Koralia + BTA = ???

superfirefly · #1 12/24/2007, 11:15 AM

I was just informed that my wife ordered my a Koralia 4 for my tank and that it will be here later this week.

I have 2 BTA's in my tank and learned the hard way a few years ago that unprotected powerheads and BTAs don't mix. Now my original BTA has not moved in years, even after the tank upgrade no movement but the clone has only been stationary for 3 weeks. I put that plastic sewing stuff around all my powerheads but I am not sure what I need to do to the Koralia. Any suggestions or is it safe right out of the box?

Thanks.

fazgood · #2 12/24/2007, 01:16 PM

Will you be cycling power to them using a wave maker or similar? If not, I think you will be fine. The impeller is small in relation to the housing and I don't think anything would go against that flow (could be wrong). But if they are off for periods of time where something could crawl in, it might be an issue. Thin thread could easily be stitched through the grate to block entry and not reduce the flow.

One thing I found with them is you need to clean the back part to keep the flow up. My tank is on the dirty side and I have always cleaned the front grill but missed the back. It will really reduce the flow if gook (technical term) or coralline builds up. A tooth brush works great, but use someone else’s brush, not yours

I had a GBTA split into three and when it did they all started wandering. I put them all in a damsel rock (big barnacle rock) and they have stayed there for months. The clowns seem to like that too. I will have to see how they do long term, if the opening in the rock is too small.

So fat I like the Koralya’s but I have only had them for 8 months. Time will tell.

Faz

superfirefly · #3 12/24/2007, 04:28 PM

I don't have a wave maker so it sounds like I should be good. Fingers Crossed. Thanks

babybull · #4 12/27/2007, 07:59 PM

The openings are pretty small in the Koralya. Not much could get through. I like mine but you will have to use a brush on it once in a while to keep it clean. I took mine off the wavemaker because it made too much noise every time it came on.

superfirefly · #5 12/27/2007, 08:36 PM

Well I installed it tonight and let me say WOW. This thing moves some water but my corals aren't blowing around like crazy at least compared to an MJ. I am still pretty worried about the BTA. The openings are small but the opening on the grate I had on my MJ were smaller and it still got sucked through. It is in a spot now that the BTA shouldn't be able to get too but that doesn't really mean anything.