I need help with my GBTA??

chicap29 · 11-07-2007, 10:42 PM

About once every other day my GBTA deflates, I can his mouth open, then goes back to normal. I've been reading that seeing an open mouth is bad but how do you help them?

I will try to save some pic's of him on my gallery.

dobejazz · 11-07-2007, 11:14 PM

It's really hard to say can you post your tank specs - lighting water parameters ect?

BTA's do expell and replace the water in their bodies so it could be normal behavior but knowing the above and some pics would be helpful

chicap29 · 11-08-2007, 08:49 PM

My saltwater has 2x150 watt metal halides, 2x96 watt atenics and 3 LED lunar lights. The filter is a Magnum 350. The water salinity is at 30ppt.

I have uploaded some pic's of the GBTA in my gallery and am going do more.
Thanks.

Octoman · 11-08-2007, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicap29

Well I know that my water Salinity is at 30ppt. but I'm not sure what else to list?

Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, Alkalinity, pH, Calcium, temp

Also, are you using RO/DI water?

chicap29 · 11-08-2007, 09:14 PM

I am working on it. I have all the test except Alkinity, what should I do for that?

Octoman · 11-08-2007, 09:19 PM

You need to get a good alkalinity test kit. It tells you how much buffer is in the water (carbonate). Buffer helps keep the pH stable among other things.

Dentoid · 11-08-2007, 09:19 PM

Anemones require very stable water parameters. Most will say that does not occur until the tank has matured a year or more. Anemones must equalize the water within their vascular cavity to that of the outside water. If the tank water is fluctuating in salinity or other ionic components or larger molecules are present like nitrate, nitrite or ammonia the anemone will renew its vascular cavity water to attempt to equilize with its surrounding environment. How old is your tank?
How often are you doing water changes?
Do you have an auto top-off of fresh water?
Are you using any additives?
What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings.
How stable is your temperature?

blue_eyes53813 · 11-08-2007, 09:55 PM

How long have you had the anemone and is it sticky to the touch? How long did you acclimate it before you added it to the tank? Alot of questions, I know,,,, We really want to help you.

chicap29 · 11-08-2007, 10:00 PM

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 140ppm
Alkalinity not sure yet
pH 8.4
Calcium 420
Temp 77.5 stable for a month now.

Our tank is about 6 months old.
I have been putting in Purple up for calcium.

I just bought an RO/DI system, so as of now we have been toping off the water ourselves. We do have a whole house filter now.

We do water changes once a month.

Dentoid · 11-08-2007, 10:07 PM

With nitrates that high your anemone will not survive long term. My suggestion is work on getting your nitrates down. A 50% WC will bring them down to 70 then another 50% WC will bring them down to 35 and a third 50% WC will bring them down to 17, so and so forth. Zero nitrates is what is required for anemone husbandry.

blue_eyes53813 · 11-08-2007, 10:07 PM

Nitrates 140ppm????? That is probably the problem... Nitrates need to be below 10. Anemone are very delicate. Water change, water change , water change.... You need to get the nitrates down. I would do 2 or 3 water changes weekly to get that down.

chicap29 · 11-08-2007, 10:15 PM

I have had him for about 3 weeks. He attached himself right away to a rock and I have a maroon clown that stays with him.

I would say we acclimated him for about an hour.

Questions, no problem! I really appreciate the help!

chicap29 · 11-08-2007, 10:19 PM

Yeah, I thought that was a crazy number. We just did a 20% WC 2 days ago, the only problem is my boyfriend normally handles that & he's out of town for a week.

Is there any other way to bring them down, maybe by adding anything?

Dentoid · 11-08-2007, 10:24 PM

Chicap, nitrates are the bane of the reef hobbyists existence. They are the end product of nitrification and can only be broken down further by the denitrification process which is carried out by anaerobic bacteria that live in deep sand beds and deep within the live rock. There are some additives that feed the anaerobic bacteria causing an increase in their numbers, but I would not recommend these be used by inexperienced hobbyists. Not only that, they take time to be effective. The best and quickest way to export the nitrates is with WCs.

blue_eyes53813 · 11-08-2007, 10:27 PM

I wouldnt add any med/chemicals to the tank. Big water changes are the best. Here is an article that has some good ideas. If you need help with a water change we would be glad to walk you through it.

Nitrates in the Aquarium

11-07-2007, 10:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
chicap29 Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	I need help with my GBTA?? About once every other day my GBTA deflates, I can his mouth open, then goes back to normal. I've been reading that seeing an open mouth is bad but how do you help them? I will try to save some pic's of him on my gallery.

11-07-2007, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
dobejazz Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,242 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? It's really hard to say can you post your tank specs - lighting water parameters ect? BTA's do expell and replace the water in their bodies so it could be normal behavior but knowing the above and some pics would be helpful __________________ Kelli

11-08-2007, 08:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
chicap29 Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? My saltwater has 2x150 watt metal halides, 2x96 watt atenics and 3 LED lunar lights. The filter is a Magnum 350. The water salinity is at 30ppt. I have uploaded some pic's of the GBTA in my gallery and am going do more. Thanks.

11-08-2007, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
chicap29 Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? I am working on it. I have all the test except Alkinity, what should I do for that?

11-08-2007, 09:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,361 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? You need to get a good alkalinity test kit. It tells you how much buffer is in the water (carbonate). Buffer helps keep the pH stable among other things. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

11-08-2007, 09:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? Anemones require very stable water parameters. Most will say that does not occur until the tank has matured a year or more. Anemones must equalize the water within their vascular cavity to that of the outside water. If the tank water is fluctuating in salinity or other ionic components or larger molecules are present like nitrate, nitrite or ammonia the anemone will renew its vascular cavity water to attempt to equilize with its surrounding environment. How old is your tank? How often are you doing water changes? Do you have an auto top-off of fresh water? Are you using any additives? What are your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate readings. How stable is your temperature? __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

11-08-2007, 09:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,254 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? How long have you had the anemone and is it sticky to the touch? How long did you acclimate it before you added it to the tank? Alot of questions, I know,,,, We really want to help you. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

11-08-2007, 10:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
chicap29 Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? Ammonia 0 Nitrites 0 Nitrates 140ppm Alkalinity not sure yet pH 8.4 Calcium 420 Temp 77.5 stable for a month now. Our tank is about 6 months old. I have been putting in Purple up for calcium. I just bought an RO/DI system, so as of now we have been toping off the water ourselves. We do have a whole house filter now. We do water changes once a month.

11-08-2007, 10:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? With nitrates that high your anemone will not survive long term. My suggestion is work on getting your nitrates down. A 50% WC will bring them down to 70 then another 50% WC will bring them down to 35 and a third 50% WC will bring them down to 17, so and so forth. Zero nitrates is what is required for anemone husbandry. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

11-08-2007, 10:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,254 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? Nitrates 140ppm????? That is probably the problem... Nitrates need to be below 10. Anemone are very delicate. Water change, water change , water change.... You need to get the nitrates down. I would do 2 or 3 water changes weekly to get that down. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

11-08-2007, 10:15 PM	#12 (permalink)
chicap29 Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? I have had him for about 3 weeks. He attached himself right away to a rock and I have a maroon clown that stays with him. I would say we acclimated him for about an hour. Questions, no problem! I really appreciate the help!

11-08-2007, 10:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
chicap29 Bryozoan Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? Yeah, I thought that was a crazy number. We just did a 20% WC 2 days ago, the only problem is my boyfriend normally handles that & he's out of town for a week. Is there any other way to bring them down, maybe by adding anything?

11-08-2007, 10:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? Chicap, nitrates are the bane of the reef hobbyists existence. They are the end product of nitrification and can only be broken down further by the denitrification process which is carried out by anaerobic bacteria that live in deep sand beds and deep within the live rock. There are some additives that feed the anaerobic bacteria causing an increase in their numbers, but I would not recommend these be used by inexperienced hobbyists. Not only that, they take time to be effective. The best and quickest way to export the nitrates is with WCs. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

11-08-2007, 10:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,254 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: I need help with my GBTA?? I wouldnt add any med/chemicals to the tank. Big water changes are the best. Here is an article that has some good ideas. If you need help with a water change we would be glad to walk you through it. Nitrates in the Aquarium __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

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