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RBTA and "new" tank? HELP!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by softieatheart, Apr 30, 2012.

  1. softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

    196
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    I need some help as I am in a bit of a spot and unsure the best way to proceed.
    I bought a 20lb rock with 3 gorgeous RBTAs that are baseball sized and two really pretty clowns for $100 on Saturday. He was tearing down his tank and he just wanted them gone.  I intended on putting this in my mature 46 gallon tank, but this rock is so huge, it will not fit into my tank unless I do a major overhaul, meaning, I am going to have to remove everything and put this rock in first in order to get it in there.  I hadn't anticipated that.
    So I need some help.
    Right now I have the nems and clowns in a 28 bowfront that I set up a little over a month ago.  It has looked great all along as it was set up with about 40lbs a of already cycled rock.  It is doing great and everything is at 0 but nitrates which are .5. It has a few crabs and snails, but that has been it for livestock.  I have been ghost feeding it and getting no spikes.  On Saturday I shuffled things around and put the anemone rock and clowns in it until I could figure out what to do. The nems have moved, but remained on "their" rock, and two of them have completed impending divisions, so there are 5. Parameters have remained the same and I am watching them closely, but I know this is asking for trouble.
    The eventual goal is that most of the livestock and rock currently in the 46 gallon mature tank will go into my new big tank that still needs to be set up and cycled, and the nem will be in the 46.
    So, here is my question.  Am I better off to leave the nems in this tank and be hyper vigilant about water quality and water changes, just like you would in QT, or, am I better off taking everything out of my existing tank, so they can be in a mature tank, but potentially setting off issues there? Should I just take out the clowns and put them in another tank to reduce bio-load as low as possible? 
    What would you do?
     
  2. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    you could use a hammer and screw driver and break the rocks apart into more manageable size. They break really easy.
     
  3. softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

    196
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    I have considered this and it is probably the route I will go if the general consensus is that keeping them in the 28 for about 2 months is not going to work.
    Keeping the nems healthy is the primary consideration, of course. But I hate to break the rock as is it a really nice big display piece, and solid enough that I think breaking it will be a challenge (And maybe endanger the nems) so I am interested in all possible solutions.
     
  4. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    I do not see a reason they cant survive in the 28 personally but breaking the rock apart wont hurt the nems unless you are trying to break it near their foot. You may find some really cool shapes after you do it also as I did.
     
  5. softieatheart

    softieatheart Inactive User

    196
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    Ideally, I would like to leave the rock intact as it would be fabulous once I get my big tank set up.  Also, I would prefer not to do major re-arranging in my 46 at this time, so leaving them in the 28 is best for me, but is it okay for nems?  I have never had an RBTA and I always hear how critical a mature tank is.  I just don't want to risk losing them.  Any tips or tricks would be appreciated. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif
     
  6. doug6644

    doug6644 Inactive User

    125
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    I put our nem in our system when it was 3 months old, granted it was a 100g, but not what I would of called mature. We havn't looked back since, and our nem is the size of a dinner plate, and our clowns love it too.
     
  7. bladerunner Well-Known ReefKeeper

    476
    des moines
    Ratings:
    +9 / 1 / -0
    Take water from th established tank and put it into ur new tank, speed up the whole cycle
     
  8. Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0
    I think they will be okay in the tank for the short term/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif  Moving them again could cause more stress and if a couple just recently split, they will appreciate the cleaner water.  Just test the params often to make sure there are no ammonia, nitrite, etc spikes.  Here's a site that you may find helpful: http://www.karensroseanemones.net/s...urrose.htm
     
  9. phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

    Riverside
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I agree with sponge, leave them alone, leave them in the 28g until you have the new tank stable. I think a stable tank is really what you want, usually a mature tank means that, but if the 28g is stable they should be ok as far as water quality. RBTA really need great lighting, so I'd be just as concerned about what sort of lighting you're giving them. MH, adequate LED or T5's would be ideal or they will move around if its not enough. Also, they need a long acclimation period, make sure you drip acclimate them when you move them next time unless you're using the same water; inverts need a longer acclimation or its stressful on them. They're at their most vulnerable after a split. They need things to be ideal right now, great lighting, great water quality, flow that they're happy with etc. Wait until they new anemones are healed before trying to feed them and make sure the pieces you give them are small; easier for them to digest. They *usually* split due to stress, its a survival thing.......if they are are more of them, the chances are better one of them will survive the stressful situation. They can split from feeding them a lot too......Wet web media has lots of info from experts on anemones of all sorts, might want to look there for more info.
     
  10. Sponge Expert Reefkeeper Vendor

    Marshalltown, IA
    Ratings:
    +233 / 1 / -0


    ++++++1 and well said!!/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif/DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif
     

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