Distancing BTA from Corals

[Random Aquarist]

My tank is done cycling, but I still have a few things to setup before I add livestock. So, my first addition (other than snails) will probably be a BTA in 6(+) months. How much room should I plan to have between my BTA and SPS corals? What I mean is, how much room does a BTA take up? I've heard they get 1' in diameter, but I've seen pics of them almost completely in crevices.

 

[Mr Stomato]

My RBTA is about 10-11" right now and is currently on the move. There is no way to really determine when they decide to move. I've gotten pretty good at choosing a good spot for them but still sometimes they walk on me. Where it decides to move to will be a place of good light and flow. Unfortunately this means it may move to a place that you've chosen for an SPS. All of my BTAs like the midsection of my tank and prefer to be closer to one side or the other mainly due to the flow from my tunze and seaswirl. My lighting is 1000w of halide 20k so the upper level of my rockwork is too intense for anything but SPS so this is where I place most of my SPS.

Naturally your nem will move at some point, it's what they do sometimes. Just be aware daily of where it is and try to keep your corals on larger rubble so you can relocate them as needed. I just had to move my Xenia yesterday and it's a good thing I did cause my rbta is sitting right on the spot I had it.

My rbta is 10-11" but with flow it's tentacles can make it an extra 2-3". Give it a few inches on either side after it settles and you'll be golden......that is until it moves hahah.

 

[onecrzyboi4u]

I would add the nem first.. let him get settled in .. then i would work my corals around it.. leaving plenty room for the nem to have room for it to grow.. just like mentioned above you'll have to play by ear if he decides to move.

 

[Random Aquarist]

Yeah, that's what I plan on doing. Placing corals around it. Luckily, I have a lot of nice crevices within 1' of one another, so I have an idea of where it'll stay.