clam bleaching

R

reeflife05

In Memoriam
my blue maxima seems to be bleaching or losing color on one small part of its mantle... anyone know what could be causing this? I have 5 clams for years and never had this happen to me B4... I hope I could save this clam before anything happens to it.

Thanks
 
What are your current chemistry readings and how were they measured? ALso, where is the clam in relation to what lightbulb, and when was it last changed?
 
clam is on the bottom 18" on sand under bulb... changed three months ago. chemistry is all good checked with salifert and tropic marin this week. only thing was phos was .03 ish so I used phosguard in a reactor. cal is 450-500 alk is 10 dkh... sal is 1.025 temp is at 79. nitrate less than 5 ppm nitrite and ammonia undetectible. ph is maintained from 7.8- 8.2 depending on light times.

Peabody
do ou now have any idea??? I am stumped. does not look to me like a predator but it could be inside the shell and impossible to see. any ideas would be great.
 
Hmm....bleaching is not usually a sign of predation. Usually chemistry or light. How are you measuring your salinity? Refractometer?
 
no just a cheapy hydrometer... I know, I know that is why I just spend $129 on pinpoint digital salinity meter. Coming in a couple of days. You think it could be a salinity problem??? I can't imagine that its chemistry. But it could be something that I'm overlooking. LMK if there is anything else that I should test for. BTW mag is 1350 checked today.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the hydrometer is WAY off. Mine was always a few points low compared to a refractometer. If it's off, it could be your problem.
 
They do. Bleaching can happen do to wrong light, not enough light, or old bulbs that have shifted spectrum.

It's hard for a maxima or crocea to have too much light.

My money's on salinity, but we'll see. Either way, I wish the best for you and your clam.
 
Peabody
Hi thanks for all of the advice... just chacked I am getting my order for the pinpoint digital salinity meter on friday and I'll tell you what it sais here. Thanks for your help.

Are clams more sensitive to salinity changes than other corals??? I have SPS and they are all doing great.
 
Just an option but check to see whether or not there's a shadow being cast on it. I've seen clams with bleaching on the ends or on part of the mantle from crowding at the exporters.
 
DBM
yes it is in shadow... the exact part of the mantle that is bleaching is under a rock overhang. This must be it... Moving it now into the light. Damn why did'nt I think of that?:rolleyes: :hmm4: :wildone:
 
Peabody

now i'm a bid confused...

I just purchased a pinpoint digital salinity meter. I calibrated it according to the manf. instructions and hooked it up to my system...

1. first question is a clarification. what happens to salinity as the temp go up?

2. what happens to salinity when lights are on and photosinthesis is taking place

The reason I am asking this is because I am monitoring the salinity with my old Seatest hydrometer and checking against my new pinpoint digital salinity meter. the hydrometer sais 1.025 and so too did the digital meter (at first) then it droped down to 1.022. again I raised the salinity slowly and again it raised a bit then droped again... it seems to be stabilizing at 1.022 no matter what I do... can anyone tell me why? and does anyone have this problem with pinpoint? could it be faulty?

Thanks
 
I have no experience with a salinity monitor, just a refratometer...maybe somebody more learned about them than I can chime in....

If not, start a thread in the main forum, maybe?
 
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