clam losing color and pattern

[daniella3d]

It is very healthy, no problem, juts it is losing it's nice pattern and becoming more uniform in color. I just don't like the way things are going color wise.

I especially requested a clam like it was at the begining and the store waited until they found one that looked like what I wanted. So I just waited months for this.

Just disapointed and would like it back as it was, just as healthy as it is now.

Here are the parameters of my water...a little low in magnesium, potassium and strontium, could it be responsible? My alkalinity is at 8kh and remain pretty much at that. phosphates at 1.0, nitrates at 1ppm.

[coolhandgoose]

How did you get all those readings?
Beautiful looking clam though, looks very healthy, not sure the brown was supposed to be there in the first place.

[daniella3d]

I know someone who is working in a big professional laboratory which does analysis of all sorts for the government and occasionaly he comes to my place and take some sample of my water for testing.

and I know the clam is pretty (for some) but I really want it back the way it was...can anyone help?

I have other clams and and the maxima also has sort of dulled in color. It seem that the color most affected is the brown, so the zooxanthellea, but why???

Originally Posted by coolhandgoose

How did you get all those readings?
Beautiful looking clam though, looks very healthy, not sure the brown was supposed to be there in the first place.

[Milad]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

I know someone who is working in a big professional laboratory which does analysis of all sorts for the government and occasionaly he comes to my place and take some sample of my water for testing.

and I know the clam is pretty (for some) but I really want it back the way it was...can anyone help?

I have other clams and and the maxima also has sort of dulled in color. It seem that the color most affected is the brown, so the zooxanthellea, but why???

Send him over to my place please

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

and I know the clam is pretty (for some) but I really want it back the way it was...can anyone help?

I have other clams and and the maxima also has sort of dulled in color. It seem that the color most affected is the brown, so the zooxanthellea, but why???

Brown is the color that absorbs light first. So definitely lighting would be my first thought. I don’t know how strong your desire is to try and change things, sometimes changes make it worse.
However if this is a good time to change your light bulbs I would try that first. And you are already on top of your water quality so lighting would be my choice.
I dont know though what K you have now and what K color to get in order to make it change to the original, because it would be impossible to duplicate the original conditions that clam was in.

[daniella3d]

I feed it live phyto every second day as it was very small when I got it. Now it's a bit bigger but still a small clam.

Should I stop feeding it phyto so that it develop more zoo on its own?

I put a crate under the light on the spot to dim the light a little. Seem that my maxima has more powerfull colors and more brown at the bottom of it where the light does not fall directly and it has also lost its brown color on top where it gets direct lighting. hhmmm.. I thought clams were loving strong light? Both clams are side by side.

I just took a pic of my maxima and that makes me realize the maxima is having the same issue, here is a pic of the maximum when I got it:




and now:



So it is also gong pale in color and washed out.

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

Brown is the color that absorbs light first. So definitely lighting would be my first thought. I don’t know how strong your desire is to try and change things, sometimes changes make it worse.
However if this is a good time to change your light bulbs I would try that first. And you are already on top of your water quality so lighting would be my choice.
I dont know though what K you have now and what K color to get in order to make it change to the original, because it would be impossible to duplicate the original conditions that clam was in.

[Enigma]

I know you're disappointed . . . but those are really lovely, healthy looking clams. I'm pea green with envy. I'm afraid to purchase any, as I'm very worried about pinched mantle.

[Coralgurl]

Originally Posted by Enigma

I know you're disappointed . . . but those are really lovely, healthy looking clams. I'm pea green with envy. I'm afraid to purchase any, as I'm very worried about pinched mantle.

I agree, they are very beautiful clams, either way. I see what you mean about the brown, it def changes the overall appearance. I have 1 clam, it's blue green and has grown quite a bit but it's not as nice as yours. Good luck, I can't offer any advice.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by daniella3d

Wow!
Looks like at least someone has a water testing robot
But kidding aside, dont you think that your tank invironment would be different (no metter how perfect you water may be) from its original water?

Clam is in good shape, personal taste is hard to change
jmtcw