Clam Shutdown (1 Viewer)

[Brad]

I have two clams (a squamosa and deresa) that about 5 days ago stopped opening up. Actually the squamosa stopped opening up about 8 days ago and the dereas 5 days ago.

I did a water change last weekend (7 days). My paramaters have not changed and are as follows:

Am, Nitrites, Nitrates - none regestered
Ca - 460
Alk - 7.0 (low but working on it). Has been consistantly low for months.
PH - 8.2-8.3
Temp 78-80

I have also been battling hair alge but its been there for 2 months. The squamosa does have a little bit of hair algea growing on its shell but I'm trying to keep it short so it does not bother it. I have not been able to remove it altogether.

Both clams still have lots of color but just not extending at all. In fact yesterday they barely opened their shell by more than a small gap.

Any suggestions on where to focus?

 

[hobogato]

try burping them, maybe they have air bubbles trapped inside.

 

[Brad]

Over the shoulder like a baby? Should I use a burp rag?

j/k, little help with the right technique?

 

[MarkieB]

Lights type? Last changed?

 

[hobogato]

just keep em under water and turn them every which way you can (sounds like a bad clint eastwood movie eh )

 

[Brad]

Lights changed in early December, right after my hair algea breakout. I changed from VHO (6x110) to T-5 (5x80). Both clams were there at the light changeover.

 

[Guest]

if the clams have not been removed from the water lately then there should be no air trapped inside. The burping is for when a clam has been removed from the tank and replaced back in the water.

Brad, since they both basically stopped opening at or close to the same time, it kind of sounds like a water situation to me. Could be the alk.

 

[hobogato]

if the clams have not been removed from the water lately then there should be no air trapped inside. The burping is for when a clam has been removed from the tank and replaced back in the water.

this is true sue, i just didnt know if maybe they were exposed to air during the water change or if the tank had microbubbles during the water change they could have been trapped in the clam. if neither of those is the case, i agree with you on the alkalinity.

 

[Brad]

Thanks Sue, I'm so glad to see you posting again. Your probably one of the only people that has been around MARSH longer than me (exept for Eric and James of course).

I'll try the burping and also continue to work on the Alk. I think the Squasoma got removed when I was trying to pick off the hair algea. I don't think the deresa did but it may have. Sounds like there is no harm in trying.

 

[Guest]

so Brad are you calling me old????????

J/K!! And your probably right.