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-   -   Whats wrong with my Clams? (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=83647)

sphelps 03-01-2012 04:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688160)
And honestly 50 gallon water changes is not something I can do
Why not?

Proteus 03-01-2012 05:02 PM
If not then sell me your clams. I'll give u 20 bucks being there damaged and all

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:06 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 688166)
Why not?
Because I have jobs. I can't be sitting at home doing a 50 gallon water change daily.

Aquattro 03-01-2012 05:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688172)
Because I have jobs. I can't be sitting at home doing a 50 gallon water change daily.
Why would you do a 50g water change daily?

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus99 (Post 688170)
If not then sell me your clams. I'll give u 20 bucks being there damaged and all
No thanks

Proteus 03-01-2012 05:09 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688172)
Because I have jobs. I can't be sitting at home doing a 50 gallon water change daily.
How bout weekly

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:09 PM
50 gallons is 20 percent

Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 688146)
Your previous posts suggested the change was done prior to the clams acting up, hence my previous assumption. Keep in mind a 10% change after 6 months won't have much effect, you can't rule out this issue from that. You can search day and night for some mysterious predator but clams don't have the ability to reason, it's not closing up all day because it's more likely to be attacked then. Clams sense light and touch, they close up temporarily with sudden changes in those senses. The clams are stressed making them more sensitive to light is all.

My honest guess is months of neglect among other things. It was probably a combination of things from the tank being fairly new to a dramatic light change and then the constant downfall of water chemistry from lack of maintenance. In the end the clams have finally had enough and are showing signs of stress which may or may not be reversible. Your best shot is to eliminate the more potential issues with IMO doesn't include moving them or building cages. First check for pyramid snails, these are really the only predator that could cause such issues, if you have them they are easily spotted on the clams foot. Daily water changes of around 20% for the next week or so should slowly bring up strontium, iodine and anything else they require. Calcium and Alkalinity should be careful monitored and even verified to be certain readings are accurate. The water movement around the clams should be moderate and indirect in enhance their ability to feed. Cutting your light back might also aid in recovery as well removing any aggressive type of chemical filtration. Finally I would try intermittent skimming and dosing a small amount of phytoplankton.

sphelps 03-01-2012 05:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688172)
Because I have jobs. I can't be sitting at home doing a 50 gallon water change daily.
You're looking at less than an hour a day for one week. You probably spend more time on this site complaining about spelling. You'll also spend more time trying to capture imaginary fish in the act. It's becoming more clear you're just looking for the easiest answer which I think is selling the clams, I'd take the offer, I'd never pay that for half dead clams.

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:17 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 688178)
You're looking at less than an hour a day for one week. You probably spend more time on this site complaining about spelling. You'll also spend more time trying to capture imaginary fish in the act. It's becoming more clear you're just looking for the easiest answer which I think is selling the clams, I'd take the offer, I'd never pay that for half dead clams.
Well aren't you just a know it all. Thanks for the advice.

Proteus 03-01-2012 05:20 PM
Well the reality is that this is a hobby we choose and in doing so you accept a responsibility to these animal we keep. Like parenting we would not say we don't have time.
Sufficient advise has been given now the balls in your court

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus99 (Post 688181)
Well the reality is that this is a hobby we choose and in doing so you accept a responsibility to these animal we keep. Like parenting we would not say we don't have time.
Sufficient advise has been given now the balls in your court
Just because I don't adopt your technique of doing weekly water changes doesn't mean I dont care about the live stock I keep. I spent money on it and I intend to keep it alive. Doing 50 gallon water changes daily for a week is not realistic for me, for more reasons than just the time commitment.

Lol and no I don't think keeping fish is not like parenting a human child.

Proteus 03-01-2012 05:38 PM
I don't agree with daily but def bi weekly

Aquattro 03-01-2012 05:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 688178)
You're looking at less than an hour a day for one week. You probably spend more time on this site complaining about spelling. You'll also spend more time trying to capture imaginary fish in the act. It's becoming more clear you're just looking for the easiest answer which I think is selling the clams, I'd take the offer, I'd never pay that for half dead clams.
Ding, we have a winner! :)

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:44 PM
I've had the tank setup for a year now without doing regular water changes.

I've got no problem keeping any corals or fish.

My sps grow faster than I ever expected.

None of my corals are showing any signs of there being anything wrong with the water quality or perameters.

Proteus 03-01-2012 05:47 PM
20 bucks is a small price to pay if they do die my Cbb will have a full belly

sphelps 03-01-2012 05:50 PM
Keep in mind the daily is only temporary. The tank hasn't seen any changes for 6 months so in a sense it's like you're dealing with a contamination except it's a lack off rather than excess. The fastest way to correct such issues is large water changes however doing too much too quickly can have negative effects hence 20% daily for a week sounds about right to me. However the other options include 10% daily for longer or larger changes like 40-50% once a week.

In all honesty performing water changes shouldn't be difficult, if 50 gallons is too much for you too handle a smaller tank would have been more piratical. You're essentially setting yourself up for failure as I would assume your goal is to fully stock that tank. 250 gallons of healthy livestock is a huge investment in both time and money, what would happen if down the road something happened? Like say your clams all spawned (assuming you'll have more than two by then). Not being able to change large amounts of water quickly will cost you your tank.

MarkoD 03-01-2012 05:55 PM
So be it. If I fail and everything does then I'll have an expensive fowlr and I'll get myself a clown trigger.

I really don't want a lecture. I set this tank up the way I think works best for me and that's it. Whether you think it's right or wrong doesn't concern me.

Proteus 03-01-2012 05:56 PM
I have a 35 gall w a 10 gal sump if you want. Lol

sphelps 03-01-2012 05:57 PM
Then don't ask for help or peoples opinions cause obviously everything is just fine in your mind.

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 688202)
Then don't ask for help or peoples opinions cause obviously everything is just fine in your mind.
Ok have a nice day

Proteus 03-01-2012 06:18 PM
You ever thought about trying goldfish

blacknife 03-01-2012 06:21 PM
Even goldfish do better with regular water changes.

jorjef 03-01-2012 06:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688198)
So be it. If I fail and everything does then I'll have an expensive fowlr and I'll get myself a clown trigger.

I really don't want a lecture. I set this tank up the way I think works best for me and that's it. Whether you think it's right or wrong doesn't concern me.

Holy doodles don't be so stubborn! You're getting some pretty sound advise. You don't need to take it word for word but to do nothing is a sure recipe for the clams to die.....

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:28 PM
Suggestions would be welcome if someone knew what the issue was.
I was expecting someone to know why they're closed and then offer a solution.

Not offer 5 different solutions to be done at once.

So I'm going to do them one at a time and first I'm going to try and rule out a fish picking at it.

I just find it hard to believe that these clams are fine for 6+ months and then one day they just decide its no longer good enough at the same time. While nothing else in the tank is effected

Proteus 03-01-2012 06:30 PM
Anyone who mistreats their pets buy not meeting the minimal standards to support life should not be keeping them

And yes clams are pets

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:32 PM
The reason I chose a large tank with a large water volume is to eliminate drastic swings and water changes. Water conditions don't change at the snap of a finger. If the water conditions were deteriorating, it would be a gradual process and I would have noticed it.

Proteus 03-01-2012 06:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688219)
I just find it hard to believe that these clams are fine for 6+ months and then one day they just decide its no longer good enough at the same time. While nothing else in the tank is effected
Clams are not coral or fish

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:34 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus99 (Post 688221)
Anyone who mistreats their pets buy not meeting the minimal standards to support life should not be keeping them

And yes clams are pets
And who are you to say I am mistreating my pets and not providing minimal standards to support life? You know nothing about what I do with my tank and the extents I go to to maintain my tank.

sphelps 03-01-2012 06:36 PM
OK Mark lets examine the plausibility of fish picking on them. First what fish do you have in the tank?

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:37 PM
From first page

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 687920)
tank is a year old.

fish:
regal tang
black shoulder tang
powder brown tang
foxface rabbitfish
solaris wrasse
cleaner wrasse
mystery wrasse
mandarin goby pair
clarki clown pair

the only fish i ever seen picking at the clams is the clearner wrasse, but i double he's doing any harm

Proteus 03-01-2012 06:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688224)
And who are you to say I am mistreating my pets and not providing minimal standards to support life? You know nothing about what I do with my tank and the extents I go to to maintain my tank.
Last I checked no waterchange and clams are dying

I've wasted enough time on this thread. Enough time to do a waterchange

Chow

sphelps 03-01-2012 06:40 PM
Cleaner wrasses are known to be problematic with clams. Too bad I didn't notice that earlier.

Flash 03-01-2012 06:43 PM
fox face
cleaner wrasse
and your mystery wrasse

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:44 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus99 (Post 688229)
Last I checked no waterchange and clams are dying

I've wasted enough time on this thread. Enough time to do a waterchange

Chow
Yeah well i have a job and I'm at work. I don't have the luxury to just get up off the computer and go do a water change.

I don't understand why you guys can't accept the fact that a tank can work without frequent water changes. Maybe it's time to think outside of the box and accept alternative methods. I strongly believe that water perameters are not the cause of my clam problems. Because the problem arose overnight and wasn't gradual

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 688230)
Cleaner wrasses are known to be problematic with clams. Too bad I didn't notice that earlier.
Lol thats what the discussion was with trying to figure something out to cover the clams so that the cleaner wrasse couldn't swim through

sphelps 03-01-2012 06:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688234)
Lol thats what the discussion was with trying to figure something out to cover the clams so that the cleaner wrasse couldn't swim through
Yeap I see that now, I just never noticed any reference to a cleaner wrasse before. All your other fish are not known for clam picking. I don't think a cage is the answer though, you'll have to ultimately choose between clams and the wrasse, if he eats well catching him and putting him in the sump might be a good temporary option.

reefgirl189 03-01-2012 06:52 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkoD (Post 688234)
Lol thats what the discussion was with trying to figure something out to cover the clams so that the cleaner wrasse couldn't swim through
This might be an odd idea but could you get a pasta strainer to place over them? You'd proably need to weigh it down with a rock or something. OR maybe try lining the inside of a strawberry basket with some patio door screening.

I think because the change was indeed so drastic that it's more likely one of your fish has developed a sudden taste for the clams.

I do think they could benefit from a large WC though... even if you can only do 10 gallons a day for a week or so it may help. It certainly couldn't hurt anything anyway...

MarkoD 03-01-2012 06:53 PM
Luckily it's the dumbest fish I have. It swims right into the trap at the first sight of food. I'm gonna take it out and put it in the fuge to see if there's any change

naesco 03-01-2012 07:48 PM
Looked at your fish list.
Didn't you have a moorish idol?
If so where is it?

TimT 03-01-2012 07:50 PM
Catching the cleaner wrasse is a good idea. While your at the cleaner wrasse keep an eye on the foxface. I have had them nibble clams mantles in the past. I once had a rabbitfish that ate Xenia as well.


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