HELP I guess the BTA died and my tank is not doing well :

arash53 · #1 05-19-2011, 06:52 PM

I bought a green BTA yesterday from J&L, I placed it in the really good location in my tank with medium water flow and good lighting but last nigh she moved to the other side of the rock which has low flow and in a shadow ! what should I do ?

Oxymoron · #2 05-19-2011, 06:55 PM

It will move to a spot that has the combination of lighting and flow that it likes. You might be able to coax it into a general area and hope it stays there.
But it will more then likely move to wherever it wants to go.

shootingstar · #3 05-19-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arash53

I placed it in the really good location in my tank

Our opinion on what is a good location and the BTA's opinion are often very different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxymoron

It will move to a spot that has the combination of lighting and flow that it likes.

Generally that is on the back of the rock pile facing the back glass where you have no chance of seeing/enjoying it at all

seriously, I'm not tryin to make lite of your concerns. The only luck I have had was to really, really research what that particular nem likes then try to create that location and place the nem there. If they are going to move I find they pretty much always roam at night. But if you try to give it what it needs/wants it is more likely to stay put in a location that you can enjoy it.....rather than thinking it is going to change it's needs to be on display in a location that does not provide what it needs to be healthy just to please your aquascape asthetic.

arash53 · #4 05-19-2011, 07:27 PM

Thanks for replies,

I just wonder why she moved to a dark place I thought BTA likes gook lighting !
And the other problem with that place is flow , basically it is the lowest flow in my tank !

when they stick to the rock it is really hard to detach, it took about 10 min to detach it from rock when I bought it yesterday, I guess it is all her choice and I cant make decision for her right?

shootingstar · #5 05-19-2011, 07:59 PM

I assume you meant good lighting....and therin might be part of the problem.
What is GOOD lighting.....to me it might mean 400wMH, to you it might mean T5, to the nem it will mean something else.
Same with "good flow" (or low flow or high flow).....ask 3 people and you will get 3 different answers.
when I do research I look for specifics......what wattage and distance away from light. For flow....how many inches away from a specific brand/model or GPH powerhead etc.

Your nem is probably not done moving around yet. They often take days up to a week or more to find their "happy place" so I wouldn't worry to much yet. She might have moved to what you call a dark place for several reasons, maybe your lights are brighter than the store lights, maybe it is a tad stressed (from being forced to detach at the store)and just wants to rest a bit. Hopefully it is not because the column was damaged getting it off the rock in the store.

If it moves to a place you could be happy with......feed it!!! .... if food is available on a regular basis it is more inclined to decide that is it's happy place.

arash53 · #6 05-19-2011, 08:03 PM

Thanks , that was a great advice

once she moved a place I like , I'll start feeding her and hope fully she will stay there

fishytime · #7 05-19-2011, 08:27 PM

nems is evil........there now that Ive got that outta my system

.....BTAs seem to put their need for a secure foothold above everything else......they really love to find a hole or tight narrow space to wedge themselves in and expand around .......you can usually encourage the nem to move out from behind to rock if you can manage to get a powerhead pointed at it (or a powerhead/tubing combination) ......they dont like direct flow

tim the toolman · #8 05-22-2011, 07:48 PM

If your BTA doesnt rest where you like you can always point a powerhead at it which will often encourage it to move. Once it does this and your happy with the location feed it and it should sit pretty as long as you stay faithfull with feedings

arash53 · #9 05-22-2011, 08:02 PM

Oh something bad happened to my tank this morning and I think it is something to do with BTA!
5 of my fishes died at a same time!

I think maybe the BTA died and toxic my tank , is that possible ?

I did a 50% water change and my scooter and bio color bleny back to normal now.

Still something is wrong all my britle stars tons are out they are all over my tank even on my corals!

What should I do?

asylumdown · #10 05-23-2011, 07:11 PM

Ouch, that's harsh. That sounds like it died and caused a crash.