how to handle a BTA

Tru2nr · 03-10-2008, 01:39 PM

ok so my BTA should be arriving today and i was wondering just how should i go about handling him after i acclimate him i know they can't hit air so should i even try touching him once i have the bag completely submerged...or should i just try turning the bag upside down and hope he slips down into the tank and take the risk of having some of the water from the bag(part non-tank water) go into the tank??...

charlestonemt · 03-10-2008, 01:47 PM

Will it be shipped with a piece of LR? If it is attached to a rock, don't try to remove it. Just put the rock in the tank and the anemone will probably move to where it likes the light and flow. Don't drive yourself crazy if it's out of water for a few seconds. Most recommend that everything be done under water to limit exposure to air, but if it is exposed to air for a few seconds, it's not the end of the world. Mine was exposed to air for a bit while it was being pulled from the tank at the LFS and while I was placing it into my tank. It's always a good idea to try to prevent anyone else's water from ending up in your tank. Post some pics when you get it!

msbdiving · 03-10-2008, 02:02 PM

I second the air exposure being ok for a few seconds. I would be more leary of unknown water going into your tank especially if it's a DT. If there is damage to be done, it is from the foot being ripped from it's hold.

Dentoid · 03-10-2008, 02:10 PM

I have never heard that they can't be exposed to air. In fact in the past I've placed them in colanders and allowed the anemone to deflate and express it's water for greater than 2 minutes before placing them in the tank without any ill effects. I'm not advocating doing this, but picking it up out of the bag and placing it in the tank is absolutely no problem.

tbittner · 03-10-2008, 04:35 PM

I've never heard that either and I exposed mine to air twice... Once to place it in the acclimation tub, second time to move it from the acclimation tub to the tank. It looks great.

Oh yeah, it was also exposed to air when it was removed from the water at the LFS and placed into the bag. So that's three times that I know of...

msbdiving · 03-10-2008, 07:23 PM

Are you sure you are not confusing the air exposure danger with sponges?

jimeluiz · 03-10-2008, 07:41 PM

Anemonies in tide pools are exposed to air daily during low tide. I, too, have not heard of the need to avoid air contact -- second the sponge question.

If I learned anything over the five years we had RBTAs it was that they are VERY hearty critters. -- In spite of how fragile they appear. Ours were sucked over the overflow and split in two by the flow and ALWAYS lived to see another year.

In the end I figured they have not survived as a species forever by being fragile beings. I'm not encouraging carelessness, but I think you can be confident things will go well.

Also - our RBTAs loved the rock near the surface of the water, so when I did weekly water changes they were always above the low water mark, sagging down the rock until I added replacement water. No probelm.

Good luck and ENJOY!

CATALYST · 03-10-2008, 08:08 PM

I usually float the bag in the tank for about 20 mins to get the water in the bag to be the same temp as the tank. Then I cut open the bag and put the critter and the bag water in a tupperware bowl. I put the bowl in the bottom of a 5 gal bucket and drip acclimate for 3-4 hours. I do a quickie disinfectant dip and then into the tank. Put it in the area you like it to be and hope that it stays there. Then don't bug it for a couple days and let it find it's home. They can touch the air okay. I use a big huge straining kitchen spoon to go to the tank so I don't have to touch it.

lcstorc · 03-10-2008, 08:19 PM

I would try to avoid touching it but I'll add to the group of air is fine. Not only is my RBTA exposed to air during water changes but the clowns stay in it. It is out of the water entirely for about 5 minutes each change.

tbittner · 03-10-2008, 08:36 PM

I really would like to see pictures of that, Lynn. I know you're probably rushing the water change as fast as you can because of it, but I'd still like to see pics of it.

Dentoid · 03-10-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcstorc

I would try to avoid touching it but I'll add to the group of air is fine. Not only is my RBTA exposed to air during water changes but the clowns stay in it. It is out of the water entirely for about 5 minutes each change.

Your clowns stay out of the water for 5 minutes. Now that is dedication! You gotta love those Clowns!

Tru2nr · 03-11-2008, 06:18 PM

heh its not gonna come on a peice of LR im ordering it from reef scavangers...i am having a second one the first one did arrive alive..ordered it friday night and then the huge freakness came on saterday so i didn't get to it untill monday and man was it ded unfortinitally i still tried to acclimate it but it didn't work...so they are sending me a new one and i'll have it here tmr probably so should i get some coral disinfect or do u think i'll be fine after i acclimate it

framerguy · 03-11-2008, 06:32 PM

Just to pad my post number I'll chime in. The only time you want to add the shipping water to your system is when you it holds a starfish. Water that a starfish has been in has theraputic properties that can be beneficial. Otherwise try to avoid it.

Tru2nr · 03-11-2008, 08:41 PM

yeah i appreciate all of your guys help and advice i started to make my tank is anenome safe

lcstorc · 03-11-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

Your clowns stay out of the water for 5 minutes. Now that is dedication! You gotta love those Clowns!

I think the reason they are ok is because they are tucked into the wet arms of the anemone.

I'll try to remember to take a pic this weekend when we waterchange. Frank can take pics while I change the water. That way it doesn't increase the time. I have even tried to gently push them out of the anemone but they don't want to move.

03-10-2008, 01:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tru2nr Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment	how to handle a BTA ok so my BTA should be arriving today and i was wondering just how should i go about handling him after i acclimate him i know they can't hit air so should i even try touching him once i have the bag completely submerged...or should i just try turning the bag upside down and hope he slips down into the tank and take the risk of having some of the water from the bag(part non-tank water) go into the tank??... __________________ My 55g Chronical of addiction... Mistakes Have been made in the past.....still trying to clean up from them in the present....mistakes will be made in the future.....so what do we do?...... we party until we make another mistake!!!! WARNING: Corals in Tank, Add Crabs at own risk

03-10-2008, 01:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
charlestonemt Sea Pen Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 304 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA Will it be shipped with a piece of LR? If it is attached to a rock, don't try to remove it. Just put the rock in the tank and the anemone will probably move to where it likes the light and flow. Don't drive yourself crazy if it's out of water for a few seconds. Most recommend that everything be done under water to limit exposure to air, but if it is exposed to air for a few seconds, it's not the end of the world. Mine was exposed to air for a bit while it was being pulled from the tank at the LFS and while I was placing it into my tank. It's always a good idea to try to prevent anyone else's water from ending up in your tank. Post some pics when you get it! __________________ Steven 75g reef tank 2 x 175w MH (10,000K) 2 x 48" VHOs on IceCap balast 50 gpd RO unit with ATO setup Sealife Systems skimmer

03-10-2008, 02:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
msbdiving Ricordea Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 193 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA I second the air exposure being ok for a few seconds. I would be more leary of unknown water going into your tank especially if it's a DT. If there is damage to be done, it is from the foot being ripped from it's hold.

03-10-2008, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,289 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to handle a BTA I have never heard that they can't be exposed to air. In fact in the past I've placed them in colanders and allowed the anemone to deflate and express it's water for greater than 2 minutes before placing them in the tank without any ill effects. I'm not advocating doing this, but picking it up out of the bag and placing it in the tank is absolutely no problem. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

03-10-2008, 04:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA I've never heard that either and I exposed mine to air twice... Once to place it in the acclimation tub, second time to move it from the acclimation tub to the tank. It looks great. Oh yeah, it was also exposed to air when it was removed from the water at the LFS and placed into the bag. So that's three times that I know of... __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

03-10-2008, 07:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
msbdiving Ricordea Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 193 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA Are you sure you are not confusing the air exposure danger with sponges?

03-10-2008, 07:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to handle a BTA Anemonies in tide pools are exposed to air daily during low tide. I, too, have not heard of the need to avoid air contact -- second the sponge question. If I learned anything over the five years we had RBTAs it was that they are VERY hearty critters. -- In spite of how fragile they appear. Ours were sucked over the overflow and split in two by the flow and ALWAYS lived to see another year. In the end I figured they have not survived as a species forever by being fragile beings. I'm not encouraging carelessness, but I think you can be confident things will go well. Also - our RBTAs loved the rock near the surface of the water, so when I did weekly water changes they were always above the low water mark, sagging down the rock until I added replacement water. No probelm. Good luck and ENJOY! __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

03-10-2008, 08:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
CATALYST Elegance coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,072 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to handle a BTA I usually float the bag in the tank for about 20 mins to get the water in the bag to be the same temp as the tank. Then I cut open the bag and put the critter and the bag water in a tupperware bowl. I put the bowl in the bottom of a 5 gal bucket and drip acclimate for 3-4 hours. I do a quickie disinfectant dip and then into the tank. Put it in the area you like it to be and hope that it stays there. Then don't bug it for a couple days and let it find it's home. They can touch the air okay. I use a big huge straining kitchen spoon to go to the tank so I don't have to touch it. __________________

03-10-2008, 08:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,866 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA I would try to avoid touching it but I'll add to the group of air is fine. Not only is my RBTA exposed to air during water changes but the clowns stay in it. It is out of the water entirely for about 5 minutes each change. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

03-10-2008, 08:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA I really would like to see pictures of that, Lynn. I know you're probably rushing the water change as fast as you can because of it, but I'd still like to see pics of it. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

03-11-2008, 06:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tru2nr Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to handle a BTA heh its not gonna come on a peice of LR im ordering it from reef scavangers...i am having a second one the first one did arrive alive..ordered it friday night and then the huge freakness came on saterday so i didn't get to it untill monday and man was it ded unfortinitally i still tried to acclimate it but it didn't work...so they are sending me a new one and i'll have it here tmr probably so should i get some coral disinfect or do u think i'll be fine after i acclimate it __________________ My 55g Chronical of addiction... Mistakes Have been made in the past.....still trying to clean up from them in the present....mistakes will be made in the future.....so what do we do?...... we party until we make another mistake!!!! WARNING: Corals in Tank, Add Crabs at own risk

03-11-2008, 06:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
framerguy Manta Ray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 3,660 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: how to handle a BTA Just to pad my post number I'll chime in. The only time you want to add the shipping water to your system is when you it holds a starfish. Water that a starfish has been in has theraputic properties that can be beneficial. Otherwise try to avoid it. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) Still Workin' on it! 375gDT built in wall, Gargantuan DIY Beckett Skimmer, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, 30 gallon DSB/ cheatomorpha refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... chronicles-akwareum

03-11-2008, 08:41 PM	#14 (permalink)
Tru2nr Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: how to handle a BTA yeah i appreciate all of your guys help and advice i started to make my tank is anenome safe __________________ My 55g Chronical of addiction... Mistakes Have been made in the past.....still trying to clean up from them in the present....mistakes will be made in the future.....so what do we do?...... we party until we make another mistake!!!! WARNING: Corals in Tank, Add Crabs at own risk

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