Clams fading in colour - Why?

[Leopard Man]

When clams fade in colour, i.e. get lighter in colour by turning more pastel, does that mean that they're are getting too much light or too little light?

Or is it lack of nutrients?

Cheers,

 

[quicksilverq]

It means the clam is bleaching not getting enought light maybe.

 

[Leopard Man]

Ok, any more input guys?

Just a little background info, I had crocea clams for about 4 months now in the bottom of my tank, I raised them up in the mid upper section of my tank about 1 month ago and they started to get lighter in colour. I run my 400w 14k MH 3 hours a day supplemented with t5 actinics. The tank is a total 18 inches tall and the MH is 10" above the water level.

So after raising them (the clams), did I bleach them with too much light or is the photoperiod too low in general? Nitrates are a constant 0.2 on a salifert kit.

 

[quicksilverq]

It might be possible that you light shocked it. Did you gradualy increase the light for like 1 to 2 hours to 3 hours? It seems like you have alot of lights on you 56 gallon I have a 150 or so an have only 1100W tottal I am not the best expert just my 2cents but Skinz will has more indepth knowledge about this

 

[Leopard Man]

My photoperiod has always been 3 hours MH and 9 hours t5s since day 1 of the cycle, so I never increased it gradually. I'm not really sure what happened, but it does seem like they got shocked, or it could be that the whole time, they were light deprived by being in the bottom, or it was just a coincidence of time that they started to bleach shortly after I raised them. Meaning that raising them up, had nothing to do with them bleaching, it was lack of photoperiod all along.

Hope I get more input, pls?

 

[quicksilverq]

I am not positive but bleching could be do to stress maybe fish are picking on him because he is now in a more visiable spot and easyer to reach and nip at also check you Magnisum, calcium, Alk or DK see what they come out 2 Make sure water flow is not that strong also where his mantel is not fluttering around every wheres.

 

[Leopard Man]

I only have one fish, an istigobious decoratus, and he's not picking as fas as I know.

CA 440 (API)
dkh 9 (API)
Mag 1280 (Salifert)
Flow is ok, I turned down my Tunze 6100 to the lowest and I'm using a Sedra 2500 for my return.

Say they are bleaching, should I position them back down? Increase or decrease photoperiod?

 

[quicksilverq]

everything seems to be checking out as you say and as far as my knowledge but. when other input they will want to see a pciture. I am sorry I could not be of more help you seem like you know what you doing everything looks good as far as chemistry check your ph also and salinity.

 

[Leopard Man]

Thanks, that's fine. I don't have a pic right now, but ph is 8 (API), and SG is 1.026 with a caliberated refractometer.

I'm suspecting, I may have had too little photoperiod. I'll increase it 1 hour a week and let you guys know if I experience any more problems.

I just have LPS right now with the clams and they have no issues, as I assume they need less light compared to the croceas.

 

[quicksilverq]

Your right croceas are the most light demanding of all clams the more the better actually I have 3x250w MH lights on for about 8+ hours depending on how long its light out I increase and decrease it depending on the seasons.

 

[skinz78]

you should have at least 8 hrs of intense lighting each day. Slowly increase your lighting pieriod.

Can you post pic's of the clams?

 

[Leopard Man]

No pics sorry, but I'm pretty convinced that I had too little photoperiod and will try 6 - 8 hours a day with my 400W MH.

Thanks again.