RBTA on The Move But Why?

[windyridge]

My RBTA has been in the same spot since December 22nd. A few weeks after I changed my optics on 4 of my LED's from 45 degrees to 70 degrees (a little less par) my RBTA started to move. But not necessarily up. He moved down onto the sand, then up, then back behind the rocks. He has been restless for a week now. Nothing else has changed but the light optics. Being hidden behind all my rocks with the two clowns in tow is not much fun. I'm not sure he has quit moving so I will wait but was wondering if anyone had any idea why he is on the move.

If he stays behind the rocks I will have to turn the rock around which may necessitate me rebuilding my tank!

 

[wonderz]

I think you answered your own question saying that its the light optics, right? Is it just moving an inch a day or moving a lot?

FWIW, I think its stressful for both the rbta and the owner when they are on the move. LOL

 

[windyridge]

Well the optics will give less par not more so why would it move to even less light? It had been only moving an inch or so and then going back to where it was. Last night it moved a foot all the way behind a rock and the glass and on the bottom! Makes no sense at all. I would have expected a move to higher ground to equal the lost light. On the other hand I have been increasing the light intensity 1% every other day to make up for the lost par. Currently it sits at 80% where I will stop for a month. I have AI Sols. He is behaving as if he has too much light. Is that possible? My light is 14 inches AWOL.

 

[windyridge]

So now that lighting is peak he has moved up to the top of the rocks but still behind. Still on the move. So I guess too much light isn't it.

 

[wonderz]

Maybe it is still looking for its happy place after the new light optics?

 

[windyridge]

Well he's pretty finicky! Lol

 

[Curtis.H]

The nem has no way of knowing that you made the lights less intense. It just knows that the old spot is no longer it's happy spot so it's going to move around until it find a new spot. If it settles behind a rock and you turn that rock around it's pretty likely that it will move to the new "back" of the rock. You might be able to direct a powerhead to the back of the rock and make that an unhappy place to get it to move.

 

[windyridge]

Now he's in the front in a new spot. Lol. I've been moving corals all day. He has not stung those that he has been contact with.