Clam bleaching / loosing color

[Duce]

Anyone seen this happened.
I have a cocera right on top of the rock work for a few months.
It seems the edge of the mantel is bleaching / loosing color. Know what's happening?

 

[mbbuna]

tell us a little more about your tank(everything)

 

[Duce]

I haven't taken any numbers down but using test strips all parameters seem OK. Ca is in 400s. Nitrate is between 10-20.
pH is 8.2 or maybe a bit lower. Alk is about 180. Nitrite 0. Dual 14K 175W w/ 80W actinic NO. The clam is about 12" from the bulb. I also noticed the mantel is more brown vs blue before

 

[Don Berry]

Those are pretty high nitrates for a reef tank. I'm not sure if it effects clams the same way it does corals, but that may be your problem.

 

[Duce]

Doesn't clam love Nitrate and eat them up (literally)?

 

[mbbuna]

what kind of clam do you have?what size tank do you have?how long has your tank been set up? what else do you have in the tank? ALK 180? what test kits are you using?when i said everything,please be a little more in depth.

 

[Duce]

I am at work now....for your questions on details
Cocera for the clam
72G up for at least 3 years
Mix reef...nothing (fish) that will nip at the clam
Test kits I use are from Jungle Lab (test strips) for the overall and Ca is Aquarium Pharm. The need to go home and check what the Alk unit of measure is.

 

[thrlride]

180 is ppm. Divide by 50 and that gives you meq/l

 

[Duce]

Thanks. I thought you mentioned it should be 300...it's that a bit high. As this is what a previous issue of RK indicate the acceptable range for Alk.
2.5-4 meq/L
7-11 dKH
125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents
Could PO4 has something to do with the problem I am having? I never really measure PO4

 

[mbbuna]

alk is ok but the ca should be 350 at least 425 is better. but i dont think thats it ,u have 14k 175w bulbs the crocea is turning brown from the low lighting.and if it's been this way that could cause it to start bleaching.PO4 shouldnt bother it unless they are realy high,the same with nitrate's

 

[Duce]

Thanks...
Do I need 250 to keep Cocera then?

 

[mbbuna]

you need 6500k to 10k