RBTA no so Bubbly

[MattyO]

My RBTA does not bubble. It did when it was young but has stopped a few months ago. My tests come out fine, 0 nitrites, 5-10 nitrates, phos 0 (but chaeto is growing in fuge).

The weird thing is the RBTA has not moved off the rock it was attached to when I put him in the tank...

Lights are 4, 54W T5HO's in a Solaris Unit with Individual Reflectors. Flow is a MP10, Mag 9 Return Pump, and Koralias.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It can be a response to lighting. I've had clones in the same tank where one had bubbles and the other not, and even had one large RBTA where bubbles only formed on the tips in the brightest light.

There may be other reasons as well, but I would not assume it is any sign of bad health, or a water chemistry problem.

 

[bues0022]

Why BTA's bubble or don't is a very good question. As Randy indicated, it is not a measure of health. Some do, some don't, some clones next door will/won't. I've even had one that was half bubbled half not at the same time. Who knows.

 

[TULSATYE]

I have a RBTA and it doesnt bubble unless I bring my Alkalinity up to around 10!

 

[myram]

My BTA was bubbled in the LFS under crappy lighting, I get him home and have it under better lighting and it's never bubbled at all. Seems healthy, doesn't take food from me so I'm assuming the lighting is giving it what it needs.

Steve

 

[milkman55]

Mine has never bubbled after I saw it in the LFS. I think lighting my be part of the issue, because it has much higher lighting in my tank than the LFS. It's now almost three years in my tank and has split once. Still no bubbles.

 

[MattyO]

And I though I was the only one cause well, it bubbled under crappy LFS lighting lol. Thanks guys

 

[myram]

I'm looking for a small RBTA now, hopefully this one actually bubbles........LOL

Steve

 

[vaporize]

Only newly imported ones have their full bubby

Captive ones typically have half bubby or no bulb at all.

Just wanted a doc about Raja Armpit, they claim that bta only bubble up with clownfish in them - I do not think it's true at all.

Maybe somebody with a BTA greenhouse propagation can comment on the 'strongest light' cause bubby hypothesis. I remembered seeing some of the ones from Steve Pro's old green house, it still did not have the bubby (but he told us that lighting is so strong that even sps can't stand it, only thing that could stand the strong lighting was his RBTA and green sinularia)

As always, this is one of the biggest mystery in the clownfish world

By full bubb - I mean this: