How Stable Is my Tank Parameters for a reef tank? (BTA)

[FellowSclownfish20270]

I’ll create a new thread real quick just to keep this one for later in the future.

During the night, I have seen him move around from rock to ground when the lights were off. Found him in a small cave, but then I randomly start seeing my Lawnmower blenny throw sand at it with its tail? Does anybody know why my blenny is doing such thing?

 

[Sophie"s mom]

ViparSpectra 165 Watt!

In a new tank, I will tell you, BRS makes a recommendation of waiting 4 months to turn the light on in order to stave off most of the "uglies"! I can absolutely attest to the fact that this works very well!! I waited 3.5 months and I am so glad I did. Fish do not need the light, and this lets a lot of maturity move forward without the nuisance algae. It is ALL well worth the wait. Patience is huge in this hobby.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

With all that being said, I. appreciate everyone's responses. I will keep everyone updated in about 6 months, thanks!

Aslo, just worth noting, though I think you already get it, stability is not achieved by simply having parameters in the correct range. It is achieved by maintaining those parameters consistently over time. There's that whole "patience" thing again. You will get there.

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

In a new tank, I will you, BRS makes a recommendation of waiting 4 months to turn the light on in order to stave off most of the "uglies"! I can absolutely attest to the fact that this works very well!! I waited 3.5 months and I am so glad I did. Fish do not need the light, and this lets a lot of maturity move forward without the nuisance algae. It is ALL well worth the wait. Patience is huge in this hobby.

I mainly had my lights very low at the time of the beginning when I was cycling my fish tank! I do keep in mind that too much lighting can cause a massive algae break out in my tank. I have been through it since the first year I’ve ever started. Thank you for reminding me though!

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

Aslo, just worth noting, though I think you already get it, stability is not achieved by simply having parameters in the correct range. It is achieved by maintaining those parameters consistently over time. There's that whole "patience" thing again. You will get there.

Yeah! Parameter stability is mainly keeping your fish tank stable by doing water changes, having patience over the tank, testing frequently, and having a limit over my fish tank feeding so I don’t overfeed my tank! Correct me if I’m wrong though..

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Yeah! Parameter stability is mainly keeping your fish tank stable by doing water changes, having patience over the tank, testing frequently, and having a limit over my fish tank feeding so I don’t overfeed my tank! Correct me if I’m wrong though..

You are correct. The thing with corals, is LPS and SPS use alkalinity and calcium. So when you have them, you need to monitor daily. And eventually get into dosing, either manually or auto. But that is for another discussion down the road. Just so you know, I put a RBBTA in my tank when it was 6 months old and today, 4 months later it has more than doubled in size. If your tank is ready, you can get one at about 6 months, but anemones are VERY sensitive.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Yeah! Parameter stability is mainly keeping your fish tank stable by doing water changes, having patience over the tank, testing frequently, and having a limit over my fish tank feeding so I don’t overfeed my tank! Correct me if I’m wrong though..

Also, With fish feeding, smaller amounts thru out the day go much farther than a lot, once or twice a day. Get a CUC when the time is right, and build a population of copepods, and they will all help with biodiversity and stability

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

Also, With fish feeding, smaller amounts thru out the day go much farther than a lot, once or twice a day. Get a CUC when the time is right, and build a population of copepods, and they will all help with biodiversity and stability

I’ve always wondered and was curious about copepods because I have never used them before in the hobby but something new to keep in mind for the future too! Thanks!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I’ve always wondered and was curious about copepods because I have never used them before in the hobby but something new to keep in mind for the future too! Thanks!

I add them to my tank monthly. They help clean things up. and as a bonus, some fish eat them, so double duty, if you will.

 

[Uncle99]

During the night, I have seen him move around from rock to ground when the lights were off. Found him in a small cave, but then I randomly start seeing my Lawnmower blenny throw sand at it with its tail? Does anybody know why my blenny is doing such thing?

Wants him to move.
Your BTS will move until happy, then stay put provided no flow/light changes.
Enjoy!

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

Wants him to move.
Your BTS will move until happy, then stay put provided no flow/light changes.
Enjoy!

I thought of the same thing because my lawnmower blenny has been in the same area for quite some time.

 

[Uncle99]

I thought of the same thing because my lawnmower blenny has been in the same area for quite some time.

How dare that newcomer squat in my crib.
The nerve.
Take that blob thing.

 

[PharmrJohn]

In a new tank, I will tell you, BRS makes a recommendation of waiting 4 months to turn the light on in order to stave off most of the "uglies"! I can absolutely attest to the fact that this works very well!! I waited 3.5 months and I am so glad I did. Fish do not need the light, and this lets a lot of maturity move forward without the nuisance algae. It is ALL well worth the wait. Patience is huge in this hobby.

I could not agree more. This is EXACTLY the route I'm taking when I cycle next.

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

Wants him to move.
Your BTS will move until happy, then stay put provided no flow/light changes.
Enjoy!

I just noticed that he starts moving during the night. He gets very active in the dark rather than the day. Though I’ve heard that it’s uncommon about them moving in the dark because “there’s something wrong with my tank”. Well that’s what I heard of a person. Yet there’s nothing wrong in my tank except it just being about almost 3 months old before even adding any livestock. Why do they move more in the dark though?

 

[Uncle99]

I just noticed that he starts moving during the night. He gets very active in the dark rather than the day. Though I’ve heard that it’s uncommon about them moving in the dark because “there’s something wrong with my tank”. Well that’s what I heard of a person. Yet there’s nothing wrong in my tank except it just being about almost 3 months old before even adding any livestock. Why do they move more in the dark though?

Last time mine moved, it was completed at night. Got 2 feet in 8 hours.

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

Last time mine moved, it was completed at night. Got 2 feet in 8 hours.

Wow, I find it very interesting that they move so much around the tank, the only thing that worries me is that they’ll run into a power head so that’s why I moved my power heads further way from a rock near by so he doesn’t get sucked up. But he moved from a hole to another rock and I see him very happy showing his bubbles and color!

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

I noticed that my ViparSpectras were too high at first because I kept my blues at 70% and he would shrink and hide in the beginning. After I reduced my blues to 50% he began to come out more and expand his bubbles!

 

[FellowSclownfish20270]

The only thing I can’t see is if his mouth is open for any sign of hunger. I can only see his mouths stripes but not gapping open from a far glance from the glass.

 

[Uncle99]

I’ve never directly fed mine in 5 years.
Not required unless you want it huge and many of them.

If you simply must, a fingernail size piece once a month is plenty.

I have seen so many stuffed, then perish.