Any survivor stories out there?

[mia1974]

I wonder how long after all the clam deaths these people experienced a decline in their sps? Perhaps the clams were not "pulled" soon enough after their demise thus contributing to water quality issues? I have about 70 types of sps (frags mostly) and I haven't witnessed any health problems as of yet (knock on wood). The 2 remaining derasas are still in my main tank. The one looks as if nothing was ever wrong with it now (has a huge growth ring), the other has no growth ring and still looks stressed. I guess the only way to know if the clams were carriers at this point would be to add another clam...(I won't do it until I know for sure). I miss all my clams though

 

[ProReefeR PLuS]

clams

clams

I also miss my clams. This may be due to the fact that some of them cost @ $100 big ones!. Thats gas for a month, or groceries for a few weeks, or two cell phone bills! Oh well. As for the SPS issue, only one person that I know has had the misfortune of experiencing a decline of his SPS health. All of his clams were pulled out before they started to decay, thus it is NOT a water quality issue. Not only do his SPSs not polyp up, but they are also starting to grow these "weird white spikes." I have NEVER seen any acro exhibit this "spike" trait, and I am baffled as to what is going on.
From what I hear, there was a similar clam disease outbreak that affected a majority of the clams populations two or three years ago. People who lost their clams were told to wait 6 MONTHS before adding more clams. The suggestion worked. However, new analysis of the CURRENT PATHOGEN confirms that this is NOT the same disease that affected us reefers years ago. This pathogen is a deadlier foe, having the ability to "freefloat" in your system without needing a host. MIA: If I were you, I would wait an excess of 6 months before adding. Will it worK? Only time will tell.
One more thing: I spoke to a SEACHEM rep, and he spoke of the possibility of SEACHEM developing a reef safe "cure" for our dilemma. Cross your fingers:beer:

 

[ProReefeR PLuS]

TO CAL3v

TO CAL3v

Cal3v:
Unfortunately, because the pathogen is freefloating, it is NOT safe to purchase any colony that is in an infected system. Most LFS have connected systems that share the same water with their clam tanks.
I personally, as well as many others, have gone through the trouble of acclimating my newly aquired corals, and then setting aside TWO EXTRA buckets of my tanks water. The corals then each got dipped in each bucket and were shaken vigorously with the hope of losing any freefloating pathogen.
Other Reefers have told me that they are in a "freeze frame" state, suspending all purchases PERIOD> until a solution is found.
Tubs, reef tank of the month FEB 2002 was about to purchase a nice cap colony from my store, only to tell us"nevermind" when he discovered that the reef system was connected to the clam section. YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL!
Oh... and there was also a customer who had about 12 clams, all purchased years ago, disease free and thriving. He bought an ACRO colony resently from another LFS in the BAY. Guess what happened: Two weeks later, one clam dies, and then another... and another. NO MORE CLAMS.
I currently have stopped purchasing colonies. I only get frags from other reefers whos systems are CLEAN and disease free.

 

[rxx2]

uv sterilizer

uv sterilizer

Hello Jamfry, can you point me to where you read about the UV sterilizer?

I just set up a new tank a few months ago, love the clams but have been wary about making any additions/purchases. Bought a couple clams at a local fish store who had treated them with antibiotics then had them housed in a display tank that was totally separate from the tank that had the clam deaths. The clams were in the tank for a couple weeks. They were looking good, very responsive. Took them home and they were looking good (for almost 2 weeks) until yesterday when I noticed one of the clams wasn't extending it's mantle. Worked late yesterday, had to work early this AM, looked in the tank and the clam was off the rock and on the sand, mantle shriveled up and shell half way open. Pulled it, unresponsive, smelled fishy, dead. I had also bought a couple of frags the same day. I'll have to see if I can get a hold of some of the antibiotic you all have been using to treat the others. Hadn't read about this bacteria being free floating and able to survive for months without a host. Do you think it came in on the frags I bought? I had dipped the frags, don't know what else I could have done. We'll see what happens. I'll have to check water parameters when I get home.

 

[mia1974]

If the pathogen is free-floating how could there be any explanation for the fact that one of my derasa's is growing in leaps and bounds? I think that episodes like this (mass clam mortalities) have happened before as I recall reading others experiences with this, and if the pathogen was always existant we would have seen way more deaths than we have been reading about (especially with the amount of frag trading that goes on, if corals could act as a host that is). In fact, most of the deaths I have been reading about are attributed to the addition of infected newly purchased clams and not coral frags/colonies. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I cannot explain my growing derasa any other way other than that the infectious organisms have left my system.

 

[toptank]

mia1974

Have been following these threads regarding loss of clams. People have reported to me that most of the Derasa are surviving when the others are dying.

The marine lab that I have used seems to think it more of a viral infection rather then bacteria but then again I am not a lab tech.

I am correct that someone on this thread said they lost clams after buying some SPS colonies and not clams??

I have had clams in my holding tanks for as long as 6 weeks and have not lost a clam but then again I have nothing but clams in the tanks and they are not linked to other tanks. hmmm

Barry

 

[datura222]

Toptank:

I think the last response was to this quote:
************************
Oh... and there was also a customer who had about 12 clams, all purchased years ago, disease free and thriving. He bought an ACRO colony resently from another LFS in the BAY. Guess what happened: Two weeks later, one clam dies, and then another... and another. NO MORE CLAMS.
I currently have stopped purchasing colonies. I only get frags from other reefers whos systems are CLEAN and disease free.
************************

Perhaps the derasas are more immune, as I had 4 and 2 are gone with the other max's. I wonder how Leonard's new clams are doing....

 

[jamfry]

REPLY TO rxx4

REPLY TO rxx4

I just checked my mail and noticed a post form you directed to me on the subject of uv's. I dont remember where i read the information but i know it had impressed me enough to go and buy one. It has been on for 2 days now and ive noted that even

 

[rxx2]

jamfry
thanks for the reply, i think i'm gonna try hooking up a uv sterilizer to see if it's help with the guys i have left. hopefully we'll have some survivior stories.
thanks, rxx2

 

[jamfry]

READING INFO for rxx2

READING INFO for rxx2

I had found the article on sterilizer's. It was in Dan Knopp's book on calms. I can give the page and such if you wanna.:eek1:

 

[rxx2]

jamfry, thanks for your help, i'll find it when i get home tonight
thanks again, rxx2

 

[ProReefeR PLuS]

clams

clams

Mia:

 

[ProReefeR PLuS]

clams

clams

Mia:
Derasas are the hardiest of the clams, and of all the survivor stories out there, Derasas are among the most mentioned. Thats why your Derasa is fine. However, if my theory is correct, once you add a maxima or crocea, the pathogen will affect them. Your Derasa has simply adapted to the pathogen, and will be fine.