Preparing a 30g tank for BTA

hessfish

hessfish

New member
Okay I have been doing web reasherch on the topic of supporting an anenome in an aquarium. I have come up with information but it seems to differ per web site I just wNt to know what I need and experienced advice.
Here's what I have so far:
Aquaticlife t5 fixture with 2 day lights and 2 blue and 4 moon LEDs
Jbj 4 stage reaction canister filter with uv
Ato top off
Nano protine skimmer (I have heard of saltwater ferns that can replace this any one know of specific names)
40 lbs of live rock 30lbs sand
2 maxi jet 900
Last but not least 2 clowns!

So what more do I need? Any suggestions for brands for chemistry additives?
Al advice is welcome. Thanks!
 
30 gallons may be a tad bit small for a BTA - especially a Rose BTA. Mine would fill a 30 gallon with no room for much else. I think most here (myself included) would strongly recommend against it in such a small tank.

If you are set on doing this, the "rule of thumb" is for the tank to be at least 6 months old with stable parameters. The problem with a 30 gal is that the params can get out of whack very quickly to the detriment of all the livestock. Try to avoid any chemical additives. BTA's are not huge calcium hogs, and can stand a little "dirty water", but keeping up with regular water changes is a must.
 
Thanks. Im planning on introducing it in fedurary. Does it mean anything that I have a 10g sump as well? Cause I'd hate to kill anything. What's the best size cause a few places have told me 30g is fine.
You don't think I should add chemicals? Not even iodine?
 
I would put a bta in a 30 gallon if it is the only thing in there. Just keep up on water changes. It looks like you have the equipment to keep the tank pretty stable. I would get a small one let it settle in and get powerheads out of the way for when it grows. If this is your first tank I would reccomend getting a larger tank.

Steelhead: why do you say it would be small for a bta, especially rose bta? Rose anemones dont get larger than green bta's
 
I would also add get a domesticated Rose if possible they are practically indestructible with proper lighting which it looks like you haVe. A thirty is large enough but protect your power heads intakes they are hell on Anemones. Icurrently have three in a forty with some green mushrooms. Remember the Anemone owns the tank.

jason
 
Thanks!
Yeah I'm aiming for a rbta. Do you guys think that itl be okay with a mated pair of ocellarius? Bioload wise that is.
 
Best water parameters for a RBTA: specific gravity 1.025-1.027, temperature 78-82F, nitrates undetectable preferably, ph 8.2-8.4. Random water flow is ideal, moderate flow, no need for extreme water flow with E. quadricolor. I'm not familiar with that light fixture, but in a shallow tank, individual reflectors would only be a bonus, not a necessity. I think 30g is plenty large for a BTA or even a few, assuming good husbandry practices. You asked about bioload of BTA with a pair of ocellaris. Again, assuming you do regular water changes, use a good protein skimmer, don't overfeed, etc., you should be fine. As mentioned, ocellaris sometimes will be hosted by a BTA, but it's certainly not a sure bet. "Sure bets" would be tomato, maroon, clarkii, and cinnamon.

Also, you asked if there are saltwater ferns that can replace a protein skimmer. Maybe you're referring to chaetomorpha, an algae that is sometimes used for nitrate control. I personally would want a good quality skimmer that is rated for a tank of at least 50 gallons. You can still run chaeto in your sump, but the skimmer will remove a good bit of the nitrogenous waste before it even enters the nitrogen cycle. Then, the chaeto can minimize what nitrate is formed.

You asked about brands for chemistry additives. With regular water changes you shouldn't need any. In sps tanks, calcium additions/alkalinity etc. are important, with an anemone and clowns, not the case. A good salt mix and a commitment to do regular water changes is what is most important. I would say R/O is valuable, especially for top off water and likely for all your water changes.

You didn't say what kind of bottom substrate you're planning, but I personally wouldn't suggest a deep sand bed. In fact only a shallow sand bed, less than 1/2 inch allows more water space and doesn't trap wastes nearly to the extent a deeper sand bed can. Some folks keep deep sand beds for years with success, but many others have a crash (spike in nitrates) after a couple of years.
 
Wow thanks that was exactly what I was looking for.
At the moment I have about 3/4 inch sand bed and 40lbs live rock.
I already have picked out a few decent spots for An anemone if I could get a few pictures I'll post them. Lots of holes is good for BTA right?
 
I had all sorts of places for my nem picked out but you know what in the end he/she decided all by itself.. lol good luck!
 
Alright just clarifying. Frequent water changes and stable water conditions. No iodine or calcium? Because some places told me that.
 
2Addicted said:
I would put a bta in a 30 gallon if it is the only thing in there. Just keep up on water changes. It looks like you have the equipment to keep the tank pretty stable. I would get a small one let it settle in and get powerheads out of the way for when it grows. If this is your first tank I would reccomend getting a larger tank.

Steelhead: why do you say it would be small for a bta, especially rose bta? Rose anemones dont get larger than green bta's
Click to expand...

I have several RBTA's in my 180. I say several because a week a go I had 2, (a year ago I had one). Both the size of a 58 Buick Steering wheel. I'm only slightly exagerating. One of them split, so now I have 3. I also have a green. In my experience greens don't get much bigger than about a third the size of my Rose's. In a 30 gallon tank, my roses would be overflowing it.


To the OP: The reason I say no chems is that in a tank your size is:
a) Any supplements that are required in a 30 gal. will be made up for in frequent water changes, which you WILL need to do to be successful.
b) You can o.d. on supplements real easy if your not careful - Never add anything you're not testing for.
c) A rule I try to keep is K.I.S.S. Why make things more difficult than they need to be.

It sounds like your going to do it. Good Luck.
 
okay just a few pics.
ones a general pic and the other 2 are of possible locations for anemone.
anemone safe?
 

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Uhhh....Seriously, that tank does not look like it is in any way ready to host an anemone anytime soon. I know you say February is what you're planning, but that still may be too soon judging by the looks of that rock. You want to see a lot of purple and what appears to be life on that rock. Right now it looks barren and dead.

As far as location, you can put it anywhere you want in the tank and it will move anywhere it wants despite what you want.

Like I said, good luck.
 
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