Crocea is sick, help!

Sun-n-Fun · 10-01-2007, 06:31 PM

I purchased a crocea clam on Sept. 19th and everything has been fine. He moved around for the first day, then seemed to settle in to a spot very close to the top and sat there ever since. I have a 150 gallon acryllic with an 8 bulb T5 light fixture with the geisman individual reflectors. I've been target feeding phytoplankton every other day. Two days ago, I cleaned the bulbs and the shield for the light fixture (after reading Whiskey's thread on his T5 lighting) and there was a noticeable increase in the light intensity. That also seems to coincide with the downturn of my clam. Is it possible it's suddently too bright? He has very poor mantle extensions and barely responds to movement now. Prior to two days ago, he has had excellent mantle extension and great reaction to movement. My water parameters are good I think, I measure them weekly and they are consistently:

78 degree F
pH of 8.2
1.024-1.025 salinity
0 ammonia
0 nitrite
0 nitrate
calcium between 360-380 (I know, it is preferred higher, but I've read over 350 is acceptable)

I don't see any parasites on him. Any suggestions? Should I increase his phyto feeding while he's apparently sick? Should I provide longer lighting, move him? Any help appreciated.

Wiskey · 10-01-2007, 06:56 PM

I would not feed Phyto.

How big is this Clam? Is he attached to his rock?

What is your Alk level?

how does he look at night?

Is the whole mantle in? Or just a part of it?

Can you get a pic?

Whiskey

ChrisPrusha · 10-01-2007, 09:13 PM

Phyto can really muck up your tank. Are you sure your nitrate test is reading zero?

Sun-n-Fun · 10-01-2007, 09:35 PM

Ok, here is what he looked like as recently as Sept. 29th (ironic that I just took some pictures) - then two photos I just took a few minutes ago (the coloration is quite different in the one photo only because of the use of the flash, his coloration has not really changed, but you can see the detail better.

I'm positive my nitrates are zero. I have a 6" dsb in the display and an additional dsb in my refugium. I test for nitrates weekly religiously. I've been spot feeding all my corals phyto every other day - I switch between Phytoplan from Two Little Fishies and Ocean Nutrition Coral Food

It has also occurred to me, and this may be the more imporant thing, the other thing I did two days ago was dose my tank with "Stress Zyme" from API. This is "bacteria in a bottle" - and it says, "Continuous use of Stress Zyme will help keep the gravel bed clean and gree of organics" - could this have possibly killed some of the Zooxanthellae in the clam?

Sun-n-Fun · 10-01-2007, 09:36 PM

The clam is about 4" and no, it is not attached to the rock.

Casey · 10-01-2007, 09:45 PM

stop with the stress zyme that stuff does no good for clams and stop the phyto for now.

Sun-n-Fun · 10-01-2007, 09:54 PM

I forgot to answer the alkalinity question - it has been between 3.5 and 4.5 meq/L since July - on Sept 30 it was 3.5 and on Sept 23 it was 4.0.

That was the first and only time I've ever dosed the Stress Zyme.

I thought the clams needed phyto as a supplement - from what I've read they can't get enough from the light when they are small and are supposed to be supplemented phyto.

I had tested calcium and it was 360, I dosed a little calcium to boost it up to 380 on Saturday as well.

How bad does he look to you guys?

Casey · 10-01-2007, 10:01 PM

He looks pretty bad to me, clams 3" and up dont need phyto just the small clams do.

Sun-n-Fun · 10-01-2007, 10:03 PM

Do you think it would be a good idea to extend the light cycle? Give him more hours of high intensity light to help his recovery?

Casey · 10-01-2007, 10:09 PM

no it could stress him more stick to your normal light cycle and hope for the best.

jenajet · 10-01-2007, 10:16 PM

Have you checked for pyrimid snails? under the clam and around the mantle area?

Sun-n-Fun · 10-01-2007, 10:24 PM

There are little pods running around on him and in him - but they're the same pods I purchased from IPSF and grew in my refugium. There is nothing else that looks like a snail or any other parasite except the little pods.

What is he supposed to look like on the bottom? I've never looked at a clam from the bottom, but right now, it's basically a big hole.

steamboatwv · 10-02-2007, 11:44 AM

in the 2 newest pic it looks like you have cyano bact. with bubbles all over it, ya may wanna blow that off away from it also.

ChrisPrusha · 10-02-2007, 12:43 PM

You have a big hole underneath? Is the foot still attached?

Wiskey · 10-02-2007, 12:52 PM

I'm sorry to say it but by those pictures he really doesn't look good

Is he attached to his rock? If so he probably has a chance, if not then my hopes are not high

If it were me I would probably try a Fresh Water Dip as a last ditch effort since he's already been like this a few days,..

Whiskey