My BTA is moving under a rock! Stress?

[dirtStar]

I just tore down an up and running tank with a BTA.

It has been acting a little weird and now has moved under the rock.

The clown slept in it last night, but has closed up and moved more into the rock.

Moved and set up friday night, I have not used the MH's, only actintics.
I thought for the move and stress, this would be fine for a full day.

This is now the second day........Should I put on the MH for their reg cycle??

Should I see if the BTA opens up again, and try to feed it?

Please help, I want to save it early.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[dirtStar]

Params:

Temp 79F
SG 1.0255
Ph 8.6 -- High, I am doing a 10% WC In process RO is Ph of 6.4
NO2 .1
NO3 25-5.0
Amm .1

Alk 2.2

 

[Slickcg33]

Params:

Temp 79F
SG 1.0255
Ph 8.6 -- High, I am doing a 10% WC In process RO is Ph of 6.4
NO2 .1
NO3 25-5.0
Amm .1

Alk 2.2

judging by your sig you seem to have some equipment and knowledge of aquariums, but perhaps not anemones. your params are to high, there should be no ammonia or nitrite and very little nitrate to keep an anemone. your ph is a bit high and your alk is low, It would appear your system isnt ready for an anemone or corals. You need to do some heavy water changes quickly IMO, and then find out what caused these params. If you leave the anemone in there and it dies, its just going to make all those params worse and likely kill alot of your tank in the process. How long has your tank been set up?

 

[dirtStar]

It was set up for 5 yrs, but I just bought it and moved it friday.
So it has been set up for roughly 36 hrs at its new home.

I have been reading up on anemones in the last day, and learning alot.
I am just asking friendly advise to see if I can help it along before it goes too far.

I am in the process of a 10% WC to decrease my highs


Rob

 

[dirtStar]

I have some Microbe-lift

Special Blend
and
Nite-out II

Do you think I should add any to help with the No2, No3?

 

[sweet d]

I have some Microbe-lift

 

[Slickcg33]

starting a saltwater tank is a very slow process and hard to be patient to do. I know because i jumped the gun when i set up mine and lost alot of livestock due to my impatiens and ignorance. Your tank is going through a cycle. which all tanks that are just set up go though. its likely that those params will steadily increased and once beneficial bacteria is established it will go back down. right now with all the livestock you have in the tank it is likely to get very stressed out and die during the process. IMO you need to find a holding place for your tank inhabitants untill your tank becomes stable. It usually tanks about a month for a tank to cycle. and many people suggest not putting an anemone in a tank unless its atleast 6 months old with steady params.

Hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge can chime in and give you some advice as well.

 

[gatsby174]

Well since you only moved it, not a complete new setup, the nitrogen cycle should balance out fairly quickly. I think you are on the right track and I would do daily wc's of 10-30% until the numbers stay where they should be...hth and good luck!

 

[Slickcg33]

perhaps i misunderstood. you said you bought it and moved it so i assumed it was a new setup.

 

[dirtStar]

Thanks...I was thinking it wouldnt be a full cycle.

Just wondering if the Microbe Lift would harm in any way.
I used it for a while on FW, and it says ok for SW.

 

[dirtStar]

perhaps i misunderstood. you said you bought it and moved it so i assumed it was a new setup.

Yes it was set up for 5 yrs. I did however, wash 80-90% of the sand,
so only 10% or 5-10 lbs is live.

I small spike in nitrite/nitrates was a given,

Should I turn on the Halides?

 

[clowns101]

Have you tested for copper?

 

[dirtStar]

No, I have not.

I dont have a copper test. I will get on today.

 

[gatsby174]

I would let the halides stay off for at least a day. There's a study floating around here about corals in the ocean sometimes going 3 days without light if there is a storm, so I wouldn't see the harm in one day. I still think that the chemicals aren't necessary, and may create problems with the test kit, so you won't know what the cycle is doing (false ammonia readings, etc.) Imho wc's are your best bet until the mini cycle is over.

 

[dirtStar]

I had hope for my BTA so, I did my 10% WC, repostitioned LR including the BTA (close to its normal spot), and added the new WC H2O...

I put on the actintics for about and hour than the MH for the rest of its cycle about an hour. When I first put in the WC, and put the pumps and P heads back on,
the anenome actually picked itself up in a matter of minutes and the mouth was starting to close.
The Ph went from 8.6 to 8.4 with the hardness from 2.2 up to 3.54!!!!

About 1.5 hrs later (present time) the BTA is half closed but the tentacles are puffy!! (* only the actintics are on)

I think I made it happy!!!!!

I want to feed it....Do you think I should feed it? Krill? Mysis?
Please can someone tell me?

THanks so much,
Rob