BTA question

[jsalt1]

Hi

I have a 14 Gal nano tank with live rock, and 6 small BTA, 2 clown, a porcelain crab, a glass cleaner shrimp and two sexy anemone shrimp. The BTA were all doing well for months. Non of them stay thick and bubbly all the time but would some times have a mix of bubbles and not. They all stayed in their spots for months, good color, eating scallops fed once a week, no gaping mouths etc. I have good LED lighting.

About 5 or 6 days ago they all started moving... All of them. Now one is on the sand, one is on the side wall. The fire buble tip is one color and looks sick... the pink BTA is all curly and deflated, the tips look a bit mangey. After they have all done well for so long I can't figure out what happened.

Only recent changes are the past two or three water changes was a new batch of IO salt. I am using the same salt in the main tank and I am seeing some slight issues with a couple corals there... one of the torches looks a bit deflated and the mushrooms aren't as big during the day.

I have tested the water parameters and Nitrates are 5 in both tanks, KH is between 9.5 and 10, salinity 1.025/6 Mg and Ca are normal. PH is always the same - around 8. I use RO water for all the mixing.

If it is the salt, any idea what parameters might be causing the salt to be so bad?

The other thing is the nano tank had the sexy anemone shrimp and glass cleaner shrimp added two weeks ago.

I know anemones are a funny bunch of creatures but if anyone has seen something like this in the past please let me know.

Regards,
Julie

 

[Bogue Chitto]

Has the nitrates always been that high ? That could be your problem. And the salt could be as well, hard to say for sure.

 

[jsalt1]

Yep the Nitrates are usually around 5. I do a water change every week and it seems to stay around then. I thought Nitates really were most detrimental to fish? 5 isn't that high... I guess but with two clowns there i don't know how you could ever keep it at 0!

 

[hotelbravo]

I do not believe nitrates of a lousy 5 to ever be a concern with BTAs.... My nitrates stay between 20 and 60 regularly and have even gotten to 80 for a while and no negative response from my BTAs they are still always huge my RBTA has only moved one time in almost two years and my GBTA has moved twice in about 6 months. I keep my nitrates so high to help me grow macro.

 

[jsalt1]

Thanks HotelBravo (You a pilot?) lol

I don't think its Nitrates - I just find it funny that if it was the salt mix what parameter is out of line to upset them if all if the "standard" parameters are normal

 

[hotelbravo]

Thanks HotelBravo (You a pilot?) lol

I don't think its Nitrates - I just find it funny that if it was the salt mix what parameter is out of line to upset them if all if the "standard" parameters are normal

no im not a pilot im an air traffic controller. tower not radar

 

[jsalt1]

Great views from the tower. IFR centers would put me sleep with dim lighting lol.
Thanks for your help. Hopefully the btas chill out and settle down.

 

[hotelbravo]

Great views from the tower. IFR centers would put me sleep with dim lighting lol.
Thanks for your help. Hopefully the btas chill out and settle down.

i know what you mean.. i need windows..

i agree that your btas will likely chill out and settle in. it does seem strange for them to all decide to wander at once though

 

[Tautoga]

Could this simply be overcrowding?
A14 gallon tank with 6 nems seems a bit tight.

 

[jsalt1]

I wondered the same thing... They are all small but this might be it. I don't think i can start a third tank!!! lol