What is wrong with my Crocea???

[phoenix001]

I am having the worst luck with Clams. Is this PM? I need some advice on this from the experts. I did a 30 minute FW dip yesterday evening(matched temp and PH) and scrubbed the shell with a soft toothbrush, but the Clam looks no better. Everything else in my tank is flourishing. Here are my tank specs and water params.

55AGA (2 years running)
2x175W XM 15K MH and 1x110W VHO Super Actinic
sg-1.025
temp 79
CA -450
ALK -15.6
Nitrate 5-10
Nitrite 0
PH 8.0

The clam is halfway up the tank. I have had the calm for 2 weeks and he has looked this way the entire time.

 

[headonkey]

Looks like something is stinging it or maybe some pyramid snails. Keep an eye on it to see if it spreads.

 

[JR719]

You may check for corals that are semi close, possible stinging like headonkey said. I am leaning towards either pyramid snails or a light problem. If possible, move it closer to the lights. My crocea is about 10" under the water, my 250MH are only around 7 to 8" above the surface of the water. Your Nitrates are a little high, may want to try and drop it a bit.

 

[srb5046th]

Are they in a high flow area. I know that can cause partial retraction. Also I noticed your lights are 15k. I know that when I had my croceas under 20k's they looked just like yours. I have had better luck under lower K lamps and I have read that croceas dont like high K light.

 

[Mr aqua]

actually, I believe that croceas are one of the most light demanding, like to be in rocks, and appreciate a little flow.

I don't know how you've been treating it but try not to move it around a whole lot and let in adjust. how does it react to stimuli?

It does look like it's pinching just a little, if it gets worse you may want to research freshwater dips.

BTW, alk at 15 is a tad high.

good luck, hope this helps.

 

[James Yeung]

What kind of hydrometer are you using? If it's one of those sea test type with a floating arrow, be careful. They can be very inaccurate and since your SG reading is on the upper end of the scale, just wanted to let you know.

I have 3 or those and they all have different readings (yes, I made sure there are no bubbles stuck on it).

I was over at my fish buddy's place the other day who started to keep all types of corals and 1 squammy. WHen I asked him to check his SG, it was 1.021 which is on the low side and told him to boast it to 23-24. I later told him that those things can be off big time and I'll bring mine over to test since I know mine is spot on. He had a brand new one lying around and tested it out for the first time, it read 1.025. Damn! His calcium was 300ppm. I gave some of my SPS a few months ago and lucky they're still alive and growing since I want some back! I lost pretty much all of my purple tip montis (they were growing like weeds and I was fragging them to keep it under control). Likely died b/c I didn't change the water in a year (oops... got lazy) along with a huge hair algae outbreak which even crippled a zoo colony and clam shells looking like chia pets! Fortunately, we've been saving each other's corals lately. Hahaha

I'm currently making water right now and the irony is that I don't have hair aglae anymore. Funny, other than my huge SPS loss, my tank is looking better than ever.

BTW, if anyone else is concerned about their cheap SG testers, get a glass hydrometer and bob it in fresh water. If it reads 1.000 in fresh water, you'll know it's good! Or one of those $$$ refractometers.


James