How long to wait before trying a new position for a clam?

[Ocelaris]

Just got two new clams, and I have a good spot for the maxima near the top but there's a lot of random flow as it's a mainly sps system. How many days should I give the clam to adjust?

There isn't much room for it to move or fall, which is why I like the spot, but it also can't move itself either, so wondering how long to wait and what to look for.

Thanks

 

[Tahoe61]

Lighting type and intensity if you're using LED?
Please post image of placement if possible.

 

[Ocelaris]

Here's a shot of the full tank, and where the clam is resting. I have all the wave makers on gyre, so nothing steady on the clam and aimed away from it. Thanks!

 

[Ocelaris]

Sorry, meant to post the lighting. It's a 6x 80w ati t5 fixture. I had to raise it for the sps as it was bleaching, but I moved it down a tad for the clam. It's a 60x18x24 (LxDxH). Thanks

 

[DeniseAndy]

Biggest thing I have found with Maximas (most clams, but especially maximas) they hate being moved. The will move themselves if needed (young enough) and if you continue to move them, they will die on you. Picky little buggers.

So, if you find a place that is safe (it will not fall), has good light and space to grow, it should be fine. Just do not more it. Although, yours looks to be maybe 3-4"? It can handle a bit more movement than the babies at 1-3". I had to move my maxima to a new tank after my new fish decided to show too much interest and it is doing great. Moved from 210g MH and T5 lights to40g only t5s. On the bottom and fine.

Good luck!

 

[Tahoe61]

Beautiful tank!

Hard to see from the image but is the clam able to completely open, you do not want to wedge clams.

Has the clam remained partially closed since purchase?

The lighting is more than sufficient, if it were me I would place the clam on the bottom. Any healthy clam I introduced was fully open the same day or the next.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

Would be best to pick a spot that look good to you and also good for the clam and see how its react, small maxi will try to attach to the hard surface very fast and pretty much stay there, if you want to move it later then should place it on a clam holder or some flat rock so you don't need to cut the byssal thread everytime.
* I would not place the clam at the spot you have it now, because you can't see the beauty of it mantle when its fully open, it's look better on the bottom or at least a right angle to see it full mantle.

 

[Ocelaris]

Thanks, I was worried about the light being strong enough at the bottom with a 24 inch deep tank. But I can grow sps near the bottom just fine, so maybe I'll try down there. It is a bit tight in there, so maybe it just doesn't have room to fully open up.

Neither the maxima or squamosa have really fully opened since I got them. They had about 40 hours in transit and the maxima had lost all of it's water. So I'm hoping they're still getting used to the tank and inhabitants. Nobody is bothering them, but there is plenty of fish movement.

I could shift around some of my lps garden I suppose. They're both on clam hammocks, but haven't started to attach yet.

Would they be fine way down on the end of the tank at the bottom? Here's two shots, one is from eye level, and the other is the far side where it's very calm water for my big lps.

Beautiful tank!

Hard to see from the image but is the clam able to completely open, you do not want to wedge clams.

Has the clam remained partially closed since purchase?

The lighting is more than sufficient, if it were me I would place the clam on the bottom. Any healthy clam I introduced was fully open the same day or the next.

 

[Ocelaris]

I moved them to the LPS garden, but wouldn't you know I found another 2 aptasia on the maxima. Glued those suckers, hopefully no more pop up. Also the lawnmower blend decided to have a couple of nibbles on the shell, and then the mantle. I don't think they normally bother clams, but he basically trys to eat anything in the tank at least once.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

You should monitor that Blenny closely, there are mix reports Blenny nipping the clam to death and some just don't bother it if well fed. I passed the Starry Blenny, Leopard Sailfin Blenny just for the safety reason.

 

[Ocelaris]

You should monitor that Blenny closely, there are mix reports Blenny nipping the clam to death and some just don't bother it if well fed. I passed the Starry Blenny, Leopard Sailfin Blenny just for the safety reason.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out. I've had the blenny forever, so hate to see him go, but I have a fish trap if he keeps it up!

 

[Tahoe61]

Ooooo, nice Squamosa!

Where did you get those clams?

Again beautiful tank.

 

[Shigshwa]

Awesome. Give it a week to get settled in, it'll open up more day by day if it's not sick. Watch the mouth for gaping. If it gapes for that first week, then that's normal. If it keeps gaping for weeks, then I'd be weary of insufficient light. Those blue Maximas need to be hit with light rather hard versus their browner cousins. Light starvation is a silent killer with subtle symptoms before it becomes too late to save it.

Attaching is also a good sign of being happy at its spot. If it does not attach after say.. a week, I'd try to move it back up to that piece of rock. If it kicks itself off and flips over, that also means that it wants to move. My blue Squamosa arrived very healthy, and attached within hours after settling into the tank, placed at a rather light intense spot.

 

[Ocelaris]

Ooooo, nice Squamosa!

Where did you get those clams?

Again beautiful tank.

Thanks, they're from Austin aqua farms. I had to jump on the blue squamosa.

 

[Donovan Joannes]

Wrong section.... Sorry

 

[Ocelaris]

Trap is set for Benny the blenny. Neither is really opened significantly, so hoping he takes the bait soon so they can start recuperating. It's not a constant harassment, but enough that I'm not taking any chances.

 

[jda]

I would move the clam up. They can handle more light than you know and can even digest extra zoox. 6x80 T5 is not too much light for them.

 

[Ocelaris]

And the trouble child has been caught. I hate to see him go, but I can't have him harassing the clams. The maxima is opening further and further, and now that the fish trap is gone I can fix the flow issues that it was causing.

 

[DSC reef]

I'd wait until they open more before moving the clam up. Even though they can take a lot of light I'd still acclimate. That light is sufficient enough to keep them on the bottom.

 

[Ocelaris]

I'd wait until they open more before moving the clam up. Even though they can take a lot of light I'd still acclimate. That light is sufficient enough to keep them on the bottom.

Thanks, yeah, with getting harassed every once in a while they've stayed fairly closed. So we'll see how how they do in the next few days. Honestly if they'd be fine down there I'd keep them there, save space up top for the sps!