My BTA just committed suicide

[MarlinHooker]

So I've had this green BTA for about 3 1/2 weeks and he has constantly been on the move, every day or so in a new spot. Not a big deal as I only currently have fish, 2 small Zoa frags & a green polyp leather toadstool. he seemed healthy and was accepting a small piece of silversides every couple of days. This morning I found him in a new spot at the extreme back left hand corner of my tank. When I got home this afternoon I found my Vortech MP40 (which is located on the opposite tank wall about 5" below water line) on the bottom of my tank with the BTA inside the hosuing .... he didn't survive the experience.

Anyone got any clever ideas how to prevent this from happening again as I really like BTAs but can't stand the thought of this potential again ... thanks for any suggestions

 

[nbelohlav]

Dont vortechs come with a foam cover for the wetside?

Sent from the bottom of the ocean...

 

[wbradenpt]

reminds me of the time a blue velvet of mine got sucked in when floating down after acclimation. was just bad luck (for all involved).

 

[worm5406]

Yeah they have a foam cover and I had to make covers for my 2x 1400's hydor's to protect my SECOND set.. the first set wanted to see where the water was flowing from

 

[bugs713]

Man its like weekly I hear of a BTA finding a power head.... These creatures should never be in a tank without covers on strong intakes and especially power heads, even if they "Never Move"!
I have had my MP's covered with the available foam covers since I fed my tank minced peppermint shrimp one day by similar accident. Some people complain the covers restrict flow, but I don't notice much difference on the 4 I have - better to be safe and keep your creatures safe than be sorry!
If you haven't already, I would do a big water change as BTA Stems & Pieces can reek havoc on a tank!
Sorry about your loss and good luck!

This BTA never moved once in 7 months, then found him slimming around an MP40 one day. I shut it off and he moved away. I would of had the same mess if it wasn't covered...

 

[MarlinHooker]

thanks all. I do have the sponge cover that comes with it ... my fault as I don't remember reading in the manual that the sponge cover was for protecting critters from getting it. Those intake slots just seem awlful small for him to crawl inside but he sure did get in there ...

 

[listerofsmeg]

Where do you get the covers from? eBay? I live in the uk, and I have koralias.

 

[MarlinHooker]

no clue as they came with my Vortech ...

 

[worm5406]

I made my own covers from a fish tank seperator. All it is is plastic mesh, that I cut to size. I have it about 3 inches off the tip of the powerhead. That way even floating by (which mine love to do) they wont get in it to latch on. I have the other end go all the way to the back against the tank wall so they or shrimp cant get inside and stuck.

 

[Pamelahaley]

I've lost 2 BTAs to simple over flows...

 

[Chihuahua6]

I used to cut a sleeve out of nylon pantyhose and put it over the Koralias to cover the whole side of it. I would leave just the front open where the water was blowing out.
Now I have it arranged so that all of the power heads are behind rock in the back of the tank and blowing over or through the rock.

 

[worm5406]

I would think that would cause a tunneling effect and they might get sucked harder into it... Hummm...