blue mussels

Question
QUESTION: I have a 55 gal reef tank and have recently introduced blue mussels.  Their shells are turning white.  Has something gone wrong?  All water readings are perfect and otherwise they seem to be healthy (at least as healthy as a mussel can possibly act!).

ANSWER: Hello Kathy,

Can you please give me more info on your tank and system?

How old is it, what kind of other tank critters do yo uhave?  What are hte water conditions, etc...

Also, where did you get the mussel, and how di dyou acclimate it.

I amnot totally familiar with mussels in general, but will try my best bu dealing with the basics, (maybe you already have?).


Hopefully we will come up with something...

I look forward to hearing more info from you and continuing this discussion


Bill

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My tank is an established 55 gallons. Water conditions are perfect (nitrates, nitrites, alkalinity, temp, pH). Plenty of air and current flow.  Added a protein skimmer a week ago.

As far as critters...a clown fish, a lawnmower blenny, 4 turbo snails, 5 nassarius snails, 5 red tipped hermit crabs, 4 blue tipped hermit crabs and 10 blue mussels.  The mussels have been in the tank for a little over a week.

I ordered the mussels from an on-line web site and they can provide me with no answers.  According to their instructions, they were acclimated correctly.

The shells of many of the blue mussels are turning a silvery-white.  All else seems to be fine.

Kathy

Answer
Hello Kathy,  (sorry for the delay.  It was sunday, all day!!!)

You can post hte online source so i can identify the specific type of mussel, as there are quite many different species..

And yea, if you followed online acclimation proceedures then you are definately acclimated well.

If possible I would like to see a picture. You can upload one picture with your message or you can log onto my new forum and upload as many pictures as you like...

(you can also chat live, with me, or anyone else online at the time)

It sounds like it might be a pH problem, not so much problem as a difference in pH.  I would think it may return to normal color over time..

Good luck, and hope to hear more from you again.


bill