crocea closed!

[cinnamongirl]

I have 2 crocea in my 75g mixed reef tank that have been perfectly happy since I got them. The first has been in the tank about 18 months, the second about 4 months. The past three days, the older one hasn't opened, and I have no idea why. They've been the happiest clams ever, they hardly ever even half close! What could be wrong?

Nothing new has been added in 3 months.

My params are ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite, 0
Alk is somewhat low at 7.4
Calcium is 420
PH is 8.0

Ideas?!?!?! Should I worry?

Thanks!

 

[mbbuna]

what fish do you have?

you say your Alk is some what low, have you been trying to adjust/raise it? if so exactly how?

 

[cinnamongirl]

My alk is definitely low. I used to dose two-part Bionic, until it got too expensive. Then I dose Kalk daily for about a year. Six months ago, I bought a CA reactor, which keeps my CA in line, but has a tendency to keep Alk low. Two weeks ago when my pH started fluctuating between 8.2 (day) and 7.9 (night), I've been dosing Kalk at lights out.

I have 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, 3 chromis, a mandrin, and a lawnmower blenny.

Everything else in the tank looks great, except my goni. She's been closed for 3 days, also

 

[cinnamongirl]

Oh ya, and I forgot about my 14" brittle star.

I have a 50 gallon sump in the basement, with an 8 gallon fuge. I just remembered that I changed the bulbs in my fuge last week from a 5050 actinic to a brigher 6500 bulb. Would that do anything?

 

[mbbuna]

is there any chance you added the kalk to fast and spiked the PH/Alk? or added anything else to try to correct the Alk?

BTW 7.4 dkh is fine IMO

 

[cinnamongirl]

It's a possiblity, i guess, but I don't think so. I have it dripping from one of those smaller, hand-hung Kent contraptions, at about 1 drip per second.

I have a pH monitor, and I didn't notice any spikes over the last few days. Could it be that the swings in pH and low Alk the past few weeks have finally got to it?

What can I do, anything? I love my pair of clams

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7867704#post7867704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cinnamongirl


Could it be that the swings in pH and low Alk the past few weeks have finally got to it?

could be. clams are very sensitive to Ph,Alk changes.try to keep everything as stable as you can for now.

can you post a pic of the clam?

 

[cinnamongirl]

This was a full shot last week

These are the clams the last 4 days

 

[mbbuna]

the way they are pulled in it almost looks like a fish or shrimp is picking at them, but the fish you listed usually aren't a problem. try and keep all your levels stable.

what test kits are you using and are they out of date?

 

[cinnamongirl]

I use salifert tests for ca/alk. They're relatively new. I have a pH monitor that I just replaced the battery and recalibrated a week or so before this happened, so I'm sure it's accurate as well.

I'm dosing Kalk right before lights out to try and keep the levels stable. I'll keep you informed.

Thanks!

 

[Freed]

Those don't look like they are in danger of dying soon but they shouldn't stay like that for too long. They do look like they are being picked/preyed on either from above or from below.

 

[rickyfins]

PMED YOU TWICE!!


rick