I need some Clam help

[rerun151]

First off let me start by saying I'm new to the hobby and spend quite a bit of time on the sight trying to learn. Thanks everyone that makes this sight what it is.

Quick tank history. I was given the tank from a friend who no longer wanted the upkeep...I've had it for about 3 months now. I love the tank and the hobby and really hope to grow in it. It's a Nano cube 24 with an upgraded light to HQI 140w + 2x18w PC...a second power head for flow and I keep the temp in the 79-80 range. I brought my water to the LFS and had it tested and was told everything looked good except my Alk was a little low so I've since added some reef builder alk to the tank.

The tank came with 3 fish all about 1 1/2" big......clown fish, Coral Beauty Angelfish and another Angelfish that is solid black with yellow fins.

7+ hermit crabs
2 turbo snails
5+ other mixed snails

Candy Cane coral
Frogspawn
Button polyp ( I think)
White hard coral (do not know the name)
Some leather coral

I added a what I think is a Maxima clam 3 days ago. It's on the smaller side of things and I thought it would fit fine in my tank. But have had problem ever since adding it. After getting it accumulated to the tank I placed it on some rock towards the bottom of my tank. It opened up a bit and had it's membrane out the first day. Day 2 it shifted a bit and turned and also didn't open up much at all. I believe my black angelfish is picking on him. I've seen him messing with him a few times forcing the clam to close. The shell has also seemed to lighten up a bit and get more white towards the top. But I’m not sure if that is true or something in my head since I have to pic on day 1 to really know if it has changed color. Day 3 and he is still not opening up much and now all of a sudden has fallen over. It appears he had attached himself to the rock and when he fell over it stretched out his "foot" I don't know why he fell over it might have been a hermit crab that walked over him as seen in one of the pics I got moments after it happened. I don't believe it to be a high flow area of the tank so I don‘t think flow did it. So once it fell over it ended up letting go of the rock and than used it’s “foot” to search for another hold. Grab some rock and it seemed like he was trying to pull himself back upright. It rocked a bit but was unable to do it. Plus that dumb Angelfish came by and picked at him forcing himself to pull the “foot” in. So once it seemed like he had given up and ended up picking him up and setting him back where he started.

1.) Did I do the right thing by stepping in and setting him back up?
2.) Should I move him to a more shaded spot of the tank? Is he maybe getting to much light and that is why he is not opening and turning white.
3.) Should I remove the Angelfish I believe to be picking at him and hope he will open up than....this fish also picks at my corals but I hate to get rid of any fish and mess with the balance of my tank. Not to mention Id have to go thru the process of getting a replacement fish for this one.

Pic #1 when he first fell over

[rerun151]

he's let go of the rock and is start searching for a new hold.

[chrischris]

whats your water params

[rerun151]

still trying to pull himself up

[rerun151]

Originally Posted by chrischris

whats your water params

Forgive me but I'm still very new to this hobby. Do you mean where my PH, Alk, Nitrite and Salinity number are at?

I brought my water to the LFS and had them test it and they said everything was good except my ALK was low....I have since added some Reef builder ALK

[rerun151]

Seemed like he pretty much gave up at this point...you can also see the Angelfish that pics on him in the background.

[rerun151]

This is the pic after I picked him up and placed him upright.

[rerun151]

This is a full tank shot. The clam is in the lower left corner of the tank. Sorry for the poor pic quality but once again I'm still learning.

[Jnicho]

If the angel nips at him, that may well be a lot of the problem. Beyond that I would suggest getting a reef test kit. You really need to be able to stay on top of your Ca/Alk/PH etc. to keep the more demanding animals and this is a bit more tricky in a smaller tank as small changes can mean big swings. Really need to know the "numbers" to get a feel if it's a "water" thing or a "nipping" thing.

[rerun151]

I have a full test kit and have used it but the problem I have is that once I get the water in the test tube and mix in the drops than put it up next to the card they give you I can never tell where it's at....I never thought I was color blind but it seems like I have no clue on what numbers they are. Is there any test kits that just spit out digital numbers for ya? It's getting quite late here and I have to work early in the morning but tomorrow I will run all the test and give you my best guess on where all the number are at....or at least take pics and hope you can help me.

[Jnicho]

Originally Posted by rerun151

I have a full test kit and have used it but the problem I have is that once I get the water in the test tube and mix in the drops than put it up next to the card they give you I can never tell where it's at....I never thought I was color blind but it seems like I have no clue on what numbers they are. Is there any test kits that just spit out digital numbers for ya? It's getting quite late here and I have to work early in the morning but tomorrow I will run all the test and give you my best guess on where all the number are at....or at least take pics and hope you can help me.

Man that sux!!! What brand are you using?...I use mostly API and they seem pretty easy to read to me. I have known some people with lower levels of color blindness who find it very hard to differentiate some colors, so maybe that's a factor. I would suggest a digital PH monitor (they can be had for <$30) and the PH test kits are notorious for being hard to read. Beyond that I don't think you can get anything "digital" without spending some big $$$.

[rerun151]

I'm using a Red Sea marine lab like the one found in this link. http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewIt...product=RS3151

Not sure if that is a lower level test kit or not but I think the problem is more on my part with the reading of the kits. I will run all the test this afternoon once I get home from work and do my best to give you all the numbers along with pics of the tests and maybe you could tell me if I'm right.

Well waking up this morning and checking the clam first thing and he seems to be in the same spot as where I left him last night. His shell is cracked open a bit but the membrane is not outby any means. This is under just moon light.

[Wiskey]

I think the Angel picking on him is a huge problem,.. even if a fish only nips at the mantle a couple times a day it's enough for the clam to stay closed up and eventually die.

I would return the clam and get some better test kits,.. the Red Sea Alk test is terrible, and I've never tried any of there other tests. At least when I last tried it the readout was "Normal" "High" "Low" it didn't even give you numbers.

I would look into Salifert kits for Alk, and CA before getting clams, they need these chemicals to build there shells, depending on your tank you may need to supliment them.

Also,.. Angel fish are often bad news for clams, and some for reefs in general,.. I've been told that they pick on both LPS, and Clams,.. You may want to think about returning them.

Whiskey

[rerun151]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to call the LFS and see if they will return him.

[wharyat]

Agreed with whiskey, if your angel is picking at him there is no chance the clam will survive long term.