Feeding a maxima clam and corkscrew gorgonias!

[rosieosieee]

So i'm reading up on the best food for my 2.5" clam and two corkscrew gorgonias!

So far, i'm finding that the best way is to remove the clam into a bucket with tank water and phyto and let it filter it out.

Will phytofeast, reef roids, and cylopeeze be sufficient for the gorgonias?

 

[hart24601]

Just feed the gorgs with what you have planned and leave the clam alone. They don't need extra feelings aside from strong light and disturbing it isn't good. If it wants it could filter the food out of the tank the gorgs don't eat (phyto), but spot feeding clams, especially maximas is no longer done as research has shown its not needed.

 

[hart24601]

Btw those shots are great. I always wanted a spiral. Very cool and a great looking clam.

 

[haleyf1024]

I would personally spot feed my clam, but in the tank. I would just use a turkey baster and blast him with DTs (phyto) and same with the corkscrew, maybe adding in some baby brine like I do for my blueberry gorg. Then whatever floats away they can just filter out of the water

 

[bsagea]

Never spot feed a clam! You will suffocate it. Spot feeding your gorgonions is fine and the clam will filter the excess on it's own. Main source of food for your clams is your lighting. They will also remove nitrates from your tank if you have any.

 

[rosieosieee]

ok awesome, thanks guys! sounds like heavy target feeding the gorgs and letting the clam clean up after is best.

my nitrates and phosphates are pretty low (trace) so I was thinking about letting them raise a bit.

 

[hart24601]

Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna maxima ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

Should be about all you need to know on your pretty maxima.

 

[rosieosieee]

Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna maxima ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

Should be about all you need to know on your pretty maxima.

sweet thank you!

 

[hart24601]

Keep us updated on both! I have always wanted a corkscrew. How big is the clam?

 

[rosieosieee]

Keep us updated on both! I have always wanted a corkscrew. How big is the clam?

I definitely will! I found this article which was very helpful as well: http://reefbuilders.com/2012/11/13/cirrhipathes-wire-corals/

second question: does light matter with them even though they're NPS? the yellow one is placed lower and has much more polyp extension than the orange one which is a bit higher. Although, I did drop super glue on the orange one when I was placing it so it still might be recovering from that :/

the clam is about 2.5"!

here is my tank build if you'd like to follow, I update it the most: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/nano-reefs/184025-innovative-marine-nuvo-8-build.html

 

[hart24601]

Bump, anyone have more experience with NPS corals?

 

[rosieosieee]

bump! help me out with these wire corals! what's your experience?

 

[rosieosieee]

update! haven't found the orange ones sweet spot so I moved it next to the yellow. I've been feeding every other day with Rods food.

 

[hart24601]

How is the clam doing? Lots of new growth?

 

[rosieosieee]

great! the top of his shell is white and looks new so I think! it's hard to tell if he's bigger since I see him everyday.

 

[hart24601]

Fantastic!! Always fun to see happy updates. Clam looks great, nice job.

 

[rosieosieee]

Fantastic!! Always fun to see happy updates. Clam looks great, nice job.

thanks! I'll actually be acquiring another one this week haha. my friend bought one but his wrasse keeps picking at it ): I have no more room on my sandbed so he'll have to go in the rocks somewhere!

 

[hart24601]

Nice. Just qt if you can. Clams seem to carry a lot of things from infections to protozoan that can infect and kill other clams quickly. I don't qt anything anymore except clams. I know I'm naughty for not qt fish (I used to), but have never had issues and don't plan on adding any more fish. But clams I always do now. I had a sick one from divers den, Ora clam, and it wiped out all of them I had from some disease that made them bleach and expel mucus. I even tired to treat my big derasa in a hospital tank with various antibiotics used for nems, but it didn't work.

I understand if you don't, it's a pain, but worth it for clams imo.

 

[rosieosieee]

Nice. Just qt if you can. Clams seem to carry a lot of things from infections to protozoan that can infect and kill other clams quickly. I don't qt anything anymore except clams. I know I'm naughty for not qt fish (I used to), but have never had issues and don't plan on adding any more fish. But clams I always do now. I had a sick one from divers den, Ora clam, and it wiped out all of them I had from some disease that made them bleach and expel mucus. I even tired to treat my big derasa in a hospital tank with various antibiotics used for nems, but it didn't work.

I understand if you don't, it's a pain, but worth it for clams imo.

I do have a frag tank, I'm just not sure the light will be sufficient. it's a Ecoxotic panorama RGB 100% over a 5.5g. how long would you recommend and what should I look for?

 

[hart24601]

Hmmmm. I'm not sure about the light either. That is the pain of clam qt, but at least you can put the light close to the water for maximum power unlike a display many times.

I look for obvious things like snails, but what I really look for is either new shell growth, or since they are the only thing in there, is for the alk to drop. Generally speaking of the alk drops they are growing and healthy - that of course depends on if there is enough light too. I just use my old display water from a waterchange for the qt.

Can your friend cover it at all so the wrasse can't pick on it for a while so you can watch it closely? Have they had it a while?