rbta help

bigtyme

New member
Do you think 250 mh lights is too much for a rbta in a 37 gallon tank. Water is 0 and it split about a month ago. The both have been hidding for ten days and I can't get to them to spot feed. Will they just stay and die or will the come out for food later when its almost too late?
 
That is pretty intense lighting for an E. quadricolor. There are some that do fine under that type of lighting and others that suffer. FWIW, they'll probably find a dimmer place to settle down. If it was ten days ago though, they most likely have found a nice spot to rest. Also, how long do you have you MHs on? If they are on for a fairly long amount of time, this might be too much light.
 
I have a 175 MH 15K color on my 30 cube and the 3 RBTA's love it. I also have a 6500K 100 watt output pc that they stretch to get more light from.
 
I run a 250w MH on my 30g long, along with 2x65w PC, and when i had an anemone in there, it still climbed to the top for more light. Did you just recently change to the MH, and if so, what from. You may need to acclimate them by running your lights for a shorter time. If not, i would say you more than likely have an issue with the water, temp or water quality.
 
My BTA and its split both stay at the very top of the tank by my 250W 20K halide. They did hide for a while after the split so maybe they are just getting used to being two instead of one... JMO
 
My RBTA hide out from time to time when I change something in the tank (flow, lighting, etc...). Sounds like they are just getting used to things. I don't think 10 days is to bad.

I switched from power compacts (260 watt fixture) to T5 (Ice Cap retro fit with individual reflectors with four bulbs) a couple weeks ago and the RBTAs are just coming back out. They really seem to like this light (of course the tank is a lot brighter)!

Good luck with your RBTA!
 
Re: rbta help

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7916095#post7916095 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bigtyme
Do you think 250 mh lights is too much for a rbta in a 37 gallon tank. Water is 0 and it split about a month ago. The both have been hidding for ten days and I can't get to them to spot feed. Will they just stay and die or will the come out for food later when its almost too late?

I have had great success with RBTAs. My suggestions would be not to worry about feeding them. They can be overfed in my opinion. I have had a tank full for over a year and now am down to one about the size of a dinner plate and have yet to feed them directly. They love light! I don't think you have to worry about too much light.

Not an expert here. Just my 2 cents!
-Jon
 
Hi Jon, The RBTS you sold me is doing great and it is now three anemones. Have you sold all others? I can't imagine they died. I thought you were feeding them shrimp, but I might have not remembered you correctly. Maybe you said you feed the tank Mysis. I forget.

I see a lot of people online that say they feed them every day but I feed them about once a week or two and give them cooked shrimp or a chunk of frozen mysis.
 
Russ,

Everything here is well. Glad to here yours are doing good. Mine all lived and I sold them or traded them down to one. I went SPS and LPS and they sting the Sh3t out of everything. I have one on a rock in the corner, thanks to Pauls advice and it hasn't moved in 6 months. They would catch a shrimp every once in a while when I would feed the Lion that I sold. In about 6 months, the only food they get is what the pair of clowns steal and feed them.

I had some amazing offers from reefers on RC when they put a ban on importation a few months back. I would suggest checking on line for current prices. The one I sold you for $25 was going for $150 last time I looked.

Good money making items! Leigh Anne is always looking for some in trade.
 
Sounds like we need to start selling some of ours! In fact one just split yesterday making 12. Oh and ours are under 400s and all are what be considered large except the split.
 
I woke up this afternoon <yup> and found another split RBTA. I guess the value of my tank just went up a bunch. That makes 4 :)
 
Today when my 175 MH and my 6500k PC bulb when on on my 30 gal tank I got amazed again! 4 days after my last RBTA split another one split. That makes 5 RBTA's now. The only change I have made is over the past two weeks I have fed them each a piece of shrimp. My original two splite are the ones that split again. The middle one was a split from a couple of months ago. Does anyone know how old RBTAs are before they might be splitting. This time I have 4 that all look pertty small and the middle aged one is slightly larger. When my first split happened the original one still looked pretty large.
 
Kevin, I have spoken to a few shop owners and other people who should know and they all say that RBTA's have times where they are not as available and that is why the prices go up. They should be more available in time.

Russ
 
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