Maxima clam questions

[Andresnyc93]

Hello everyone,

tank parameters and stability finally allow me to get a clam and keep them happy/growing.
For those that are keeping maxima’s:
1) which foot support/bed did you go with?
2) where’d you place the clam in the tank(distance off sandbed/bottom of tank)
3) do any of you feed anything besides live phyto to keep the clam full and happy.
4) did you quarantine your clam

thanks in advance!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

-I just placed it directly on a rock and it attached itself, been there 1.5 years
-its on the top rock at the top of the tank
-no feeding required, although I broadcast feed phyto and other filter foods sometimes, but it mainly requires strong light to keep it happy
-no I didnt, just a visual inspection and then into the tank

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I had a disastrous start with maxima clams when I restarted my reef 2 years ago. I lost about 7 clams over the first few months due to an immature system (see my build thread). I thought lighting was too strong. But no matter where I placed them they eventually died. All my parameters were fine (Alk 8-9 dkh, Ca 400, nitrate 0, phosphate 0, lighting 400w 20K MH). I bought 3 clams about 5 months ago (1 derasa and 2 maxima) and now they're doing great. All my parameters are exactly the same (nitrate and phosphate still 0). One maxima is about 18" from the MH and another is about 22", both on the rock structure. The derasa is on the tank floor.

The main thing is a mature tank.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I had a disastrous start with maxima clams when I restarted my reef 2 years ago. I lost about 7 clams over the first few months due to an immature system (see my build thread). I thought lighting was too strong. But no matter where I placed them they eventually died. All my parameters were fine (Alk 8-9 dkh, Ca 400, nitrate 0, phosphate 0, lighting 400w 20K MH). I bought 3 clams about 5 months ago (1 derasa and 2 maxima) and now they're doing great. All my parameters are exactly the same (nitrate and phosphate still 0). One maxima is about 18" from the MH and another is about 22", both on the rock structure. The derasa is on the tank floor.

The main thing is a mature tank.

One year enough time? I’m also using a kessil a360x tuna blue

 

[Andresnyc93]

-I just placed it directly on a rock and it attached itself, been there 1.5 years
-its on the top rock at the top of the tank
-no feeding required, although I broadcast feed phyto and other filter foods sometimes, but it mainly requires strong light to keep it happy
-no I didnt, just a visual inspection and then into the tank

Currently running my kessil a360x at 70% and my tank is very bright since I also have a canopy so it doesn’t let the light splurge all over and just basically a spotlight on the tank

 

[Sean Clark]

I put my clam down as low as I can so that I can admire the top down colors by looking through the glass up high. Mine is a bright teal looking at it from the top and transitions to blue then purple as the angle that you observe it from gets more acute. As long as you have enough light to keep it happy, I say place it as low as you can.

 

[Andresnyc93]

I put my clam down as low as I can so that I can admire the top down colors by looking through the glass up high. Mine is a bright teal looking at it from the top and transitions to blue then purple as the angle that you observe it from gets more acute. As long as you have enough light to keep it happy, I say place it as low as you can.

Awesome thank you, how tall is your tank?

 

[SeaDøøby]

I recently got a Maxima Clam too. I was a bit negligent in getting the full details about the needs for them. I was really just thinking strong lighting and some feeding is all that is needed for them. I didn't really think of maturity. Hopefully all goes well. He has a nice blue color with some white stripes at the top with a golden-orange color inner with white stripes. I'm mostly worried about my wrasse eating in one night. So far he hasn't really cared about it.

 

[Sean Clark]

Awesome thank you, how tall is your tank?

I have an Innovative Marine 200ext Peninsula tank. It is 21.75" tall, 18.5" of water from the surface to the sand bed. I have two Kessil AP700 lights mounted 12" above the water surface running at 50% with a ramp. I have a Tridacna crocea and it seams to be very happy.

 

[Hydrored]

Currently running my kessil a360x at 70% and my tank is very bright since I also have a canopy so it doesn’t let the light splurge all over and just basically a spotlight on the tank

70% on an a360X is not very much PAR at all especially depending on the settings and mounting height. It can look bright but still be 140 PAR.

I would personally think twice about a maxima but good luck none the less

 

[Ancient Mariner]

One year enough time? I’m also using a kessil a360x tuna blue

Maybe. I was too snake bitten to try at the 1 year point. My acroporas didn’t do too well until 1.5 years. So I’d say if you can get SPS going that’s a good sign. At least have coralline algae going. Trial and error might be the approach. It’s so hard to stay patient and determine when the system is mature enough. I started with 1/2 dry rock and 1/2 old mature live rock and it still took a while to get to a mature stage.

 

[t5Nitro]

Maxima on the bare bottom glass. 20" tall tank. Under 8 bulb T5 11 inches above the water line.

Feed phyto daily to the tank.

 

[Andresnyc93]

Maybe. I was too snake bitten to try at the 1 year point. My acroporas didn’t do too well until 1.5 years. So I’d say if you can get SPS going that’s a good sign. At least have coralline algae going. Trial and error might be the approach. It’s so hard to stay patient and determine when the system is mature enough. I started with 1/2 dry rock and 1/2 old mature live rock and it still took a while to get to a mature stage.

I have coralline all over to the point my scape looks like it’s all one piece. Got some acros and nems going for a couple of months. I also took some rock from a different tank and took some bio balls to help the tank cycle better and not have to wait too long to cycle the tank

 

[SeaDøøby]

Can maxima clams move? I've heard they can move.

 

[Andresnyc93]

Can maxima clams move? I've heard they can move.

I believe all clams can move if their foot isn’t attached to something. They also can try to relocate if they aren’t happy with flow/lighting but they just end up tilting over