What is going on with these Clams

tprize · 05/03/2007, 09:51 PM

So my friend is out of things to do. He can not figure out what is wrong with his clams, so I took some pics and am hopeing you guys can help me out. His lighting is 150W MH and 2x24W t-5 It's a 30G Finnex Tank. At the time the photo was taken all the parameters were within spec. That includes alkalinity, calc etc... this is the bigger of the two clams and the first to go brown, now the little guy is going brown. They still open and close like normal, so I'm not sure what is going on please let me know what is wrong.

ryan115 · 05/04/2007, 05:52 AM

what is the spectrum of the bulbs that he is using. A lower K bulb can cause corals and clams to turn brown.

mbbuna · 05/04/2007, 06:57 AM

move them up closer to the light

cristhiam · 05/04/2007, 08:30 AM

I agree move it closer to the light, I don't think is the K I use 6500K with actinics and my crocea is bright blue

tprize · 05/04/2007, 09:10 AM

The tank is only like 16 inches deep. Buf if you think that it needs more light I will try moving it up. Also the bulb is a 150W 10k bulb.

Ridley · 05/04/2007, 09:11 AM

How old are the bulbs and what is his light cycle?

RichConley · 05/04/2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ryan115
what is the spectrum of the bulbs that he is using. A lower K bulb can cause corals and clams to turn brown.

I'd like to see some references for this, because it makes no sense.

Lower K bulbs have higher par, which generally leads to lighter animals, not darker.

Move it up, its not getting enough light.

tprize · 05/04/2007, 09:17 AM

One other thing, I just talked to him and he said he cut the MH back to about 8 hours because some of his new corals bleached out. They are starting to come back around and he is going to up it again. What is a good range for the Mh and T-5 in hours.

Also the light has been up since december. It's a stock Finnex Bulb

RichConley · 05/04/2007, 09:20 AM

8 hours is more than enough. He just needs to move the clam up. Croceas tend dont even really grow more than about 5 feet down in the ocean. They need a TON of light.

tprize · 05/04/2007, 09:28 AM

Ok with the current aquascaping that may be really hard to do, cause he just falls off to the sand every time he's tried to put it up he said. So if you were to build a calm only tank what would you do?

cristhiam · 05/04/2007, 10:07 AM

you can try to put a half shell or a flat rock under and wait until attaches then you can move it up.

ryan115 · 05/05/2007, 06:55 AM

I believe it might have been calfo's book where I was reading that alot of aquaculture facilities will use 6500K light to grow, giving fastger growth but browner corals and then move them to 14K or 20k before they sell them to get the color back up.

05/03/2007, 09:51 PM	#1
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	What is going on with these Clams So my friend is out of things to do. He can not figure out what is wrong with his clams, so I took some pics and am hopeing you guys can help me out. His lighting is 150W MH and 2x24W t-5 It's a 30G Finnex Tank. At the time the photo was taken all the parameters were within spec. That includes alkalinity, calc etc... this is the bigger of the two clams and the first to go brown, now the little guy is going brown. They still open and close like normal, so I'm not sure what is going on please let me know what is wrong.

05/04/2007, 08:30 AM	#4
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	I agree move it closer to the light, I don't think is the K I use 6500K with actinics and my crocea is bright blue __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

05/04/2007, 09:20 AM	#9
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	8 hours is more than enough. He just needs to move the clam up. Croceas tend dont even really grow more than about 5 feet down in the ocean. They need a TON of light. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

05/04/2007, 10:07 AM	#11
cristhiam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Groveland, FL Posts: 3,099	you can try to put a half shell or a flat rock under and wait until attaches then you can move it up. __________________ 2 yellows tail damsels, yellow watchman goby, tail spot blennie, purple pseudocromis, starry blennie, 2 clowns, 1 black clown, mandarine & Yellow tang Current Tank Info: 125 AGA, 3 40W 6500K, 3 110W URI Actinics, running on 2 IceCaps 660, CSS125

05/04/2007, 05:52 AM	#2
ryan115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 753	what is the spectrum of the bulbs that he is using. A lower K bulb can cause corals and clams to turn brown.

05/04/2007, 06:57 AM	#3
mbbuna Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,847	move them up closer to the light

05/04/2007, 09:10 AM	#5
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	The tank is only like 16 inches deep. Buf if you think that it needs more light I will try moving it up. Also the bulb is a 150W 10k bulb.

05/04/2007, 09:11 AM	#6
Ridley Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 57	How old are the bulbs and what is his light cycle?

05/04/2007, 09:17 AM	#8
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	One other thing, I just talked to him and he said he cut the MH back to about 8 hours because some of his new corals bleached out. They are starting to come back around and he is going to up it again. What is a good range for the Mh and T-5 in hours. Also the light has been up since december. It's a stock Finnex Bulb

05/04/2007, 09:28 AM	#10
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	Ok with the current aquascaping that may be really hard to do, cause he just falls off to the sand every time he's tried to put it up he said. So if you were to build a calm only tank what would you do?

05/05/2007, 06:55 AM	#12
ryan115 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ocean Springs, MS Posts: 753	I believe it might have been calfo's book where I was reading that alot of aquaculture facilities will use 6500K light to grow, giving fastger growth but browner corals and then move them to 14K or 20k before they sell them to get the color back up.