Clam Bleaching

[timClement]

I have three T. crocea in a newly established 180g tank. I came home this evening to find one of the clams significantly paler than yesterday, and getting worse over the last few hours. Refering to Daniel Knop's book on clams, it appears to be a case of generalized bleaching. Knop suggests that the cause of such a bleaching is the lack of nitrogen in the tank. I measure my nitrate levels to be about 0.5 ppm.

Any ideas on what I should do?

Thanks

Tim

I'm not exactly sure how to post pictures, but if it works, here is the clam now:

and here it is a couple of days ago:

(I have these on ImageStation, which is really slow tonight, so if you don't see the pics, it could be that or I could be doing something wrong)

 

[timClement]

I'll try again with the pics...

Before:

Now:

 

[Anonymous]

if you have the images on your hard drive, you can post them directly using the 'add attachment' feature at the bottom of the posting page :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

feed the crap out of the tank, that's what I did when I had something similar happin, the color did come back.

 

[Philippe Dor]

add iron chelate, you can get this from stores selling fertilisers or hydroponic stuff., and please don't delay.

 

[aliendomain]

Croceas also like allot of light, I have mine near the top of the rock work under MHs and VHOs.

 

[damicodric]

tim,

if i were a betting man and i am not, i would put money on lighting being your problem, not to mention the overall "newness" of your tank.

he needs halides and he needs to be up high.

they are photosynthetic; feeding is anecdotal.

good luck with him.