period down to 60%?
And if he comes out what would be a good schedule to gradually increase the intensity?

Ab129 · 03/19/2018, 06:36 PM

And my lights are about 8.5 inches above the water

Joe0813 · 03/19/2018, 08:14 PM

Go into ecosmart live and put the lights into acclimation mode.... personally I think your light is to low and waaay to high of an intensity. My gen 2 aren't nearly as powerful as the new gen 4 and im at half of what youre using and 4 inches higher off the water.... start off around 30% and adjust from there. Better to have to raise the intensity than to bleach or kill corals and the BTA

Ab129 · 03/20/2018, 06:31 AM

I will lower the intensity tonight.
As far as the height goes I am using the single arm tank mounts from EcoTech so no adjustments possible there.

Joe0813 · 03/20/2018, 03:57 PM

8.5 should be fine with that model... worst case if the BTA or corals still lose their color you just lower the intensity even more

Ab129 · 03/26/2018, 06:07 PM

Well I bought a feeding stick and a bottle of “fuel” yesterday.
I attempted to feed him for the first time which was just a best guess on my part considering where he stuffed himself and I added the supplement.
Two hours later he was out!!
Behind the rocks but out!
He moved again this morning and was small but when I got home from work he was all puffed out!
Don’t know if it was the food, supplement or both but very happy with the results.
Of course for some reason I am unable to attach a photo but he looks great!

03/19/2018, 11:57 AM	#3
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	100% is probably way way to strong.... I have my gen 2s at 40% and 12 inches off the water __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/19/2018, 06:34 PM	#4
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	So maybe cut the 100% period down to 60%? And if he comes out what would be a good schedule to gradually increase the intensity? __________________ 75 gal, TriggerRuby30 sump, Reef Octo 150 sss skimmer and Varios 6 return pump, Icecap gyre 3k, (2) Radion xr15 4 gen, Icecap ATO, Spectrapure RO/DI NO3-0, Mag-1385, Ca-430, Alk-9.1, pH-8.1 Current Tank Info: nitrates 0 SG 1.026, pH 8.1

03/19/2018, 06:36 PM	#5
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	And my lights are about 8.5 inches above the water __________________ 75 gal, TriggerRuby30 sump, Reef Octo 150 sss skimmer and Varios 6 return pump, Icecap gyre 3k, (2) Radion xr15 4 gen, Icecap ATO, Spectrapure RO/DI NO3-0, Mag-1385, Ca-430, Alk-9.1, pH-8.1 Current Tank Info: nitrates 0 SG 1.026, pH 8.1

03/19/2018, 08:14 PM	#6
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	Go into ecosmart live and put the lights into acclimation mode.... personally I think your light is to low and waaay to high of an intensity. My gen 2 aren't nearly as powerful as the new gen 4 and im at half of what youre using and 4 inches higher off the water.... start off around 30% and adjust from there. Better to have to raise the intensity than to bleach or kill corals and the BTA __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/20/2018, 06:31 AM	#7
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	I will lower the intensity tonight. As far as the height goes I am using the single arm tank mounts from EcoTech so no adjustments possible there. __________________ 75 gal, TriggerRuby30 sump, Reef Octo 150 sss skimmer and Varios 6 return pump, Icecap gyre 3k, (2) Radion xr15 4 gen, Icecap ATO, Spectrapure RO/DI NO3-0, Mag-1385, Ca-430, Alk-9.1, pH-8.1 Current Tank Info: nitrates 0 SG 1.026, pH 8.1

03/19/2018, 11:41 AM	#2
ChizerBunoi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Alberta Posts: 55	The BTA will probably keep moving around for the rest of the week until it finds a new spot that it likes. You can make an island and surround with sand so that it doesn't move off the rock. I would like acclimate it to the lights over time. 100% is probably too strong depending on the light intensity it had at the store. Unless your tank is super deep.

03/20/2018, 03:57 PM	#8
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	8.5 should be fine with that model... worst case if the BTA or corals still lose their color you just lower the intensity even more __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/26/2018, 06:07 PM	#9
Ab129 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 367	Update! Well I bought a feeding stick and a bottle of “fuel” yesterday. I attempted to feed him for the first time which was just a best guess on my part considering where he stuffed himself and I added the supplement. Two hours later he was out!! Behind the rocks but out! He moved again this morning and was small but when I got home from work he was all puffed out! Don’t know if it was the food, supplement or both but very happy with the results. Of course for some reason I am unable to attach a photo but he looks great! __________________ 75 gal, TriggerRuby30 sump, Reef Octo 150 sss skimmer and Varios 6 return pump, Icecap gyre 3k, (2) Radion xr15 4 gen, Icecap ATO, Spectrapure RO/DI NO3-0, Mag-1385, Ca-430, Alk-9.1, pH-8.1 Current Tank Info: nitrates 0 SG 1.026, pH 8.1