Mixed reef vs BTA tank?

~RuSh~ · 04/02/2018, 10:34 AM

Sup guys. Just looking for the pros and cons of these two types of tanks. I've kept LPS and softies in the past and I think that is what I would primarily stick to for the mixed reef tank - Hammer or Frogspawn, Candycane or trumpets, open brain, acans, zoas palys etc. The BTA tank idea I have not done before and I'm open to suggestions or ideas about this one, but ideally I would keep 2-3 different color variations. If they decide to go for walks then it's not really that big of a deal.

Tank specs: 40g breeder, plumbed with a 20g high sump. SRO 1000SSS skimmer. Glass holes overflow kit and loc line return. Viparspectra 165w led.

Stock: Just cuc right now. Planning on a pair of ocellaris clowns, 2 banggai cardinals, midas blenny, and royal gramma.

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

Thanks in advance.

aznflyfisherman · 04/02/2018, 10:50 AM

I have a 110g mix ree, lps, sps n softies, one side of my tank is dedicated to about 9btas, two ltas n one big mag.

~RuSh~ · 04/02/2018, 10:58 AM

You don't have problems with the btas moving around?

Indymann99 · 04/02/2018, 01:24 PM

My BTA's have stayed in place for 5yrs. RBTAs on the left (actually 4 now). I used to have Hammer and Frogspawn on the right side of the tank but my bannerfish ate them...

Vid below

******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8">

~RuSh~ · 04/02/2018, 01:55 PM

Wow. Beautiful tank. Huge BTA! I didn't think they got that big.

PitViper · 04/02/2018, 03:32 PM

What are BTAs?

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Rjukan · 04/02/2018, 03:39 PM

Bubble Tip Anemone

PitViper · 04/02/2018, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rjukan

Bubble Tip Anemome

Well that was the most obvious lmao. Thank you much

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Cancun · 04/02/2018, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~RuSh~

Sup guys. Just looking for the pros and cons of these two types of tanks. I've kept LPS and softies in the past and I think that is what I would primarily stick to for the mixed reef tank - Hammer or Frogspawn, Candycane or trumpets, open brain, acans, zoas palys etc. The BTA tank idea I have not done before and I'm open to suggestions or ideas about this one, but ideally I would keep 2-3 different color variations. If they decide to go for walks then it's not really that big of a deal.

Tank specs: 40g breeder, plumbed with a 20g high sump. SRO 1000SSS skimmer. Glass holes overflow kit and loc line return. Viparspectra 165w led.

Stock: Just cuc right now. Planning on a pair of ocellaris clowns, 2 banggai cardinals, midas blenny, and royal gramma.

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

Thanks in advance.

Hi....I have 4 RBT nems and 1 blue carpet nem....2 RBT are 12 inches across each....I have LPS....softies....zoas....and 1SPS....no issues....the RBT when I bought it several years ago was just one..then it split three times....so the two larger ones moved to the other side of the tank...but they haven't moved since....I just moved corals out of the way when they moved that one time....I found if I keep the flow consistent...I don't change it all the time....and keep water params in check all is good....

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mitch91175 · 04/03/2018, 03:54 AM

I think that the size of the tank they are in matters as well if you are going for a mixed reef. RBTA can get pretty big and if it does split on you you will not have a lot of space for it to move around in a 40 breeder. I have 2 in my 240 on the right and they have been well behaved in my mixed reef. I also have 2 on the left as well that have been standing pat. All of them have split and I just sell or trade the splits to keep my numbers where they are now at 4.

The splits will roam to find a spot and once that happens in your 40 breeder, they usually go to the highest spot for light and flow (at least mine did). Everyone will have different experience with keeping a mixed reef (specially with anemones). Your mileage will vary so definitely keep that in mind.

~RuSh~ · 04/03/2018, 09:28 AM

I did a LTA and BTA with my reef last time and neither was very successful. I think I may just try my hand at a BTA first - let it get comfortable and find a spot that is to it's liking and then maybe consider getting some LPS corals after it's chosen it's spot... Or if it gets as big as the pictures, I just may leave it as is. Those are beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing everyone.

ImTacticool · 04/03/2018, 09:42 AM

I have LTA and BTA in mixed tank and all inhabitants are doing well!

thinhn1 · 04/06/2018, 11:37 PM

Just add the bta's i first and let them settle into place. Then add corals after.

Mrramsey · 04/07/2018, 06:25 AM

I started out with a RBTA and a GBTA. 4 years later I had over 50 of them. I just had them all removed last week so I could start transforming my tank to LPS and SPS. My clown fish never did take to any of them. The rest of my fish now have more presence in the tank.

j.falk · 04/07/2018, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrramsey

I started out with a RBTA and a GBTA. 4 years later I had over 50 of them. I just had them all removed last week so I could start transforming my tank to LPS and SPS. My clown fish never did take to any of them. The rest of my fish now have more presence in the tank.

Was this in your 120 build and if so, did they eventually kill off all your corals?

Mrramsey · 04/07/2018, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.falk

Was this in your 120 build and if so, did they eventually kill off all your corals?

Yes to a degree. They just expanded to a point where they choked out the others. Looked beautiful no doubt about it but I had zero room for other corals or fish. They choked out a couple devils hand leathers, blue mushrooms, a small colony of zoas.

The first two are from a couple weeks ago and the last is last week after the removal.

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Chicagoreef2016 · 04/07/2018, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrramsey

Yes to a degree. They just expanded to a point where they choked out the others. Looked beautiful no doubt about it but I had zero room for other corals or fish. They choked out a couple devils hand leathers, blue mushrooms, a small colony of zoas.

The first two are from a couple weeks ago and the last is last week after the removal.

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Pretty cool tank with them all in there.

04/02/2018, 10:34 AM	#1
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Mixed reef vs BTA tank? Sup guys. Just looking for the pros and cons of these two types of tanks. I've kept LPS and softies in the past and I think that is what I would primarily stick to for the mixed reef tank - Hammer or Frogspawn, Candycane or trumpets, open brain, acans, zoas palys etc. The BTA tank idea I have not done before and I'm open to suggestions or ideas about this one, but ideally I would keep 2-3 different color variations. If they decide to go for walks then it's not really that big of a deal. Tank specs: 40g breeder, plumbed with a 20g high sump. SRO 1000SSS skimmer. Glass holes overflow kit and loc line return. Viparspectra 165w led. Stock: Just cuc right now. Planning on a pair of ocellaris clowns, 2 banggai cardinals, midas blenny, and royal gramma. Thoughts? Opinions? Advice? Thanks in advance. __________________ Open your eyes and see that Life is Beautiful....

04/02/2018, 10:58 AM	#3
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	You don't have problems with the btas moving around? __________________ Open your eyes and see that Life is Beautiful....

04/02/2018, 01:24 PM	#4
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	My BTA's have stayed in place for 5yrs. RBTAs on the left (actually 4 now). I used to have Hammer and Frogspawn on the right side of the tank but my bannerfish ate them... Vid below ******** async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"> __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

04/02/2018, 01:55 PM	#5
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	Wow. Beautiful tank. Huge BTA! I didn't think they got that big. __________________ Open your eyes and see that Life is Beautiful....

04/02/2018, 03:39 PM	#7
Rjukan Day Dreamer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SINY Posts: 625	Bubble Tip Anemone __________________ - Pete Current Tank Info: 60 gal Deep Blue cube, AquaC EV180, Kessil H80 fuge, A360WE TB

04/02/2018, 10:50 AM	#2
aznflyfisherman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 957	I have a 110g mix ree, lps, sps n softies, one side of my tank is dedicated to about 9btas, two ltas n one big mag.

04/02/2018, 03:32 PM	#6
PitViper Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 169	What are BTAs? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04/03/2018, 03:54 AM	#10
mitch91175 Premium Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 303	I think that the size of the tank they are in matters as well if you are going for a mixed reef. RBTA can get pretty big and if it does split on you you will not have a lot of space for it to move around in a 40 breeder. I have 2 in my 240 on the right and they have been well behaved in my mixed reef. I also have 2 on the left as well that have been standing pat. All of them have split and I just sell or trade the splits to keep my numbers where they are now at 4. The splits will roam to find a spot and once that happens in your 40 breeder, they usually go to the highest spot for light and flow (at least mine did). Everyone will have different experience with keeping a mixed reef (specially with anemones). Your mileage will vary so definitely keep that in mind.

04/03/2018, 09:28 AM	#11
~RuSh~ Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 778	I did a LTA and BTA with my reef last time and neither was very successful. I think I may just try my hand at a BTA first - let it get comfortable and find a spot that is to it's liking and then maybe consider getting some LPS corals after it's chosen it's spot... Or if it gets as big as the pictures, I just may leave it as is. Those are beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing everyone. __________________ Open your eyes and see that Life is Beautiful....

04/03/2018, 09:42 AM	#12
ImTacticool Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 20	I have LTA and BTA in mixed tank and all inhabitants are doing well!

04/06/2018, 11:37 PM	#13
thinhn1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 18	Just add the bta's i first and let them settle into place. Then add corals after.

04/07/2018, 06:25 AM	#14
Mrramsey NEO Reefer Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Hudson Ohio Posts: 1,801	I started out with a RBTA and a GBTA. 4 years later I had over 50 of them. I just had them all removed last week so I could start transforming my tank to LPS and SPS. My clown fish never did take to any of them. The rest of my fish now have more presence in the tank. __________________ Mike My 120 Build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389417 Current Tank Info: 120g In-Wall \| BA Overflow \| 55g Sump \| SWC Extreme 150 Skimmer \| DIY ATO \| 2 Jebao RW-8\| Fluval SP6 \| Photon 48v2 LED \| GFO and Carbon