Clam fresh water dip
 

It looks like I need to do a fresh water dip on my Squamosa clam. My question is does the water NEED to be RO water. I have a lot of aged/dechlorinated tap water but I don't have access to RO water at the moment. Will using the tap water harm the clam?

What are you dipping for? Pinched mantle? Is the dechlorinated tap water the same water you are using in the tank the clam is in? If so, then it should be fine, but be careful with freshwater dips on a clam. Have you done it before?

Can't you buy RO water at the Safeway right by your house?

It's the first clam I have ever purchased, and it was doing great for a few weeks, but a few days ago I noticed that the mantle was looking pinched. I checked it over and I did find a few pyramid snails. I removed those and have not seen any more for a couple days but the clam still looks unhappy. I was going to wait a few more more days and if the clam doesn't appear to improve, and I don't find any more snails, I was going to dip it. And yes this will be the first time I have tried this

Could you take a decent quality photo and post it?

Ok so it's looking better but you can see what I'm talking about on the top left side of the clam

Hmm, ya that looks as if it is a minor case of pinched mantle. Are you using GFO and/or carbon? If so, how much are you using, which brands, how often do you change them, and how to you use them (reactor or filter bag?)?

I'm using carbon, just the cheap hagen stuff. I'm using about 2/3 - 3/4 of a cup and changing it once every 3 - 4 weeks, in a 65 gallon tank. It is being run in a canister filter.

Ok, I ask because lots of carbon seems to help pinched mantle, and GFO seems to be a trigger sometimes. Looks like you are doing ok in that area though. Time for a dip! Pinched mantle is a pretty serious disease...best to catch it early!

What lights are you using? How long has the tank been running? What are your parameters? Cal, alk, mg, temp, ph, salinity, nitrate, phosphate? Any ammonia present?

Be sure to match pH with a digital meter, match temperature as well. Use dechlorinated tap or RO water...preferably the latter. I would advise 20 minute dip, but here is a link that suggests a 30 minute dip:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/jf/index.php

To me that does not look like anything... But that just me.. I have tried to dip clams and never had luck. I think if it was closed up it was from the prymaid snails there a clam killer. I ended up changing the substrate to control them in my tank I would just keep an eye on the clam pick it up if you can every few weeks take it out and give it a scrub down with a tooth brush until there gone some wrasses will eat them also.