Hi,
We have a 55 gallon reef aquarium which is in the process of being populated. It has a couple hammer corals, a toadstool, a few button polyps, and some zooanthids, so it is still lightly loaded. In addition we have a sea hare (who has duty among our other aquariums as well) a maroon clown and his BTA. The problem is with the BTA. When we got him several weeks ago he seemed fine. We got the clown and BTA together and they have remained close even today. The first week all was fine with the BTA. He seemed to like the place we chose for him and anchored, more or less, where we placed him. Maybe a week later he decided to move and crawled (for lack of a better term) under a ledge to the back side of the aquarium. Now he faces the back wall remaining largely under a ledge. What little we can see of him he looks much smaller. My theory has always been that since anemones can move he would do so if he wasn't happy. Any thoughts?
The aquarium is well lit with two 250w MH (15000K), four 65w actinics and 6 LEDs. Parameters seem good with nitrates at 5, phosphates are close to 0, temp 78+/-2, SG 1.025, pH 8.0, and calcium at 500. We have two Koralia 2's providing flow, although the BTA has little direct flow. We use a protein skimmer, although I can't remember brand/size right now although I tend to oversize compared to advertised recommendations. And we have a sandbed (about 2 inches) and enough live rock to form a reasonable reef. We use RO/DI water for top-off and water changes. We top-off the aquarium every other day and do about 10% change every week (give or take a couple days).
Everyone looks happy except the BTA, but he is now nearly inaccessable so it's hard to see how he really looks.
Do we leave him where he is with the premise that he will move if unhappy, or force a move and make him see the light? Any insight would be apprciated.
Thanks, Drew
We have a 55 gallon reef aquarium which is in the process of being populated. It has a couple hammer corals, a toadstool, a few button polyps, and some zooanthids, so it is still lightly loaded. In addition we have a sea hare (who has duty among our other aquariums as well) a maroon clown and his BTA. The problem is with the BTA. When we got him several weeks ago he seemed fine. We got the clown and BTA together and they have remained close even today. The first week all was fine with the BTA. He seemed to like the place we chose for him and anchored, more or less, where we placed him. Maybe a week later he decided to move and crawled (for lack of a better term) under a ledge to the back side of the aquarium. Now he faces the back wall remaining largely under a ledge. What little we can see of him he looks much smaller. My theory has always been that since anemones can move he would do so if he wasn't happy. Any thoughts?
The aquarium is well lit with two 250w MH (15000K), four 65w actinics and 6 LEDs. Parameters seem good with nitrates at 5, phosphates are close to 0, temp 78+/-2, SG 1.025, pH 8.0, and calcium at 500. We have two Koralia 2's providing flow, although the BTA has little direct flow. We use a protein skimmer, although I can't remember brand/size right now although I tend to oversize compared to advertised recommendations. And we have a sandbed (about 2 inches) and enough live rock to form a reasonable reef. We use RO/DI water for top-off and water changes. We top-off the aquarium every other day and do about 10% change every week (give or take a couple days).
Everyone looks happy except the BTA, but he is now nearly inaccessable so it's hard to see how he really looks.
Do we leave him where he is with the premise that he will move if unhappy, or force a move and make him see the light? Any insight would be apprciated.
Thanks, Drew
