Can clams dissolve glass and eventually lead to a leak?

blennymower · 11/26/2010, 04:45 PM

I have a clam on my sand bed. My sand bed is very shallow because I only have it for the purpose aesthetics. I went to touch it and it was firm in its area; a good sign of the clam's health. I've read that clams use what I think is called the basal gland (what they use to move around) to bore into rocks over time to hold on to their place.

In reefs live rocks are made of mostly calcium carbonate (correct?), so the substance clams release deteriorate the rocks and lets the clam "hold on". My worry is that since the clams is holding on to the glass it will over time eat away at it and one day lead to the tanks failure.

I would prefer some scientific explanations as to whether this can happen or not, but any comments are welcomed.

Thanks.

username in use · 11/26/2010, 04:55 PM

Ive never heard/read anything that would indicate that the integrity of your glass would be compromised.

Alysiak00 · 11/26/2010, 05:58 PM

i don't think so, imo its just that they bore into rock which i believe to be a bit more brittle than glass.

redfishblewfish · 11/26/2010, 06:15 PM

Not going to happen. The only thing I know of that would dissolve glass is hydrofluoric acid. Can’t see a clam being able to produce this stuff without killing / dissolving itself.

ninjazx777 · 11/26/2010, 07:00 PM

There mantels will make acrylic cloudy were they touch I have a clousy spot on the front of my tank where my dersa touches the acrylic

goochesfish · 11/26/2010, 08:56 PM

I had a clam attached to a half clam shell and it dissolved that. I hope it doesn't dissolve glass cause that's where mine ended up after jumping off the half shell.

Jaycen B. · 11/26/2010, 09:30 PM

If they can it will take a 100 years and by then it should be big enough to just bust out.

Spiker101 · 11/26/2010, 09:43 PM

Put a frag plug under it.

blennymower · 11/26/2010, 11:33 PM

Alright I guess I won't worry then. I've seen my maxima hold on to my derasas shell, could the maxima bore into the derasas shell?

steelhead77 · 11/27/2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blennymower

Alright I guess I won't worry then. I've seen my maxima hold on to my derasas shell, could the maxima bore into the derasas shell?

Probably, but it's not going to happen overnight. I think the Derasa would probably defend itself in some way before this was to happen.

mscarpena · 11/27/2010, 07:35 AM

Glass is used to house the nastiest of acids. No need to worry at all. We use it at work to house sulfuric acids at a PH of <1.00. If the clams acid was that low in PH you would have no sand around it at all.

11/26/2010, 04:45 PM	#1
blennymower Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,477	Can clams dissolve glass and eventually lead to a leak? I have a clam on my sand bed. My sand bed is very shallow because I only have it for the purpose aesthetics. I went to touch it and it was firm in its area; a good sign of the clam's health. I've read that clams use what I think is called the basal gland (what they use to move around) to bore into rocks over time to hold on to their place. In reefs live rocks are made of mostly calcium carbonate (correct?), so the substance clams release deteriorate the rocks and lets the clam "hold on". My worry is that since the clams is holding on to the glass it will over time eat away at it and one day lead to the tanks failure. I would prefer some scientific explanations as to whether this can happen or not, but any comments are welcomed. Thanks. __________________ Check out my tank. Current Tank Info: 30G Nano Rimless

11/26/2010, 04:55 PM	#2
username in use Sciencing Daily Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 6,560	Ive never heard/read anything that would indicate that the integrity of your glass would be compromised. __________________ Joshua "With fronds like these, who needs anemones?" - Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: multiple nano's sprinkled around the house

11/26/2010, 05:58 PM	#3
Alysiak00 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: N. Ridgeville, Ohio Posts: 1,835	i don't think so, imo its just that they bore into rock which i believe to be a bit more brittle than glass. __________________ 40Br/40Br Sump-2xMp40's, mag 9.5, 250w Maristar w/ Bluewave Ballast, DIY stand, SRO1000, 2xBrs Deluxe Reactors -“Ocean: A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man - who has no gills.” - Ambrose Bierce

11/26/2010, 08:56 PM	#6
goochesfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,305	I had a clam attached to a half clam shell and it dissolved that. I hope it doesn't dissolve glass cause that's where mine ended up after jumping off the half shell. __________________ The Gooch, my Beagle, may she RIP 1995-2011 Current Tank Info: 150 gallon Starfire set up July 22,09, 30g QT

11/26/2010, 11:33 PM	#9
blennymower Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,477	Alright I guess I won't worry then. I've seen my maxima hold on to my derasas shell, could the maxima bore into the derasas shell? __________________ Check out my tank. Current Tank Info: 30G Nano Rimless

11/26/2010, 06:15 PM	#4
redfishblewfish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 716	Not going to happen. The only thing I know of that would dissolve glass is hydrofluoric acid. Can’t see a clam being able to produce this stuff without killing / dissolving itself.

11/26/2010, 07:00 PM	#5
ninjazx777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 212	There mantels will make acrylic cloudy were they touch I have a clousy spot on the front of my tank where my dersa touches the acrylic

11/26/2010, 09:30 PM	#7
Jaycen B. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: GA Posts: 265	If they can it will take a 100 years and by then it should be big enough to just bust out.

11/26/2010, 09:43 PM	#8
Spiker101 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 91	Put a frag plug under it.

11/27/2010, 07:35 AM	#11
mscarpena Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 1,924	Glass is used to house the nastiest of acids. No need to worry at all. We use it at work to house sulfuric acids at a PH of <1.00. If the clams acid was that low in PH you would have no sand around it at all.

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