Sensitive clam

Altohombre · 03-24-2008, 03:34 AM

I dunno what it is but my clam has a hard time staying open for very long. Right now I have it high up in my tank with T5 lighting on it for 10 hrs. The first couple days it was wide open while it was on the sand. Then it wouldn't open much, so I moved it higher up and put it on LR. There are times when it opens up and times when it is mostly closed. I have watched my fish and I don't see them bothering it too much. Could my water flow be too high? Is my tank too young (2 months). Do diatoms algae annoy it?

btw: it is a 2" Ultra Crocea Clam and my parameters are 1.026, amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10-15.

Altohombre · 03-24-2008, 03:49 AM

ok I just did some reading throughout this site and can answer a couple more questions.

It appears that the foot is slightly stringy.

My salt mix is Instant Ocean dosed with Purple Up a cap per night so my calcium is in the 450 range. I don't have a test for alk.

The clam is responsive to touch and fish movement around it.

I do not see any grain sized snails around it.

charlestonemt · 03-24-2008, 04:10 AM

Your tank is much too young for a clam IMO. Most require pristine water conditions. You need to be testing KH and pH as well.

Altohombre · 03-24-2008, 03:29 PM

pH is 8.3

mps9506 · 03-24-2008, 03:46 PM

Alkalinity is pretty important as well.
And while clams are great nitrate feeders, the fact your nitrates are up in the 10-15 range probably indicates the water quality isn't stable enough yet for a clam.

Take a look on the site for Ca. and alkalinity articles, whenever dosing one you need to be keeping an eye on the other. It should help you out in the long run.

Jason25 · 03-24-2008, 04:05 PM

Stop using the Purple Up as well it is known to cause chemistry problems, if you are using it to jump start coraline gowth, let it take it's natural corse, it will grow just give it time, whenever you try and rush something in your reef you are asking for big problems.

Jimw369 · 03-24-2008, 04:31 PM

Yup Yup and Yup to the above posts. 2" crocea might still be too small to use zooxanthalae and the light doesnt matter. Pobably will need to be spot fed nano plankton in order to survive.

New tank/small clam/new aquarist=disaster

Sorry if it sounds like Im being tough on you. I was in your shoes a year ago and as a constant reminder of the mistakes I made I keep my first small Maxima clam on my desk now. Still bothers me.

Giant Clam Basics

Picsbase.com

cheeks69 · 03-24-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Right now I have it high up in my tank with T5 lighting on it for 10 hrs. The first couple days it was wide open while it was on the sand.

Moving clams can be very stressful especially with such a drastic difference in intensity between the SB and on the rockwork close to the light. What is the dimensions of the tank and how many watts of T5's are you using ?

Quote:

Is my tank too young (2 months)

Yes it is and could be adding additional stress to the clam because parameters tend to fluctuate in young tanks. You need a mature tank with stable water chemistry particularly ph,calcium and alkalinity.

Quote:

I do not see any grain sized snails around it.

When did you check for them ? These snails are nocturnal and you should check when the lights go out in the tank.

Quote:

It appears that the foot is slightly stringy.

These are the byssal filaments which they lay down on the rockwork to anchor and protect themselves from predators. When you purchased the clam did you notice how they removed the clam ? Was it attached to anything or simply laying on the substrate ? When you placed it on the rockwork did you notice it trying to attach itself ?

BEELZEBOB · 03-24-2008, 05:28 PM

BUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUH HUUH!

Altohombre · 03-25-2008, 08:06 AM

hey Beelzebob, thanks for the help dooshbag!

BEELZEBOB · 03-25-2008, 09:02 AM

CAVINCA · 03-25-2008, 09:10 AM

HAHAHAHA. dont mind him... he can be a jerk sometimes but he knows his stuff... and for that i give him RESPECT. and he brought back some childhood memories

huh huh, huh huh.. FIRE!!!

your tank is much to young for the nem. BUT im sure someone can help you keep it alive..

purple up can play havok on your sys. find another calcium additive. try kents tech cb.

Dentoid · 03-25-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAVINCA

HAHAHAHA. dont mind him... he can be a jerk sometimes but he knows his stuff... and for that i give him RESPECT. and he brought back some childhood memories

huh huh, huh huh.. FIRE!!!

your tank is much to young for the nem. BUT im sure someone can help you keep it alive..

purple up can play havok on your sys. find another calcium additive. try kents tech cb.

HAHAHA! Don't mind Carl, he has been off his meds. Carl, were talking about a clam in this thread, buddy.

CAVINCA · 03-25-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

HAHAHA! Don't mind Carl, he has been off his meds. Carl, were talking about a clam in this thread, buddy.

buahahahaha yup... owned. actually, i am off my meds

And i am having a horrible migrane.

sorry for the misinfo.

Dentoid · 03-25-2008, 09:36 AM

Sorry man! I know what that

feels like!

03-24-2008, 03:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Altohombre Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Sensitive clam I dunno what it is but my clam has a hard time staying open for very long. Right now I have it high up in my tank with T5 lighting on it for 10 hrs. The first couple days it was wide open while it was on the sand. Then it wouldn't open much, so I moved it higher up and put it on LR. There are times when it opens up and times when it is mostly closed. I have watched my fish and I don't see them bothering it too much. Could my water flow be too high? Is my tank too young (2 months). Do diatoms algae annoy it? btw: it is a 2" Ultra Crocea Clam and my parameters are 1.026, amm 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10-15.

03-24-2008, 03:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
Altohombre Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sensitive clam ok I just did some reading throughout this site and can answer a couple more questions. It appears that the foot is slightly stringy. My salt mix is Instant Ocean dosed with Purple Up a cap per night so my calcium is in the 450 range. I don't have a test for alk. The clam is responsive to touch and fish movement around it. I do not see any grain sized snails around it.

03-24-2008, 04:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
charlestonemt Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 294 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sensitive clam Your tank is much too young for a clam IMO. Most require pristine water conditions. You need to be testing KH and pH as well. __________________ Steven 75g reef tank 2 x 175w MH (10,000K) 2 x 48" VHOs on IceCap balast 50 gpd RO unit with ATO setup Sealife Systems skimmer

03-24-2008, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Altohombre Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sensitive clam pH is 8.3

03-24-2008, 03:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
mps9506 They misunderestimated me Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,143 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sensitive clam Alkalinity is pretty important as well. And while clams are great nitrate feeders, the fact your nitrates are up in the 10-15 range probably indicates the water quality isn't stable enough yet for a clam. Take a look on the site for Ca. and alkalinity articles, whenever dosing one you need to be keeping an eye on the other. It should help you out in the long run. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

03-24-2008, 04:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jason25 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sensitive clam Stop using the Purple Up as well it is known to cause chemistry problems, if you are using it to jump start coraline gowth, let it take it's natural corse, it will grow just give it time, whenever you try and rush something in your reef you are asking for big problems.

03-24-2008, 04:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Jimw369 Tubeworm Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 31 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sensitive clam Yup Yup and Yup to the above posts. 2" crocea might still be too small to use zooxanthalae and the light doesnt matter. Pobably will need to be spot fed nano plankton in order to survive. New tank/small clam/new aquarist=disaster Sorry if it sounds like Im being tough on you. I was in your shoes a year ago and as a constant reminder of the mistakes I made I keep my first small Maxima clam on my desk now. Still bothers me. Giant Clam Basics Picsbase.com

03-25-2008, 08:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
Altohombre Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 25 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sensitive clam hey Beelzebob, thanks for the help dooshbag!

03-25-2008, 09:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
CAVINCA Neon dottyback Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 683 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sensitive clam HAHAHAHA. dont mind him... he can be a jerk sometimes but he knows his stuff... and for that i give him RESPECT. and he brought back some childhood memories huh huh, huh huh.. FIRE!!! your tank is much to young for the nem. BUT im sure someone can help you keep it alive.. purple up can play havok on your sys. find another calcium additive. try kents tech cb. __________________ Chronicle Marina del Filon de los Carlos CARL

03-25-2008, 09:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sensitive clam Sorry man! I know what that feels like! __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)