Clam color fading

[tleip]

I've had a 5" Squamosa in my tank now for about a month, and I've noticed that the color seems to have faded and it isn't as extended either:

When I first got it:

<a href="http://s678.beta.photobucket.com/user/tleip/media/c2_zps985523eb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/tleip/c2_zps985523eb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo c2_zps985523eb.jpg"/></a>


Now (sorry for the poor pic, it's in a corner that is hard to photograph):

<a href="http://s678.beta.photobucket.com/user/tleip/media/clam2_zpsb67bb1f1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/tleip/clam2_zpsb67bb1f1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo clam2_zpsb67bb1f1.jpg"/></a>

It's under a 150W 10k bulb, about 20" from the lamp to the clam.

Thoughts?

Thx,

Terry

[moliken]

how old is the lighting? what inhabitants are in the tank?

[tleip]

Bulb is about 2 months old, 2 clowns, a coral beauty and 23 RTBAs (but no one seems to bother the clam).

I'll run water test tonight and post most recent values.

Thx,

T

[moliken]

i'd never trust a coral beauty, but the clam doesn't seem to be retreating from any nipping.

[tleip]

I've not seen the coral beauty nipping or even showing interest (or damaged areas), so I'm hoping that isn't the issue.

salinity 1.023
Ca 460
P04 0
ph 8.1-8.2
alk 3.5

unfortunately my nitrate reagent #1 was about out, so no NO2 or N03 reading...

Input and ideas are welcome. :)

Thx,

Terry

[tleip]

N03 is coming in at below 5ppm

[kfisc]

How many hours is the light on?

One guess is that things may be a little dim down there- one light, not high enough intensity, not on long enough.

[tleip]

Almost 15 hours per day. The odd thing is that it moved away from brighter center of the tank to the less well lit edge.

[tleip]

I just discovered a little crab sitting on top of the clam -- i was able to catch him and put him in my sump....not sure if he is an issue, but i'd rather not chance it...

<a href="http://s678.beta.photobucket.com/user/tleip/media/MrCrab_zps725103b1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/tleip/MrCrab_zps725103b1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo MrCrab_zps725103b1.jpg"/></a>

[tleip]

seems to be extending better now that the crab is gone....bumped up my light hours to 17 hours per day

[moliken]

completelystumped. genetically poor clam or bad light--the only things left

[OrionN]

The clams is actually better color from your pictures IMO. The zooxanthallae color is less, thus lighter lines. The color white greenish is more intense so it block out more of the brown under it so you see it as whiter and not darker bodges when you first got it.

IMO, the clam was in poor light prior to you getting it, its color indicated that it got more light now than before. If you see that it is growing, it is fine. In low light, clams spread their mantels out more to gather more light, your clam retracted slightly is normal under brighter light. However, 150 W DE MH for these calms are not bright light for them. They can and like even brighter light.
If the color of this Squamosa is blue instead of greenish white, you see that it is brighter blue. Because of the color is white, you see it as lighter. It is not loosing color. Got it? :)

[tleip]

That makes sense, thanks for the input!

I also bumped up the number of hours of the light being on to almost 18, I'll take another snap in a week and see how it compares.

Thx,

T

[tleip]

I discovered that my return pump was leaking current into the tank, so I've replaced it with a new eheim (and planning to put in a GFI and ground probe). The clam seemed to extend better in just a day or two and seems a tiny bit better color-wise as well after only a few days...unfortunately, it's chosen location by the glass is hard to clean and photograph:

<a href="http://s678.beta.photobucket.com/user/tleip/media/1-19-clam_zpsb6400703.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/vv145/tleip/1-19-clam_zpsb6400703.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 1-19-clam_zpsb6400703.jpg"/></a>

Better or my imagination? :)

Thx,

T

[2004jeepoutlander]

no one has asked how much light he has. Prob why there is gaping on the left side and the clam is overly extended hes reaching for light.

[SantaMonica]

It does look kind of shaded.