Stringy "Poop" from outcurrent - experiences??

[Peabody]

Hi all

I have had a 4 inch squamosa for 2 months, and 2 baby (1 1/2 - 2 inch) Ultra Maxes for 2 weeks. Lighting was recently upgraded (pre maximas) to a coralife 175 watt 6500k and Coralife 55 watt Actinic 03 PCs. MH is on for 7 1/2 hours with 45 minutes of Actinic before and after. (I acclimated the new lights by slowly lowering then and upping the photo period - again, pre maximas) The clams are a little more than 14 inches under the lights and off center from the line of fire of the MH. (water params all great)

When I just had the squamosa and fed DTs I noticed brown stringy "poop" coming out of the outcurrent. Since I got the babys I stepped up the DTs and "bowl feed" them every 2 or 3 days. Now the one max and and squamosa are taking big poops on a regular basis.

I've heard some people say this could be excess zooxanthalle? Too much light? Even in my case? I was thinking it's poop from heavy feeding. After all, they do eat, so they have to poop, don't they!

Please share your experiences and observations with me on this. I want only the best for my clams. I have a "gut feeling" that it's poop but just want to make sure it's not a problem with lighting or something else. If it is expelling zooxanthalle it would be from too much light, right? Should I try to move them further laterally from the light?

Thanks a bunch!
Jeff Rogers

[nvert]

hehehehehe...never thought of it as poop, but yes, clams regulate thier zooxanthalle and this does look like what you said it was.

[Peabody]

If they are regulating their zooxanthalle, should I take it as a sign that I need to adjust their position to the lights, or is it ok? I was assuming it was more excrement of the DT's than expulsion of Zoo.

[hcp28]

I would think it was a result of your recent light change. As long as their mantles are still expanded and they are not trying to move, ie. unsettleing from their original positions I think just waiting for them to adjust is the best idea. HTH

Henry

[Peabody]

Well, mantle extension is AWESOME, and they're not moving anywhere, so....

[nvert]

be patient while they acclimate. it took my crocea almost a month before he settled in. clams don't likel being moved around all the time.