new clam not opening

[becketd]

yesterday i bought 2 clams from a lfs that was unfortunatley going out of biz..at the time they looked great and closed down when i waved my hand over them....so anyway when i got them home i acclimated them with the drip method over 30 to 40 mins...once in the tank they both opened but one more then the other...i would say 80 and 60 percent respectively...anyway they are under 250 mh with 220 watts vhos...so i fig plenty of light...well this morning the one clam that opened 60 percent fell off the rock and closed completely...i placed him in a more secure spot but so far he hasnt opened up...the other is completely open...im hoping it will just take a couple of days for the one that took a dive to open....what do you guys think

[tpenn187]

what kind of lighting were they under when they were at the lfs. light aclimation could be just as important. it could have jumped off because there is too much light right now. place them somewehre lower and slowly move up.

[tpenn187]

oh yea pics would help.

[becketd]

i have them under 250 mh....10k...at the store they were under the same.....and i only had them under them for about 3 hrs...so i dont think thats the prob....i just got done checking on it and its totally closed up..well theres about an 1/8 inch opening...but i can see totally thru to the bottom...as i said im new at raising clams but from what i understand that can be natural...right....the foot isnt always down and they can pull that....maybe im totally wrong and thats a very bad sign..thats why i ask rc...dont have pics not even sure how people do that...because some of the photos people post are perfect....ill take advice on that too...lol...

[a4twenty]

sounds like something is bothering him, can you list all your fish? and all your water params?

[skinz78]

What are you water parameters? What fish do you have? How old is your tank? What kind of clams are they?

You are right about the byssal opening. Some times you can see right out the hole, this is normal.

My guess is that you are worring too soon. Place the clam in the sand for a day or two and see how it does.

As for taking good pic's, I can't give any advice as I suck at it.

[becketd]

tanks over a 1ry old...one blue and one purple tang...one six line, one clown and two anthis...i havent seen any of them pick on either clam...they actually arent paying any attention to them...i turned of the MHs to see if that might change things....vhos are still on...ive seen a couple posts where people say their clam is opening at night...and it actually did open up..however its mantle is totally pulled back...and doesnt respond when i wave my hand over it...prob too weak at this point...but i havent noticed my snails and crabs go into attack mode so its got to be alive for the time being...unfortunatly i dont think it will be much longer...do you think putting it in the sand will help vs having it up on a flat rock...i hesitate to bother it anymore then it already is...

[becketd]

add info...tested the other day..calc was ok ..around 400....alk was a little low but i added some baking soda to correct that prob....ive been battling a huge algae outbreak over the last 3 to 4 months but actually in the last month about as fast as it came the algea has left....so i fig my no3s and phos are ok..maybe a little higher then i would like...but ok...i have a 90 gall with a 40 ref...and did a 5 gal water chage today...very minimal if you ask me...and i did it becuase it was schedualed not becuase i of the clam....i really didnt want to bother it anymore then turning it upright..i can believe how delicate these things are..youd think with a hard shell it would be a little heartier species..i guess not true...

[a4twenty]

Originally posted by becketd
....alk was a little low but i added some baking soda to correct that prob....

how much, how when and where did you add it?

[becketd]

5 gallons to the sump.....not even 5 percent water change when you consider the sump....

[a4twenty]

Originally posted by becketd
5 gallons to the sump.....not even 5 percent water change when you consider the sump....

not the water change, the baking soda