Not sure what to call this thread

Discussion in 'Clams' started by erik, Nov 2, 2012.

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  1. erik

    erik Spaghetti Worm

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    So this question is purely out of curiosity. I noticed this in my tank shortly after I got it (it is my first one, had it for almost 2 years) but particularly lately. I recently purchased a clam, and while doing a water change noticed that from the top of my tank looking down on the top of it, it is a nice gold color fading to purple/blue in the middle of its mantle. However, from the front of my tank, it appears to be more of a green/gray. I noticed before that my corals all look a little different when viewed from these different perspectives, but it is especially obvious in my clam. So my first though was that it was perhaps the angle that I was viewing the clam that was making it look so different, so i rearranged it into a more horizontal position so that from the front of the tank, I was looking directly towards the mantle and from the top of the tank i was looking down on the side, but the colors did not change. I was just wondering has anyone else noticed this in their tanks or am i just losing it? does any one know what causes this? TIA ;D
     
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  3. oyf709

    oyf709 Bristle Worm

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    I think it is more to do with how light reflect and redirect off the object in your tank.
     
  4. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Light refraction?
     
  5. erik

    erik Spaghetti Worm

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    well yeah i figured but i was sort of looking for a more in depth answer, although i realize that might be sort of difficult
     
  6. Reef Breeders

    Reef Breeders 3reef Sponsor

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    The glass has a green tint, and changes colors
     
  7. bendel

    bendel Plankton

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    It is just anisotropic reflection. Depending on the angle, different colors are reflected better. Like with a bad LCD Display.
     
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  9. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    Aside from the light being reflected differently, the top down view will give you more of the true color because the photon is reflected back almost directly as opposed to +/- 90 degrees. Most acropora and clams will produce chromoprotiens on the top of their branches as a form of "sunscreen" and these are the bright colors that are reflected from top down viewing.
     
  10. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Moved to ------ Clams


    The vast difference in clam coloration when viewed from above it what makes shallow rimless tank the bomb for keeping clams in.