Did I kill my clam with a magnet?

jab502 · 04/14/2007, 11:42 PM

I have two crocea clams in my tank. They have each been there for about 9 months and were perfectly fine until about two weeks ago. For the past few weeks they do not open much at all and when they do they barely open past the mantle. The only thing that I have changed is that I glued a new frag to a ceramic magnet about 4 weeks ago so that I could suspend the frag on the back wall. Other parmeters are as follows:

They are both at the bottom of the tank (24") under 250W MH. They have been there for nine months and very happy until recently

AlK: 8.0
Calc: 400
Salinity: 1.025
Mag: 1300
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0

Is the magnet the source of my problems? Thanks.

corals b 4 bills · 04/14/2007, 11:47 PM

Was the magnet bare or coated with something?

Mojo Jojo · 04/14/2007, 11:49 PM

Have any angel? Those little devils will chow them down in an instant

jab502 · 04/14/2007, 11:58 PM

I have a potters pygmy angel that has always nipped the clams occasionally but they have coexisted successfully for 8 months preceding this.

jab502 · 04/15/2007, 12:01 AM

The magnet is ceramic coated

Tang Salad · 04/15/2007, 12:06 AM

Could be the pygmy angel.
Has it increased its picking, and/or have you decreased the angel's feeding?

jab502 · 04/15/2007, 12:08 AM

I have noticed the Angel picking a bit more than usual. And yes I have slightly decreased the Nori feedings that the Angel likes. Do you think the Angel is more likely culprit than the magnet?

corals b 4 bills · 04/15/2007, 12:13 AM

Elmer, You need to go pygmy hunting.

Peter Eichler · 04/15/2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jab502
I have a potters pygmy angel that has always nipped the clams occasionally but they have coexisted successfully for 8 months preceding this.

I would say this was at least a contributing factor. Usually with Centropyge angels they pester things to death rather than eating them outright which can take several months. Others things you may want to do some reading on or watch out for include Pyramidellid snails, pinched mantle disease, and even predatory flatworms. Lastly, your alkalinity is a little low and I'd boost that a few points if I were you.

CeeGee · 04/15/2007, 01:53 AM

how is his alk low? 8 is perfectly acceptable.

Peter Eichler · 04/15/2007, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CeeGee
how is his alk low? 8 is perfectly acceptable.

It might be acceptable for the open ocean, but in a closed system where acids tend to build up more, CO2 is more of a factor, buffers can be depleted quickly, and PH fluctuations are common it's wise to run a DKH of 10-12. Then consider that I've seen alkalinity tests that are off by as much as 3 DKH, maintaining a DKH of 8 is risky.

Note: I doubt his alkalinity level is why his clam died, I was just giving him a bit of advice for his system as a whole.

04/14/2007, 11:42 PM	#1
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	Did I kill my clam with a magnet? I have two crocea clams in my tank. They have each been there for about 9 months and were perfectly fine until about two weeks ago. For the past few weeks they do not open much at all and when they do they barely open past the mantle. The only thing that I have changed is that I glued a new frag to a ceramic magnet about 4 weeks ago so that I could suspend the frag on the back wall. Other parmeters are as follows: They are both at the bottom of the tank (24") under 250W MH. They have been there for nine months and very happy until recently AlK: 8.0 Calc: 400 Salinity: 1.025 Mag: 1300 Nitrates: 0 Nitrites: 0 Is the magnet the source of my problems? Thanks.

04/14/2007, 11:47 PM	#2
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Was the magnet bare or coated with something? __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

04/15/2007, 12:06 AM	#6
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Could be the pygmy angel. Has it increased its picking, and/or have you decreased the angel's feeding? __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

04/15/2007, 12:13 AM	#8
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	Elmer, You need to go pygmy hunting. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

04/15/2007, 01:53 AM	#10
CeeGee Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: TN Posts: 3,272	how is his alk low? 8 is perfectly acceptable. __________________ My algae WAS special. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon display, 40 gallon breeder sump, RLSS R6i, ATI Powermodule, Apex, Ecotech MP40's

04/14/2007, 11:49 PM	#3
Mojo Jojo Moved On Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,495	Have any angel? Those little devils will chow them down in an instant

04/14/2007, 11:58 PM	#4
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	I have a potters pygmy angel that has always nipped the clams occasionally but they have coexisted successfully for 8 months preceding this.

04/15/2007, 12:01 AM	#5
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	The magnet is ceramic coated

04/15/2007, 12:08 AM	#7
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	I have noticed the Angel picking a bit more than usual. And yes I have slightly decreased the Nori feedings that the Angel likes. Do you think the Angel is more likely culprit than the magnet?