No new growth

Mrxia0 · Dec 5, 2018

I’ve had these clams for about 7 months now and haven’t seen any new shell under the mantle and it doesn’t seem as though they are growing at all. Tanks mates are radiant wrasse and bristletooth tang. They seem to be happy and open all the time. Should i not worry about new growth?

Lighting: orphek V4
No3: 1
Po4: 0.01
Salinity 1.026
dKh: 8.6
Ca: 450
Temp is 77.4

Don’t mind the Aiptasia and cyano....it’s an ongoing battle

DSC reef · Dec 5, 2018

New growth is really a good way to know the clam is healthy. Clams can survive a decent amount of time and look healthy without new growth but mantle extension is usually a false sense of security. Typically the clam will start a pretty fast decline that seems to come out of nowhere. Decent light of course is necessary and nutrients in the tank are good to have.

Mrxia0 · Dec 5, 2018

I was carbon dosing and my po4 and no3 were undetectable. About a month ago Ive cut back on the amount of no3po4x added and started dosing KNo3. Whats a good no3 level to shoot for? Is 1 still considered too low of nutrients?

DSC reef · Dec 5, 2018

I always liked to keep between 10-20 ppm. I'm not sure if you need that much but it worked for us. Sometimes clams are in poor health before you get them. Try to keep things stable and plenty of light.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 5, 2018

Is it possible to get pics of the side of the clams shells?

Aptasia photobombs are ok.

jda · Dec 6, 2018

I agree with above. New growth is paramount or else they usually eventually waste away. New shell growth is the only for-sure positive-positive.

Any idea what the PAR is where they are at? I have two larger blue squamosa and they get about 225-250 PAR and grow a few inches a year (and a few pounds). I have a deresa right next to them with the same PAR. They do not need a ton of light, but they do need a competent amount. This particular tank has low (not ultra low) building blocks with nitrogen less than 1 and phosphate around .01... however, I have massive throughput with heavy feedings and heavy export.

I got my first aiptasia about 25 years ago... and I still have them if you look hard enough.

Ongoing battle is about right...

Mrxia0 · Dec 6, 2018

Here’s a couple pictures at night with the mantles retracted. Some what of a side profile

. I can’t get a side picture without taking the clam out.

I’m not exactly sure what par it’s at, I using the orphek Atlantic v4 on the coral color setting 14 inches above the tank and the clam sitting about 10 inches below waterline. I wish par meters weren’t so expensive for something you only use from time to time.

Lol i have an Aiptasia farm underneath the eggcrate....big rock literally covered with Aiptasias....need to find some Berghias

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 6, 2018

Mrxia0 said:
Here’s a couple pictures at night with the mantles retracted. Some what of a side profile . I can’t get a side picture without taking the clam out.

I’m not exactly sure what par it’s at, I using the orphek Atlantic v4 on the coral color setting 14 inches above the tank and the clam sitting about 10 inches below waterline. I wish par meters weren’t so expensive for something you only use from time to time.

Lol i have an Aiptasia farm underneath the eggcrate....big rock literally covered with Aiptasias....need to find some Berghias

That is kinda weird.

Look on the left side of the first clam and the right side of the second. There’s a small lighter band. That’s growth.

Here’s my derasa. It grows like a weed though.

Mrxia0 · Dec 7, 2018

That’s awesome growth right there. Do you use two part or calcium reactor? I was using two part and had great growth on my old squamosas but I lost them due to an alk spike (16). I now use a calcium reactor and have yet to see growth that I had with 2 part and that includes sps

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 7, 2018

With a reactor? Really ?

Yes I’m on two part. Alk of 8.
That derasa was actually 2” and my squammy close to four was I got it. The derasa is bigger than the squammy now.

I’ve alwas seen the best overall results with a reactor. Esp with acros.
It might be with looking at other factors. I don’t know about the actual results of lower light or poor spectrum with clam growth , but I def know waht it does to acro.

My clams are at 140-180 in that sand for 6 hrs and a 12+ ramp w led. SBreeflight B.B.

Mrxia0 · Dec 7, 2018

Really thinking about it, I did change some other variables. I went from 2 kessil 160we tuna blues with t5 supplement to the orphek v4 and went from dosing vinegar to dosing Red Sea no3po4x. I’m curious to know if the Red Sea dropped the nutrients to low. I never tested for nutrients when I dosed vinegar

Tamberav · Dec 9, 2018

If you put down a big fat deposit...you can rent a par meter for 30 dollars for 30 days from nextlight. They called me to ask me if it was for aquariums or plants and sent a full spectrum par meter that works with LEDs. I am about to ship it back monday for my refund. They pay return postage (sent a lable with in the box to slap on and return).

Just a thought if you want to check out your par.

Mrxia0 · Mar 12, 2019

I love clams but they are just so hard. Not even sure why these died. There was definitely new growth coming in

Mrxia0 · Mar 12, 2019

I’ve taken all the fish out months ago too thinking they were irritating it

DSC reef · Mar 12, 2019

I see some severe mantle bleaching. Could be from the clam dying, over/under illumination or possibly a bacteria/protozoa issue. Sorry for the loss.

Mrxia0 · Mar 12, 2019

You think the orphek are too much? Light is 16 inches above water and clam is like 15 inches under water level. 100 percent on all channels for a few hours

Mrxia0 · Mar 12, 2019

No more clams till I get par meter. Water quality were always in range with no large fluctuations.

McFly · Mar 12, 2019

I watched a youtube guy tour some aquaculture clam farms and they were all growing out in shallow pools with sun light. The PAR value had to be huge.

I keep my clam up high and it grows very fast.

DSC reef · Mar 12, 2019

Mrxia0 said:
You think the orphek are too much? Light is 16 inches above water and clam is like 15 inches under water level. 100 percent on all channels for a few hours

I don't think so IMO