Signs of a healthy clam?

[Instant Tang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7561407#post7561407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by parothead22
To bring back the color of your clam you need to increase the lighting intensity. Also, when was the last time you changed your current bulbs?

It's been just over a year...I have new compact flourescents on order and will be switching to a 15,000 K Metal Halides this week once the new actinics arrive...no sense in taking apart my lighting system twice in a week. My current MH's are 10,000 K that came with my Aqualight Pro- will the clam respond well to the higher K value?

I read somewhere that introducing ground up clam (that sounds so mean...) can reintroduce the photosynthetic creatures that impart the color to the clam's mantle- is this true? If so, where does one get this magical substance?

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7565790#post7565790 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Instant Tang


I read somewhere that introducing ground up clam (that sounds so mean...) can reintroduce the photosynthetic creatures that impart the color to the clam's mantle- is this true? If so, where does one get this magical substance?

this is done at the clam farms to introduce zoox (the symbiotic algae) to the baby clams. the pretty colors you see in the clam are protective pigments that the clam itself produces. to keep and intensify these colors you need intense lighting. higher K bulbs of the same wattage are generally less intense then lower K bulbs so going from 10k to 15k most likly will not brighten the clam up

 

[ezcompany]

so whats the best k? 20k?

 

[mbbuna]

6500k to 10k are more intense

 

[Xirxes23]

I have heard yes and no, but the person who ordered the lghts that i have had giant clams solely in mind.

I have 6x54 T5VHO 4 foot lights in a TEKLIGHT on my 90g. Do i need to raise the clam off of the substrate? I have 2 true arctinics, two blue plus, and two full spectrum 6500's.

Trying to get him to connect to the rubble i placed him on in sandbed first.

I have had the crucia in for two days now, and there is still a slight gaping of the inlet. Anyone else have an otherwise healthy clam that gapes about .5 inches wide and maybe 1-1.5 inches long?

Also feeding phyto, Ca at about 400. Any other advice?

 

[mbbuna]

i would place the clam about mid tank.

Croceas tend to do that(hold there in-current syphon open some) i wouldnt worry much right now

 

[Bosphorus]

Signs of a healthy clam?

 

[ezcompany]

i'm not sure if its supposed to show the white part..

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7574705#post7574705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ezcompany
i'm not sure if its supposed to show the white part..

the white part is new shell growth