Question about flow changes and RBTA

[edsbeaker]

Hi,
I have controllable Tunze power heads and have them programmed for different flow settings between daytime, dusk, dawn, and nighttime. My RBTA has been wandering, especially during the night, (lowest flow) and I was wondering if these changes throughout the day could be the reason. Is it better with an RBTA in a tank to have the flow remain the same at all times? I don't know if in the wild they prefer places where the flow is always the same.
Thanks

 

[ssgtgonzo]

IME they love flow. It is undstandable why it would wander during times of slack. I would keep the intensity of the pumps the same, but vary the flow patterns. Also, moving may indicate that it doesn't like the rock work. Does it have sufficient nooks where it's entire foot can be enclosed? Mine haven't moved since I got them, and they all have good holes to set their foot.

 

[edsbeaker]

Well it wandered enough to become detached and start floating around, so I made it a nice area that is a deep crevice/cave for it's foot, about half way up the rock work. It can retreat in there or come out of the shade when it wants. So far it has stayed put all there since this morning. I'm hoping that it was the diminished flow at night that made it want to move, since it's wandering has always been after lights out. I'll just keep the night flow similar to the daytime for now and see how it does.

Thanks for the response.

 

[Mavrk]

How long has it been in the tank?
IME, BTA's do their wandering at night. I don't know if it is the night time flow, but more likely it is just the flow in that spot in general. I believe BTA's naturally come from a more lagoon type of area where the flow does not take drastic changes. That said, I know people use some extreme programs on the flow of their tank without issue. I know many people run a slow their powerheads at night because of noise and most don't have wandering anemones because of it. I would say it is the overall flow of the area, or more likely the foot wasn't in a happy place (as mentioned above).

 

[edsbeaker]

How long has it been in the tank?
IME, BTA's do their wandering at night. I don't know if it is the night time flow, but more likely it is just the flow in that spot in general. I believe BTA's naturally come from a more lagoon type of area where the flow does not take drastic changes. That said, I know people use some extreme programs on the flow of their tank without issue. I know many people run a slow their powerheads at night because of noise and most don't have wandering anemones because of it. I would say it is the overall flow of the area, or more likely the foot wasn't in a happy place (as mentioned above).

Thanks for the info.
He's been in the tank for only 3 weeks. For the first two weeks the flow was more consistent throughout the day. He's been in the crevice/cave that I described above since yesterday morning. I did notice that during the night his tentacles stayed bubbled instead of deflating like they have when the flow previously reduced at night. Does this mean he's happier with the stronger flow at night? I guess time will tell.
For now, though, I've changed the programming on the powerheads so that the flow is the same 24/7. If he stays put, I'm not messing with the flow again.

 

[ssgtgonzo]

I wouldn't take the amount of bubbles to mean much...besides the fact it's not deflated. I have a tank with 5 different btas (not clones of each other) with laminar flow on them 24/7, and at any ome point in the night, one can suck its tentacles in, while one, without fail, will be really bubbly. If it's not deflated don't worry about the tentacles' shape.

I would agree with keeping the flow somewhat the same...at the very least until you are certain its happy and healthy. Figure its been taken from halfway around the globe and adapting to a new environment, a little stability may be just what it.needs! Good luck, and would love to see some pictures!

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