Crazy for Clams

NAS · #1 02-26-2009, 08:32 PM

What you are saying makes perfect sense. What test kit are you using to get to 2ppm? That is the only thing I kinda struggle with as far as the measurement goes. There is little difference between the 5 and 0 ppm reading on my kit. And, my wife will not let me spend the bucks on a probe

I am really graspin at straws on this one. The only thing i can figure enviromentally is the nitrates. And, the only thing that appears to have been having an effect on the clam. Im wondering if it is a life stage thing... It is after all the biggest of all my clams. Perhaps it's needs have changed. I can't find any solid info. I have a maxima that's spots (you know the patchs of different colors in the mantle, i call em spots) has gone white. The rest is still as purple as ever that is why I think it's different then the squamosa situation it's far more difuse and faded over all.

It almost looks like colmunaris (sp) on freshies.... Im considering a fresh water dip and or antibiotics. Waiting to see what happens.

Delphinus · #2 02-26-2009, 09:29 PM

I'm using both Elos and Salifert right now. The Salifert one is nice in that if you look through the vial sideways instead of top-down, the reading is ten times what it is from the top, so if it reads out at 20 through the side then you know it's 2.0 and I find this easier than trying to colour match the subtle clear shades of the lower range numbers.

The probe is definitely the nicest way to take a reading but yeah, unfortunately a bit spendy. I believe Hanna Instruments also has a nitrate photometer, although if the phosphate meter is any indication it won't be any cheaper than the probe (at least not significantly).

NAS · #3 02-26-2009, 09:40 PM

Hi Mark,

Hey sorry got a little side tracked.

Yes it is a bit odd that Im considering dosing with nitrates. It comes down to two things. need and reliability. If in time i need to boost the nitrates I want the most reliable means. My lab associate is arranging for some reagent grade sodium nitrate to try out.

Yes,

I have come to a final decision on the clam tank. Im going with a plan similar to your suggestions from a few weeks ago. Im looking to custom design something on the order of 30*36(or 48 if the boss lets me) with a height of 18 inches. Drilled on two corners. Plus i think I have a means to control the surface aggitation better then the dar waterfall design.

Give me a ring this weekend if you have time. Come check out my sad clam.

mseepman · #4 02-26-2009, 11:10 PM

Sounds good, I think I'll do that!

michika · #5 02-26-2009, 11:48 PM

Do you have a picture of the squamosa in question? I'm really curious to watch this develop over time. Maybe photos of all your clams so later on down the road you can show changes through some time-lapsed photos.

I know practically nothing on the Nitrate dosing front. I've heard some stuff here and there, but I've never really searched for any academic publications on it. If anyone has any, I'd be really interested to find how it is that clams use nitrates, or how it is that we know they are using them.

NAS · #6 02-27-2009, 03:25 AM

I will forward what I have when i get the site again. I printed it out and moved on... forgot the paper. It is a thesis out of the states on clam bleaching.

I don't really think you need to dose the nitrate unless you have a zero measure with lots of clams. Im guessing that it ma be a bit risky if one screws up... I have calculated the dosage for the whole tank to end up at 10 ppm. I plan to start at 1/4 dose or so... and se what happens.

NAS · #7 05-26-2009, 05:49 PM

Back Again!

My last posting on this whole shingding was in March, Sorry lots has gone on since... but back now.

Ok,
First, the bleached clam. I have pictures some where that I will put up shortly. Since the last post the clam had progressed to more white then any other color. I was very distressed.

I continually dosed my tank with water from our predator tank (40-80 ppm nitrates), weekly a 20% water change (adding dirty water! yes takein clean out) This seemed to arrest the color loss, and very slowly started to turn it arround. VERY SLOWLY. So in frustration I added a second 250w metal halide with a new bulb in the old m/h. Both at 14000K.

HOLLY CRAP! The color is back, and not just back it's darker then when I got the clam. There is even Black banding coming up in the tissue of the Squamosa. New pics to come. Every thing is just poping.

There were two casualties, I had a heat surge that cooked out my accro's, and one weak clam. But I also gaind a fantastic maxima in the mean time so im only down one.

more to come latter today.