Mixed reef vs BTA tank?

[~RuSh~]

Sup guys. Just looking for the pros and cons of these two types of tanks. I've kept LPS and softies in the past and I think that is what I would primarily stick to for the mixed reef tank - Hammer or Frogspawn, Candycane or trumpets, open brain, acans, zoas palys etc. The BTA tank idea I have not done before and I'm open to suggestions or ideas about this one, but ideally I would keep 2-3 different color variations. If they decide to go for walks then it's not really that big of a deal.


Tank specs: 40g breeder, plumbed with a 20g high sump. SRO 1000SSS skimmer. Glass holes overflow kit and loc line return. Viparspectra 165w led.

Stock: Just cuc right now. Planning on a pair of ocellaris clowns, 2 banggai cardinals, midas blenny, and royal gramma.

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

Thanks in advance.

 

[aznflyfisherman]

I have a 110g mix ree, lps, sps n softies, one side of my tank is dedicated to about 9btas, two ltas n one big mag.

 

[~RuSh~]

You don't have problems with the btas moving around?

 

[Indymann99]

My BTA's have stayed in place for 5yrs. RBTAs on the left (actually 4 now). I used to have Hammer and Frogspawn on the right side of the tank but my bannerfish ate them...

Vid below
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/152505950@N07/40066178901/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1186"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4741/40066178901_350231b637.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="IMG_1186"></a>******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[~RuSh~]

Wow. Beautiful tank. Huge BTA! I didn't think they got that big.

 

[PitViper]

What are BTAs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Rjukan]

Bubble Tip Anemone

 

[PitViper]

Bubble Tip Anemome

Well that was the most obvious lmao. Thank you much


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cancun]

Sup guys. Just looking for the pros and cons of these two types of tanks. I've kept LPS and softies in the past and I think that is what I would primarily stick to for the mixed reef tank - Hammer or Frogspawn, Candycane or trumpets, open brain, acans, zoas palys etc. The BTA tank idea I have not done before and I'm open to suggestions or ideas about this one, but ideally I would keep 2-3 different color variations. If they decide to go for walks then it's not really that big of a deal.


Tank specs: 40g breeder, plumbed with a 20g high sump. SRO 1000SSS skimmer. Glass holes overflow kit and loc line return. Viparspectra 165w led.

Stock: Just cuc right now. Planning on a pair of ocellaris clowns, 2 banggai cardinals, midas blenny, and royal gramma.

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

Thanks in advance.

Hi....I have 4 RBT nems and 1 blue carpet nem....2 RBT are 12 inches across each....I have LPS....softies....zoas....and 1SPS....no issues....the RBT when I bought it several years ago was just one..then it split three times....so the two larger ones moved to the other side of the tank...but they haven't moved since....I just moved corals out of the way when they moved that one time....I found if I keep the flow consistent...I don't change it all the time....and keep water params in check all is good....

Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

 

[mitch91175]

I think that the size of the tank they are in matters as well if you are going for a mixed reef. RBTA can get pretty big and if it does split on you you will not have a lot of space for it to move around in a 40 breeder. I have 2 in my 240 on the right and they have been well behaved in my mixed reef. I also have 2 on the left as well that have been standing pat. All of them have split and I just sell or trade the splits to keep my numbers where they are now at 4.

The splits will roam to find a spot and once that happens in your 40 breeder, they usually go to the highest spot for light and flow (at least mine did). Everyone will have different experience with keeping a mixed reef (specially with anemones). Your mileage will vary so definitely keep that in mind.

 

[~RuSh~]

I did a LTA and BTA with my reef last time and neither was very successful. I think I may just try my hand at a BTA first - let it get comfortable and find a spot that is to it's liking and then maybe consider getting some LPS corals after it's chosen it's spot... Or if it gets as big as the pictures, I just may leave it as is. Those are beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing everyone.

 

[ImTacticool]

I have LTA and BTA in mixed tank and all inhabitants are doing well!

 

[thinhn1]

Just add the bta's i first and let them settle into place. Then add corals after.

 

[Mrramsey]

I started out with a RBTA and a GBTA. 4 years later I had over 50 of them. I just had them all removed last week so I could start transforming my tank to LPS and SPS. My clown fish never did take to any of them. The rest of my fish now have more presence in the tank.

 

[j.falk]

I started out with a RBTA and a GBTA. 4 years later I had over 50 of them. I just had them all removed last week so I could start transforming my tank to LPS and SPS. My clown fish never did take to any of them. The rest of my fish now have more presence in the tank.

Was this in your 120 build and if so, did they eventually kill off all your corals?

 

[Mrramsey]

Was this in your 120 build and if so, did they eventually kill off all your corals?

Yes to a degree. They just expanded to a point where they choked out the others. Looked beautiful no doubt about it but I had zero room for other corals or fish. They choked out a couple devils hand leathers, blue mushrooms, a small colony of zoas.

The first two are from a couple weeks ago and the last is last week after the removal.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chicagoreef2016]

Yes to a degree. They just expanded to a point where they choked out the others. Looked beautiful no doubt about it but I had zero room for other corals or fish. They choked out a couple devils hand leathers, blue mushrooms, a small colony of zoas.

The first two are from a couple weeks ago and the last is last week after the removal.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pretty cool tank with them all in there.