Is my clam acting normal?

[Snowsrfr]

I got a Crocea clam about 2 weeks ago from my LFS. He's about 2-3". I have him in a 65 gallon tank under 1 150W 14K MH bulb, with 1 10K and 1 50/50 PC bulb. He never really seems to open up that much. He'll extend his mantle slightly and I do see him on ocasion open to the extent where his siphon tube is visible. Originally I had him sitting in the sand where he seemed O.K., then I noticed a few brown spots starting to appear. Then I found more literature that said they like to be up on the rocks. So I moved him up into the rocks. After a few jumps he now stays up there. His color has improved and actually appears a little darker in color but still doesn't extend or open up that much. I guess what I'm trying to get at, is this normal?

Water Parameters:
Calcium 460
Alkalinity 120
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 20
SG 1.018 (little low but I'm working on this problem)
PH 8.2
Temp 80

Thanks.

 

[BLKTANG]

prob# 1= SG

prob# 2=Nitrates

 

[mbbuna]

your SG is low get it up to at least 1.023 but take your time doing it. your Alk, can you list how your testing it? Nitrates arnt a problem for your clam, they should drop now that you added it.

 

[Snowsrfr]

My SG is actually up to 1.019, that's up .002 over the last two days, so I'm getting there. I use Nutrafin test kits, so according to the instruction booklet my Alk is at 120 mg/L (ppm). I'll keep working on SG.

 

[mbbuna]

with a Ca of 460ppm and an Alk of 120mg/l your way out of balance. you should have a alk ppm of 247.50.
dont add any CA, keep raising your SG, get a test kit that reads in ether Meq/l or dkh,then use these 2 links to help you adjust your alk.

http://saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/AlkConv.php

http://www.kademani.com/reefchem.htm

 

[Snowsrfr]

Wow! Those websites are eyeopenrs. So basically my little instruction booklet that says my alk should be around 140 ppm is completely worthless then? Too many variables to listen to what the recommend I take it? According to the calcuations it says I should add 223 mL of part I of the B-Ionic I currently use. Obviously not all at once, but how much should I add per day? What effects will this have, if any, on my PH and Ca levels? Anything I should pay particular attention too? I appreciate all the help.

How did you figure what my alk level should be? Is it somewhere on one of those sights?

 

[mbbuna]

the saltyzoo web site was for converting your ppm to meq/l or dkh.the ppm that your test read's isnt used very much. i would suggest just going to the reef chemistry calculator and following that. what that will do is balance your Ca and Alk.type in your water vol. your Ca,target CA,then calculate,and your balanced alk will show in the blanks. you will also need a Mg test kit because if that is not up around 1300ppm then you will have a hard time getting Ca/Alk where you need them. read this also.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/rhf/feature/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php