BTA hiding

[goochesfish]

I've had my BTA almost a year in the same spot. It's foot is in a cave and it usually stretches out into the light. Lately, it's been hanging out in the cave without coming out. When it does show itself, it looks like it's getting bleached. I've been feeding it whever i see it out. I'm thinking feeding triggers it to close up for digestion. Is it better if i don't feed so it spends more time in the light? Any suggestions?

 

[2Addicted]

Are your light bulbs getting old or something? Has anything changed in your tank?

 

[goochesfish]

it started to hide before I changed my bulbs. Bulbs were 11 months when I changed them 2 weeks ago.

 

[Toddrtrex]

What are your current water parameters? (( with numbers ))

Any other info about your tank would be helpful -- something is off.

 

[goochesfish]

Ca 440
Mg 1350
Kh 8.6
pH8.3
zero nitrates and phosphates

 

[Toddrtrex]

Those look good, what about salinity/SG?

 

[bues0022]

temp?

 

[loglew]

When you changed lights 2 weeks ago, did you upgrade or change the spectrum?

 

[goochesfish]

1.026 SG
temp 78.6-79.6
I did change the bulb color combo but only a few. The nem was hiding before I changed bulbs. It was out today and seems to hide after feeding like it was digesting or something. I will stop feeding for a while and let it photosynthesize instead.

 

[goochesfish]

I hope I found the problem. I hadn't re-calibrated my refractometer in a while and found it off by 0.002. What I thought was 1.026 was higher at 1.028. It's taking alot of RO/DI to get it down to 1.026. I plan to bring it to 1.025 and hopefully the nem will do better.

 

[Mavrk]

I hope I found the problem. I hadn't re-calibrated my refractometer in a while and found it off by 0.002. What I thought was 1.026 was higher at 1.028. It's taking alot of RO/DI to get it down to 1.026. I plan to bring it to 1.025 and hopefully the nem will do better.

Uh, what's that in ppt? You have a refractometer, so that is the side I would look at. 35 ppt is perfect for them.