Need some help understanding Derasa clams

[tomterreefic]

I've had a Squamosa calm for about 4 months now and it's doing wonderfully. I recently moved and set-up a 30 Gal. reef into which I transferred all of my corals. I've been monitoring my water params religiously. Corals finally got over the stress of the move and tank seemed to have stabilized. I've been wanting a Derasa clam for some time and finally saw a couple of nice ones at the LFS. So I picked one that appeared nice and healthy also about 3"(they all looked nice) I took it home and drip acclimated for an hour before easing it into the tank. THe next morning the mantle was retracted in the shell and the clam wouldn't react to shadows. He finally closed when I touched the shell. But immediately reopened. The clam finally died about 3 days later and I don't know why. My water tests fine (with both my kits and the LFS)
Ammonia=0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=0
Ph= 8.3
Calcium=580ppm
dKh=11
Clam was placed on the sand in center of tank.
Lights=2x96W PC(1 Actinic and 1 daylight)
2x175W 15K XM MH
Lights are staggered schedule in attempt to mimic sunrise and sunset.
Tank Temp= 78.5F
All corals doing great. Animals are Sailfin tang, Yellow Watchman Goby, 2 peppermint shrimp,1 Fire Shrimp, and 1 Cleaner Shrimp.
I checked on the remaining Derasa's at the LFS to see if maybe it was bad lot but they looked fine.
So I'm looking for ideas as to what happened before purchasing another clam.

 

[Thunnus]

Was there a long transport from the LFS to your tank? Any extreme temperatures? Something really bad happened to that clam to kill it so quickly.

 

[Don Berry]

I know this is off subject, but how do you like the XM 15K? I am considering buying one, but would have no actinics. How is the color and intensity of the bulb? Thanks

 

[Potsy]

I bet that clam was already half dead when it was sitting in the lfs. Unless your parameters were off, I'm sure it was nothing you did.

 

[northbay-reefer]

I think the clam probably was on the way down before you bough it, if everything in your tank are doing fine,. Does your LFS have guarantee for the clam ??

ps,I don't mean to be insensitive, I am also curious about the 15k XM, you wouldn't happen to have a pix would ya ?

 

[tomterreefic]

Thanks for the replies. I went back to the LFS Thursday night and looked a little closer (hands-on) at their clams. They had a nice Crocea, that I was contemplating, that had been there for about 3 weeks. It reacted to shadows and had great mantle extension. However, when I picked him up, his foot appeared to be torn. This shocked the LFS owner becuase the clam had appeared so healthy. So I picked out one that had arrived a couple days earlier and looked great. It had attached itself to the dish that he was being held in. So I got dish and all. Luckily, the clam decided to let go of the dish as I was putting it in the tank. So now I can take the dish back to the store. It seems to be doing well in my tank. So we'll see. Also, the LFS doesn't guarantee their clams but he gave me 30% off the price of the Crocea as a sort of peace offering.

On the subject of the XM 15K bulbs:
I like them OK. I've had them for just over a month now. The light is a crisp white leaning towards a blue. No yellow. It seemed a little bluer a first but that's to be expected and I'm getting used to the color at the same time. I can't find a happy medium with my PC bulbs. 1 actinic and 1 50/50 are a little too blue for me. But 1 actinic and 1 daylight are too white. some people you just can't please.:lol: