BTA + Powerhead = cloudy tank.

[krafty]

So, this makes me less than happy.

I bought a green BTA about three weeks ago and this morning i woke up to a really cloudy tank.

Last night I added some buffer which didnt cloud the tank and also some Purple up which clouds the tank but only for a few hours. Also, I have a pregnant coral banded shrimp. So, I thought maybe one of those was it....then I found my BTA who was formerly in a cave sucked into my Maxijet 12000 at the top of the tank. I am guessing he let go of the rocks and started floating and wound up there. Ive got him in isolation to see if he comes back though I doubt he will. He doesnt look very good.

my tank is really cloudy now. The fish seem to be doing fine though I want to ask if a BTA death is toxic to the tank.

Thanks.

Josh

 

[dc]

Well they're known to come through worse. I'd do a major water change myself. Cover your intakes with sponges also. It's really too bad that anyone who sells an anemone doesn't recommend this to their buyers.

 

[krafty]

Is there any particular type of sponge that is sold individually and that is made to cover the grates of powerheads?

I wish I would have thought of this. I hate to kill him because of a stupid mistake of mine.

Thanks

 

[superfirefly]

I had this exact same thing happen to me. First I did a 50% water change and QTed the anenome. Next I went to walmart and bought some of the white plastic mesh they sell in the Hobby section. I forgot exactly what it is called or used for but it comes in sheets of about 8 x 11. I made little covers for my Powerhead intakes. I cut the material to the right size then sewed it together with fishing line. There is an article on it around here somewhere. After a few days the Anenome started to look better so I moved it back to the tank. It is now 6 months later and you can not tell it happened.

 

[dc]

I buy the sponge filters that go into the nano tank that Drs. Fosters and Smith sell because they are black and don't stand out as much. But like everything else, you get used to it.

 

[krafty]

Well, hopefully he survives. When i took him out of the tank and transfered him into a bucket of about 50% tank water and 50% new saltwater he moved a small amount. So, apparently there is still some life in him.

I will look into getting some covers if he survives.

Also, I am hesitant to do a water change. The tank is a lot less cloudy after a few hours and the fish and other livestock look fine. I am battling a dinoflaggelate problem and one of the consistent recommendations is to not do large water changes. This is presumably because it increases the supply of trace elements.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[raycityboy1]

Same thing happened to me several times and powerheads got my upside down jelly too. The best thing is to put a sponge on it. Mine have been hacked to pcs and come back. In fact, everywhere my anenome got severed, he would branch off two tenticals at that point. Same principal when you top out a plant and cut the up growing stalk, it makes it bush out.

 

[raycityboy1]

I have also had it happen to me in tanks that have a pre-filter, they'll get stuck to the grate if they decide to go for a walk and get swept up.

 

[krafty]

I was told today that as long as the foot wasnt damaged that the anemone would likely survive.

My question is this...He is stuck in the grate...it is the stubby cylinder one that comes with the MaxiJets...I dont want to mess with him too much so I have left him stuck in there...should I mess with him and get him out?

Thanks!

Josh

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

is there anything to put over the scales of the seio 2600 powerheads to prevent this from happening to me? and where do i get the sponge to cover the combs on the seio's...

 

[krafty]

Well, the BTA may live yet. He freed himself from the grate and moved to a spot in the refugium. So, my hopes are up! He looks pretty torn up but the fact that he moved and got himself loose make me think he will live.

 

[krafty]

As it turns out...the BTA was doing really well but then he went a little Houdini on me and made it through eggcrate and into the main 1600GPH pump in the sump. Less forgiving.

Anyhow my experience with this was that he would have lived because his foot was in good shape.