Where should I place my gbta?

[Neptune 555]

I have been keeping a fowlr 50 gallon tank for 15 years. Last year I decided to upgrade to a 75 gallon reef tank. Here is my situation I purchased a GBTA 4 days from the LFS along with a few soft corals. I am wondering which of two tanks would house this better?

75 gallon tank - 4 65 watt T5 lights 2 10 k and 2 actinic / 75 pounds LR / 75 live sand / 0 nitrate / ocelleralis clown / coral beauty / fairy wrasse / Zoes / Xenias / Kenya tree / 3 lps . Sump w strong skimmer. I have covered the intakes on my power heads w black mesh.

48 gallon tank - power compacts 2x96 watts / 50 lbs live rock / flame angel / Valentini puffer / dragon wrasse / ocellaris clown. Prolific mushroom corals nitrate around 20 / 30 ppm.

The 75 gallon tank will host more soft and lps corals. I was not aware that mixing this GBTA was a problem. But the 48 gallon has higher nitrates great for mushrooms but will this not be ok for a GBTA ? I would be happy to add a hob skimmer to this tank... But my last Coralife skimmer was a pita?

Neptune

Where would you place your GBTA? And will the tank raises ocellaris actually ever host the GBTA? I have read different answers...

 

[addictedreefer]

Definitely the 75. Lighting in the 48 is not sufficient and nitrates could be problematic.

 

[geckoejon]

agree with the 75g because of the skimmer / sump setup and better water quality.

it depends on the individual clown. at the moment, i have 4 tank raised ocellaris being hosted by bta's. the easiest way i found was to toss in a skunk clown for a week or 2. the ocellaris watched it host, i took the skunk out, then the ocellaris was diggin into the bta's shortly after i have known some that can't get their ocellaris to touch a nem though....

 

[Neptune 555]

Ok two votes for the 75... But I heard you should not keep RBTA w/ other coral?? I heard you are not supposed to mix them W coral? In the 48 gallon the only other coral w be mushrooms and I don't worry about them? If the anemone kills them fine I have plenty more?

 

[geckoejon]

Ok two votes for the 75... But I heard you should not keep RBTA w/ other coral?? I heard you are not supposed to mix them W coral? In the 48 gallon the only other coral w be mushrooms and I don't worry about them? If the anemone kills them fine I have plenty more?

true... i have a species only tank for my bta's. neither situation seems ideal. why get a bta if you don't have the proper setup in the first place? if the water quality and lights are not what the bta needs, it's going do do poorly anyway. yes, it might sting or kill other corals if you put it in with them. that is why it's recommended to have a species tank for them.

why not upgrade the lights on the 48, add a sump, skimmer, reactor, and then put the bta in once it stabilizes?

 

[mcfa2403]

I have 5 RBTA in my reef along with several lps and softies. They do have the ability to sting and kill other corals, but corals can do this too. If you keep up tank parameters and are careful about placement you should be able to avoid them walking. A valentini puffer and flame angel may not be ideal tankmates for a BTA and the lighting and nitrates are far from ideal