Where should I put a BTA?

[The Curious]

Heya RC. I have 2 b&w ocellaris in a 7 month old tank and I'm about to get them a green BTA from the LFS. I found a piece of live rock that is a pagoda cup coral skeleton that widens to about 8-10 inches at it's peak. I am running 4 65w power compact bulbs (50/50) on a 55 gallon reef. I know this is a relatively small amount of light for a BTA and I know they like to move around 'till they find an appropriate spot in the tank, so my question is this...would it be a reasonable idea to set the coral skeleton up on top of my lr, to where the top of the structure would be about 4-6 inches from the water level, and try to place the BTA on top of it? I know he will most likely move about regardless, and that alot of people have BTAs against a rock, but on the sand bed. I am new to anemone keeping and just wanna get some input from some experienced keepers as to whether my idea is solid or stupid.

Thanks guys an gals.

 

[garygb]

BTAs will stay put if they have a rock with a hole to attach (assuming light, flow, and water quality is also to their liking). They need to feel their column is protected. A cave, hole, or large crevice seems to do the trick well. They also will attach and stay to an overhang on a piece of rock where their foot is attached and the column and tentacles come out and up into the light, like a "J" shape, with the column being against the liverock as it juts out of the cave. What you're decribing doesn't sound like they type of substrate a BTA is looking for.

 

[velvetelvis]

I'm a brand-new anemone keeper, but I can tell you that I placed my RBTA on a rock with lots of crevices, and with another rock on top that forms a little cave over the anemone. It receives gentle, alternating flow from two MP10s and the return--no direct flow, but enough to ruffle the tentacles gently. As garyb pointed out, they really like to poke out of a crevice. Under these conditions, my anemone took a little while to attach, but it hasn't budged since and seems to be doing really well.

 

[The Curious]

Cool, well I've got a few ideas now as to different rocks in my system to place the BTA on when I get him in a week or so...we'll see how he likes wherever I decide to drop him.

Thanks for the info guys

 

[velvetelvis]

Just make sure to cover all your powerheads and filter intakes, so he won't blunder into one of them if he goes wandering.

 

[shackman]

How would you go about coveing your powerheads, I have two koralias that are a lot of flow for my tank but the sps love it so how do I get an anenome to find a place with good current if the powerheads are not working properly.

 

[velvetelvis]

You could contact the company and see if they make foam covers for their powerheads. I know Vortech does.