Stringy "Poop" from outcurrent - experiences??

[Peabody]

Hi all

I have had a 4 inch squamosa for 2 months, and 2 baby (1 1/2 - 2 inch) Ultra Maxes for 2 weeks. Lighting was recently upgraded (pre maximas) to a coralife 175 watt 6500k and Coralife 55 watt Actinic 03 PCs. MH is on for 7 1/2 hours with 45 minutes of Actinic before and after. (I acclimated the new lights by slowly lowering then and upping the photo period - again, pre maximas) The clams are a little more than 14 inches under the lights and off center from the line of fire of the MH. (water params all great)

When I just had the squamosa and fed DTs I noticed brown stringy "poop" coming out of the outcurrent. Since I got the babys I stepped up the DTs and "bowl feed" them every 2 or 3 days. Now the one max and and squamosa are taking big poops on a regular basis.

I've heard some people say this could be excess zooxanthalle? Too much light? Even in my case? I was thinking it's poop from heavy feeding. After all, they do eat, so they have to poop, don't they!

Please share your experiences and observations with me on this. I want only the best for my clams. I have a "gut feeling" that it's poop but just want to make sure it's not a problem with lighting or something else.

Thanks a bunch!
Jeff Rogers

 

[ReefEze]

I've heard some people say this could be excess zooxanthalle?

From your description this is what I would be leaning towrds. This is a normal process, and is showing that the clams are regulating their supply of zooxanthalle. As long as their not bleaching, this is a good sign, although it usually occurs when light intensity is changed.

HTH
RE