How long can Magnificas / BTAs survive w/o any light?

Kinetic · 02/20/2018, 11:41 PM

I'm considering doing a blackout of my tank for 3 days to battle some dinoflagellates, but worried that the magnifica / btas will be in bad shape.

Any thoughts?

Tkieu78 · 02/20/2018, 11:51 PM

From my experience mags as soon as they get ****ed off they tend to wander around. Could cause a bigger issue if they detach and float off and possibly have a run in with a Powerhead..... speaking from experience ....

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hottuna · 02/21/2018, 04:47 AM

Do yourself a favor,Kinetic...before you starve your anemone's for light,start adding chemicals to kill dino's ,etc....get yourself an algae turf scrubber and add it to your system..That dead rock you have in your tank is likely the cause ,could also have excess silicates ....anyway to be safe -hook up a scrubber and let IT pull out whatever is causing the problem...Wouldn't want to see those beautiful nems be adversely affected.

OrionN · 02/21/2018, 05:55 AM

BTA and Magnifica often go sailing when condition is bad. They just let go of the rock and float directly into the PH which is bad news to say the least.

Gig 'em · 02/21/2018, 12:07 PM

As most have already said, as soon as you leave the lights off for more than what the anemones are used to, they'll likely start moving. Have you considered another strategy that won't encourage the anemones to possibly wander into a PH?

davocean · 02/21/2018, 12:28 PM

FWIW I have done the 3 day lights out a few times while having mags, neither time did they wander, but on 3rd day maybe a slight shift, but thats just my exp and I have a pretty good eye on what to watch for, and I did turn off the PH that was close to that side.

Not saying one way or another as to what YOU should do, and I agree it's always a nervy and risky thing, but I do believe most dealing w/ dino's have had to do a lights out to eliminate, so guess just take extra precautions if you do, cover PH's at least.

Kinetic · 02/21/2018, 01:13 PM

Thanks for all the thoughts!

My PH's are all covered (just a gyre with a mesh) and I've had a BTA face plant into it without any issues, so it's been tested.

The dinos were not too bad, but I tried to treat it by trying to grow algae by increasing NO3/PO4 to help outcompete, didn't work and made the dinos get to levels that killed all my SPS frags. So I'm treating with DinoX now. I was considering going lights out for awhile to help the treatment, but the risks probably aren't worth it.

I'll finish treating with DinoX for the 10 days, then throw in a ton of Chaeto and dose PO4/NO3 again. Though my SPS are goners, the anemones seem to be unaffected, so that's a good thing!

02/20/2018, 11:41 PM	#1
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	How long can Magnificas / BTAs survive w/o any light? I'm considering doing a blackout of my tank for 3 days to battle some dinoflagellates, but worried that the magnifica / btas will be in bad shape. Any thoughts?

02/21/2018, 04:47 AM	#3
hottuna Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,248	Do yourself a favor,Kinetic...before you starve your anemone's for light,start adding chemicals to kill dino's ,etc....get yourself an algae turf scrubber and add it to your system..That dead rock you have in your tank is likely the cause ,could also have excess silicates ....anyway to be safe -hook up a scrubber and let IT pull out whatever is causing the problem...Wouldn't want to see those beautiful nems be adversely affected. __________________ HotTuna

02/21/2018, 05:55 AM	#4
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	BTA and Magnifica often go sailing when condition is bad. They just let go of the rock and float directly into the PH which is bad news to say the least. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

02/21/2018, 12:28 PM	#6
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	FWIW I have done the 3 day lights out a few times while having mags, neither time did they wander, but on 3rd day maybe a slight shift, but thats just my exp and I have a pretty good eye on what to watch for, and I did turn off the PH that was close to that side. Not saying one way or another as to what YOU should do, and I agree it's always a nervy and risky thing, but I do believe most dealing w/ dino's have had to do a lights out to eliminate, so guess just take extra precautions if you do, cover PH's at least. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/20/2018, 11:51 PM	#2
Tkieu78 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: BAY AREA , CA Posts: 1,025	From my experience mags as soon as they get ****ed off they tend to wander around. Could cause a bigger issue if they detach and float off and possibly have a run in with a Powerhead..... speaking from experience .... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

02/21/2018, 12:07 PM	#5
Gig 'em Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 914	As most have already said, as soon as you leave the lights off for more than what the anemones are used to, they'll likely start moving. Have you considered another strategy that won't encourage the anemones to possibly wander into a PH?

02/21/2018, 01:13 PM	#7
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	Thanks for all the thoughts! My PH's are all covered (just a gyre with a mesh) and I've had a BTA face plant into it without any issues, so it's been tested. The dinos were not too bad, but I tried to treat it by trying to grow algae by increasing NO3/PO4 to help outcompete, didn't work and made the dinos get to levels that killed all my SPS frags. So I'm treating with DinoX now. I was considering going lights out for awhile to help the treatment, but the risks probably aren't worth it. I'll finish treating with DinoX for the 10 days, then throw in a ton of Chaeto and dose PO4/NO3 again. Though my SPS are goners, the anemones seem to be unaffected, so that's a good thing!