Can I QT a BTA?

[rkelman]

Ok I bought a couple regular Ocellaris and a GBTA today. My question is this. Can I QT the BTA with the clowns without strong lighting for 4 weeks? The clowns are currently being hosted by it and I don't want to screw that up. Also I would like to add them to my main tank all at once so as to keep separate territories from my other pair. Not QT ing the new Clowns is not something I am willing to do for obvious reasons. Thoughts?

 

[ocellaris123]

What type of lighting do you have on the qt aquarium? Four weeks is a rather long time for a photosynthetic cnidarian to go without proper lighting and if your clowns need to be medicated/hyposalinity than the anemone would have too be moved anyways.

 

[rkelman]

Its just normal fluorescent lighting. I don't think they will have to be medicated as I got them from a good source but you never know. I agree 4 weeks is a long time.

 

[Anemone]

If you feed heavily, your BTA will survive. They have been kept much longer than that under NO lighting and survived. Whether heavier feedings will cause chemistry issues in your QT tank (ie ammonia/nitrite/nitrate), only you can say (but most QT tanks only have very rudimentary biological filtration systems).

However, that long without sufficient lighting will make the eventual transition/acclimation to the display tank more difficult. You will have to make sure you take the acclimation to the intense lighting in the display tank very, very slowly.

And, as was mentioned, if the clowns need treatment of any type, you will need to remove the anemone from the QT tank.

So, yes you can do it. Would I, no.

Kevin

 

[rkelman]

Thanks guys. Its drip acclimating to the display now (has been for a while)

 

[nickbme06]

I would put it in the fuge if it has good 50/50 lighting and the QT is not an option

 

[rkelman]

Its in the display and has moved from its original spot on the rock to the back. Probably in reaction to the halides.

 

[nickbme06]

Keep an eye on it, if it moves back to rock, should be ok. If not, may be too much light

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14772492#post14772492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
Its in the display and has moved from its original spot on the rock to the back. Probably in reaction to the halides.

Do you know what lights it was under before you got it? And what wattage MH do you have? Should really consider putting some window screening b/t the bulbs and the tank.

 

[rkelman]

At the LFS it was under T5's Not many either. I have 2 x 250w over my 190 so not exactly extreme light. The bta is about 2/3rds of the way up the tank. I think it should acclimate ok at that level. It stayed on the side of the rock away from the bulk of the light today.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14773718#post14773718 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkelman
At the LFS it was under T5's Not many either. I have 2 x 250w over my 190 so not exactly extreme light. The bta is about 2/3rds of the way up the tank. I think it should acclimate ok at that level. It stayed on the side of the rock away from the bulk of the light today.

I would still use some window screening. I went from a 14K MH to a 10K (( new fixture )), and didn't screen right away, some of my SPS started to bleach, but I caught it in time.

But, it is up to you if you want to do it.

 

[a4twenty]

it's very common for a new BTA to move behind a rock when first introduced, they can / will acclimate themselves to the light.

good luck

 

[rkelman]

Its still on the side of the rock. It looks ok for now. I'll see how it goes.

 

[a4twenty]

as long as he hasn't dumped his zoox., he should be just fine. i'd leave him alone for a week or so and if he hasn't come back out to a better spot i would just turn the rock around and feed him.

let us know how he makes out

 

[rkelman]

I will. He looks good still so I'm not concerned. He's eating too so I'm encouraged. He's not totally out in the open but he'll get there.