BTA Question

[TLisciandra]

I have a new BTA. It has been in the tank two and a half weeks. I was wondering how often it should be deflating? Tank is 170 with 300 lbs live rock. Two 250 watt MH and 2 96 watt PC and 2 attenic. No fish at this time (fish are in my forty) and three shrimp. Parameters are AM=0, Ni=0, NA=0, PH=7.8, Alk-10.5, Cal=430, Phose= 0, Sal=1.025, temp=79. I had one years ago and I remember it deflating but I had the wrong setup. I run the PC's twelve hours a day and the MH for seven. The anemone deflates about one hour after the MH turn off.

 

[garygb]

How much they deflate in part depends on frequency/type of food. Also, it is still probably acclimating to your tank.

 

[reefman13]

Mine used to and still does periodically at night when my halides shut off. You have to think that in the day when they are absorbing light energy from the halides, they want to expand to get as much as they can, at night there is no point, and I guess they deflate themselves partially to use less energy....just a thought...

 

[garygb]

Mine also extend noticeably more in the daytime. Yeah, I think that has to do with maximizing the available light.

 

[Biocubist]

I have observed this phenomenon as well. My GBTA was under a 72 watt PC for about 8 months when I decided to upgrade to a 250 watt MH. Before the MH, while under the PC, the GBTA never ever deflated/ball up when the PC went off. When I was acclimating it to the 250 MH, I noticed that after each session, the GBTA would quickly deflate and retire into a tight ball like shape. After observing this many times, I started to wonder if it was getting too stressed out from the intense lighting, b/c before it would ball up it looked as though it was just worn out from the intensity of the light. I changed the 250 for a 150 MH things are much better. I really think these guys are happier with PC or VHO lighting.

 

[TLisciandra]

So I was thinking I would turn off the MH lights and just use the PC's and see what happens. Is one 10K PC and an Attenic enough for an BTA?

 

[TLisciandra]

That is the same setup one each side of the tank. So two 10K and two Attenics.

 

[garygb]

Actinics provide nothing in useful photosynthetic energy for your anemone. The 10000K daylight is fine. You might consider replacing the actinics with two 10000K.

 

[TLisciandra]

I have heavy coraline growth in the tank. I always thought this was due to attenics. If I remove them will the coraline start to thin or die off?

 

[garygb]

Not because you removed actinics.