New BTA

[Ab129]

So I just bought a beautiful BTA today, my first.
I'm a newbie getting my first tank going. So far I have a pair of oscellaris snowflakes, a melanaurus wrasse and my new BTA.
I turned off al pumps and flow when I placed him in the tank and left them off for 30 minutes. When I put the pumps back on the BTA stayed put so I assumed he was ok with that spot and everybody(me) was happy.
Went out for a couple hours and when I got home he was gone!
After a short panic I realized he had positioned himself behind my rocks underneath an outcropping. Called my lfs and they said he probably won't stay there and even if he does, the tentacles will lengthen and come out for light.
I am wondering if perhaps my lights were set too high of an intensity and maybe that is why he moved.
I have a pair of new radion xr15 and I'm using one of the preprogrammed cycles, something like "œtypical reef tank". It's a 12 hour cycle with lights at %100 for six hours.
What do you guys think?
If he doesn't move on his own what can I do?
Any input would be appreciated.
Pic is very poor and sideways and taken before he moved.

 

[ChizerBunoi]

The BTA will probably keep moving around for the rest of the week until it finds a new spot that it likes. You can make an island and surround with sand so that it doesn't move off the rock.

I would like acclimate it to the lights over time. 100% is probably too strong depending on the light intensity it had at the store. Unless your tank is super deep.

 

[Joe0813]

100% is probably way way to strong.... I have my gen 2s at 40% and 12 inches off the water

 

[Ab129]

So maybe cut the 100% period down to 60%?
And if he comes out what would be a good schedule to gradually increase the intensity?

 

[Ab129]

And my lights are about 8.5 inches above the water

 

[Joe0813]

Go into ecosmart live and put the lights into acclimation mode.... personally I think your light is to low and waaay to high of an intensity. My gen 2 aren't nearly as powerful as the new gen 4 and im at half of what youre using and 4 inches higher off the water.... start off around 30% and adjust from there. Better to have to raise the intensity than to bleach or kill corals and the BTA

 

[Ab129]

I will lower the intensity tonight.
As far as the height goes I am using the single arm tank mounts from EcoTech so no adjustments possible there.

 

[Joe0813]

8.5 should be fine with that model... worst case if the BTA or corals still lose their color you just lower the intensity even more

 

[Ab129]

Update!

Update!

Well I bought a feeding stick and a bottle of "œfuel" yesterday.
I attempted to feed him for the first time which was just a best guess on my part considering where he stuffed himself and I added the supplement.
Two hours later he was out!!
Behind the rocks but out!
He moved again this morning and was small but when I got home from work he was all puffed out!
Don't know if it was the food, supplement or both but very happy with the results.
Of course for some reason I am unable to attach a photo but he looks great!