Clam advise

fishytime · #1 06-25-2009, 03:48 AM

How old is the tank?

bignose · #2 06-25-2009, 04:33 AM

7 months

fishytime · #3 06-25-2009, 04:49 AM

Ok ...that dosnt seem to new....croceas and maximas tend to do better in more established systems....do you know where your nitrates are sitting? Do you feed with phyto or anything similar? Do you run a UV sterilizer?

Myka · #4 06-25-2009, 06:04 AM

What other parameters do you test for in your tank? What levels is everything sitting at? What's the temp and salinity? How deep is your tank? How far off the water is the light fixture?

bignose · #5 06-25-2009, 06:05 AM

My nitrates are 0 last time I tested. We usually buy the bottle of Kent with the clam on it but I currently have ChromaPlex. I don't have a sterilizer on my system.

Myka · #6 06-25-2009, 06:51 AM

You only test calcium and nitrates? Do you test for anything else? and again...temp and salinity? I'm not sure which bottle of Kent has the clam on it...can you take a peek at it, and tell us what it is?

bignose · #7 06-25-2009, 05:20 PM

Sorry Myka I must have missed your message while I was typing another.

The tank is 18" deep, light fixture is 4" from the water and the Clam is 4" from the water surface(moved from 8" yesterday).

Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites: 0
pH: 7.8
KH: 90
Ca: 480
Sal: 1.027 (making RO water right now)
Temp: 80F

I don't have the Kent bottle with the clam on it anymore but I beleive it was phytoplex.

Zoaelite · #8 06-25-2009, 05:32 PM

I have a feeling it might actually be your nitrites, personally I run my nitrates at about 7-15 ppm and I have always had great coloration on them (including some fantastic color ups on clams I brought in later). Do you ever dose phylo or small particulate food?
Levi

Quote:

Originally Posted by bignose

Sorry Myka I must have missed your message while I was typing another.

The tank is 18" deep, light fixture is 4" from the water and the Clam is 4" from the water surface(moved from 8" yesterday).

Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites: 0
pH: 7.8
KH: 90
Ca: 480
Sal: 1.027 (making RO water right now)
Temp: 80F

I don't have the Kent bottle with the clam on it anymore but I beleive it was phytoplex.

Myka · #9 06-26-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bignose

Sorry Myka I must have missed your message while I was typing another.

The tank is 18" deep, light fixture is 4" from the water and the Clam is 4" from the water surface(moved from 8" yesterday).

Ammonia, Nitrates, Nitrites: 0
pH: 7.8
KH: 90
Ca: 480
Sal: 1.027 (making RO water right now)
Temp: 80F

I don't have the Kent bottle with the clam on it anymore but I beleive it was phytoplex.

Your calcium and alkalinity is out of balance. Your alkalinity at 90 ppm is equivalent of 5 dKH. Proper ratios are:

1.4 dKH to 350 ppm
2.1 dKH to 375 ppm
5.6 dKH to 400 ppm
9.1 dKH to 425 ppm
12.6 dKH to 450 ppm
16.1 dKH to 475 ppm

The ratios need to be balanced for optimal absorbtion by corals, clams, and other life. Natural seawater contains 410 ppm calcium, and 7 dKH alkalinity. To convert dKH to ppm multiply it by 17.9. Keeping your alkalinity higher than it is now, and keeping it steady will also help to increase and stabilize your pH, which is on the low side for sure. It would be good to use an alkalinity buffer with pH buffering capacity like SeaChem Reef Buffer 8.3 in your case.

Although I doubt this out of balance is the cause of the clam's loss of color since you haven't had the clam in these conditions for very long, it may present an issue down the road if it is kept up like this.