My new nems and a question please:)

[Robin764]

Have had my nems for only a week. They moved to the back, so today I decided to turn their rocks around and feed them, hopefully enticing them to stay.

Here are some shots of both, but my question is, on the big one does it look like an injury or is it splitting? He didn't have this at the LFS. Also any comments on their health is appreciated. Before you ask, they are under mh for this pic.

Little one

Big one

Close up of area in question

 

[davocean]

First pic looks like BTA, hard to tell from pic but I'm assuming 2nd pic is BTA as well, so splitting would be common/normal, so maybe.
BTA's need less light, and may shy away from MH, and in fact stress could be causing split.
I'd try giving them a shaded area where you can still see them.

 

[Robin764]

The mh is in the middle of the tank and 150 watts. Other lighting is 4x39w t5's. I believe the tank is 24 inches high. Their feet are anchored below each rock, and for the first week the big one didn't seem to enjoy the light so much, but today was out in his glory. They are 6 inches or so from the bottom. Also MH is only on 6 hrs daily and is only about a month and half old.

The big anemone is about 6 inches in diameter.

I was actually worried I didn't have enough light. I was brave enough to actually feed them for the first time today. Fighting the clowns for the shrimp. I just tested the params yesterday, and ammonia, nitrates, unreadable, (not high enough to change test colors.) and ph 8.4. Thought ph is borderline high.

The nems grabbed the shrimp no probs. I was amazed at how fast they can actually eat.

If he was stressed enough to start to split, do you all think he is settled now?

Any help appreciated. Really love these guys.

Robin

 

[davocean]

Your light is a little on the low side for overall tank IMO, I just meant I wouldn't put BTA's directly under MH at top, but towards bottom prob fine.
BTA's many times split just on stress of new tank, and they can take a little bit to find a spot where happy and acclimate.
Most likely fine.
Sounds like a fairly new tank?

 

[stagefright13]

Davocean is right BTA's don't need massive light. They usullay put there foot UNDER a rock and stretch the tentacles into the light.

If you want the bta's on the front just put a powerhead that nukes the back of the rocks with flow. They don't like much current either. At least has always worked for me.

 

[stagefright13]

Hard to tell their health because the pics are dark. A healthy BTA is tan or brownish. An unhealthy one is white. I am trying to nurse one back right now. But it's tents are almost clear. But trying anyways...

You can tell better since you are there looking at it. The darker the color the better it is. White is a no no.

What lighting do you have on them? With the proper amount of light it should take a reasonable pic without a flash.

Oh I see a 150 MH. I would think 2 250's on a tank that large would be just about right with a couple actinics. Some people would even use alot more than what I just suggested!

I lit my little 29 gallon with 1 175 watt MH and 2 actinics and worked well. But your 150 is massive in comparison. I'm putting a 250 MH without actinics on later this week.

 

[Robin764]

An upgrade from my 46g that is sitting empty now taunting me....but still only about 6 months old all told. Had the rock in a 20g first (actually the 20g sat with about 50#'s of LR for a couple months)....then the clowns, then the 46g, and other inhabitants. So 50#'s of LR is actually older than 6 months. I was gonna let it go longer, but made an ebay purchase (ok, I was a little tipsy) and had a pr of tomato clowns coming. $20 bucks, inc. shipping. This meant a visit to craigslist and a 46g purchase to transfer rock, etc. for clown arrival, and added base rock for the fill.

I have mushroom, xenia, and a lone surviving leather...(went nudibranch huntin for a few days.) He has recovered and growing nicely. Oh and a gsp that is doing nicely as well.

100 pds of rock don't do much for a 150g, so am adding a new rock every couple weeks or so, so no more coral for me till I have my rock quota.

This is it...looks a little bare at the moment, but I got a long way to go.

MH's not on for this shot btw.

 

[Robin764]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13033517#post13033517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stagefright13
Hard to tell their health because the pics are dark. A healthy BTA is tan or brownish. An unhealthy one is white. I am trying to nurse one back right now. But it's tents are almost clear. But trying anyways...

You can tell better since you are there looking at it. The darker the color the better it is. White is a no no.

What lighting do you have on them? With the proper amount of light it should take a reasonable pic without a flash.

Oh I see a 150 MH. I would think 2 250's on a tank that large would be just about right with a couple actinics. Some people would even use alot more than what I just suggested!

I lit my little 29 gallon with 1 175 watt MH and 2 actinics and worked well. But your 150 is massive in comparison. I'm putting a 250 MH without actinics on later this week.

I used the darker shots because they were closer to actual color. When I was shooting, the mh was on, so was very bright for taking pics. I have a video I can upload. Will take a minute.

 

[Robin764]

This clip make him look lighter than he is, but his mouth is actually white. Not sure what that means.



And he just ate a pc of shrimp about 10 mins before this clip.

 

[Robin764]

You can see the section I'm concerned about at @ 7:00.

 

[stagefright13]

I think it looks pretty healthy to me. And sure will do much better over time. Just seems like he has way too much flow tho. They tend to like a gentle current. Or guaranteed it will roam 'till it finds a gentle current spot. Just direct most of your flow to the back of the rocks and they should stay in the front.

The video was a much better example.

 

[Robin764]

thanks stagefright, gonna move the koralia 4 to aim back of rocks instead, as you suggested. I would like to keep em up front where I can see em.

 

[stagefright13]

Plus the flow across the back will suspend any detritus back there. It's much easier to vacuum the front when doing water changes.

Well at least it has been working for me. And have fun and good luck with your new tank and pets!!!

My lighting suggestions still stands tho. After a while they will need it. Right now they are acclimated to lfs lights. They will need quite a bit more in a week or 2.

 

[Robin764]

Oh, and Davocean....
not to steal from my own thread, lol, but I must tell you...I love your tank, I love that you have a tennenti tang...and a pr of mandy's. I'm still looking for a female for mine. Not having much luck around here. My male eats whatever I throw in the tank...took a whole day of adjusting powerheads, etc. to trick him into thinking his food was live, but he even goes after flake now. Still not sure he is actually eating it though yet. But he is fat and healthy....wanna give up your female? lol, and kudos to you for always being the few who actually post answers....watch out K'apn!

 

[Robin764]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13033864#post13033864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stagefright13
Plus the flow across the back will suspend any detritus back there. It's much easier to vacuum the front when doing water changes.

Well at least it has been working for me. And have fun and good luck with your new tank and pets!!!

My lighting suggestions still stands tho. After a while they will need it. Right now they are acclimated to lfs lights. They will need quite a bit more in a week or 2.

I had a smaller 350gph aimed at the back...and a maxijet aimed forward. now the smaller 350 is aimed at the front, the maxijet aimed forward and up, and the koralia aimed along the back...(rocks are island style.) I have a tang that needs to swim! Again, thanks sooooo much Stagefright!

 

[stagefright13]

Well you are very welcome. The fast current along the back will keep the BTA's away. They may go back anyway after a while and change their minds. Done it... Nothing happens fast in a reef tank except disaster. So be patient and they will be on the viewing side.

Just make sure you get more light soon. Cause they need a decent amount of light. Not massive amounts but like I said 2 250 MH would be fine for your size tank. And make sure the bulbs are about 12 inches off the water. My adult can splash 7 inches high...

 

[Robin764]

new shots....How they looking now? been a couple weeks.

Thanks all in advance!