What am I doing wrong with this maxima clam?

[stanleo]

My LFS had this maxima clam for a month and every time I was in the store it was open and gorgeous and I never saw anything wrong with it. I finally decided to spend the 200 bucks and buy it two weeks ago. The first place I put it in the tank was not good because it fell. So I moved it to another place on the other side. Two days later I decided it wasn't good for it even though I liked the view so I moved it again. It has been in this position for a week. Still has not opened fully or attached itself. It still reacts to things like touch and light changes. I picked it up today to inspect it for any possible pests and I did find something on the bottom near its opening that has me concerned. It looks like aiptasia but it also has thin white strands flowing out of it that look like gossamer. I got a pic but not sure if you will be able to see it clearly. My tank is riddled with aiptasia that I am battling.

These are my tank specs.
120 gallons with a 55 gallon DIY sump in the basement.
OCTO skimmer I run continuously.
Clam has what I would say is medium, random flow.
Red Sea Reef LED 90 comes on at 9am, ramps up to 100% for an hour then starts to ramp down for an hour at 7pm. Clam is right under the light about ten inches below the surface. Light is 5 inches above the water.
Tests are
78F ( I have a temp controller)
pH 8 (API)
Salinity was 33 ppt. It is usually 35. I have an ATO that doesn't seem to be malfunctioning so I wasn't sure why it went down. I have raised it slowly over four days to 35 ppt.
Alk is 8 (red sea)
Calcium is 480 ppm(red sea)
Magnesium is 1480 ppm (red sea)
Nitrate is 2 ppm (Salifert)
Phosphate is .03 ppm (Salifert)

With the exception of what I described for the salinity, these results are consistent. I do a 20 gallon water change every two weeks. I have not been dosing anything for the last two weeks. The calcium is consistent even with the clam in there. Shouldn't it be using it up some?

Please help, it's an awesome clam, I would hate to lose it.

This is about as open as he gets. Maybe a little more.

 

[C. Eymann]

Those are byssal threads, normal and the first sign its trying to attach.

What kind of fish do you have ? also mag lvl is a bit high.

 

[stanleo]

Those are byssal threads, normal and the first sign its trying to attach.

What kind of fish do you have ? also mag lvl is a bit high.

I wandered it that's what it was, thank you.

I have 4 PJ cards, yellow tang, blue azure damsel, a clown, mandarin goby, ruby fin wrasse.

Not sure how to lower mag level. Its that high every time I test.

 

[OceanDiver]

I have a blue maxima for over 6 months now. And under 3 radion xr30 G4s.

clam is on the bottom and fully open.

that all said my radions are set 45-55 intensity running AB+. am thinking yours might be getting to much light. But just my opinion.

 

[OceanDiver]

BTW $200 for that size is a pretty good price

 

[C. Eymann]

I wandered it that's what it was, thank you.

I have 4 PJ cards, yellow tang, blue azure damsel, a clown, mandarin goby, ruby fin wrasse.

Not sure how to lower mag level. Its that high every time I test.

Are you using read sea coral pro? or reef crystals ? that would explain high cal/mag,
are some sections of the mantel more retracted than others? more pics would help.

 

[stanleo]

Are you using read sea coral pro? or reef crystals ? that would explain high cal/mag,
are some sections of the mantel more retracted than others? more pics would help.

Using instant ocean reef crystals. I tested newly mixed water once and I think it was 1360 but it was a while ago.

I just took these pics just now. Yes some of his mantel is more retracted than others.

 

[stanleo]

I have a blue maxima for over 6 months now. And under 3 radion xr30 G4s.

clam is on the bottom and fully open.

that all said my radions are set 45-55 intensity running AB+. am thinking yours might be getting to much light. But just my opinion.

You think? Maybe I should try him on the bottom? I have been worried that being a 24 inch deep tank that he wouldn't get enough light down there. The bottom would be 20 inches from the surface.

 

[stanleo]

BTW $200 for that size is a pretty good price

I know but I was reluctant to spend that much on an animal I have never tried to keep before.

 

[C. Eymann]

Possibly pinched mantel syndome, typically a buffered freshwater bath is the best course of action if it is.

 

[stanleo]

Possibly pinched mantel syndome, typically a buffered freshwater bath is the best course of action if it is.

How do I do that? Is there a good reference that you know of for the procedure? Thank you BTW

 

[C. Eymann]

Id inspect the ckam closely for pyramid snails


As far as the FW bath
Od maybe give it a few more days, if it doesn't improve maybe do a FW bath.
use RO/Di water, prepare a bath in a bucket with enough to submerge the clam, use a heater to warm bath to match the display's temperature, use baking soda to bump bath pH up to 8, perform the bath 10-15min, while occasionally gently stirring the water.

Id also recommend you do a bit of research in order to give the animal the best care possible,

This is a good write up

The Basics of Giant Clam Biology and Care

By James W. Fatherree The giant clams are called giants for a reason-- a record holding specimen had a shell that was over four feet in length. There are sev

reefs.com

Also Daniel Knop wrote an excellent book on Clams

Giant Clams- A comprehensive guide to the Identification and care of Tridacnid clams

hope this helps

 

[stanleo]

Id inspect the ckam closely for pyramid snails


As far as the FW bath
Od maybe give it a few more days, if it doesn't improve maybe do a FW bath.
use RO/Di water, prepare a bath in a bucket with enough to submerge the clam, use a heater to warm bath to match the display's temperature, use baking soda to bump bath pH up to 8, perform the bath 10-15min, while occasionally gently stirring the water.

Id also recommend you do a bit of research in order to give the animal the best care possible,

This is a good write up

The Basics of Giant Clam Biology and Care

By James W. Fatherree The giant clams are called giants for a reason-- a record holding specimen had a shell that was over four feet in length. There are sev

reefs.com

Also Daniel Knop wrote an excellent book on Clams

Giant Clams- A comprehensive guide to the Identification and care of Tridacnid clams

hope this helps

Thank you. I did inspect it with a magnifying glass when i was acclimating him for pyramid snails. Didn't find any. I have read several articles on them as far as light and flow requirements. And their ideal water parameters like clean water which I have and high calcium. I don't remember reading anything about magnesium being too high. I have never done a freshwater bath on anything before, which is why I asked how to do that. I went to the LFS every week for a month to look at this clam and it never looked unhealthy and appeared to have new growth on its valves, a clear indicator of a healthy clam. And everything I read suggested my tank would be good for a maxima clam. High light, medium flow and high calcium, clean water meaning low in nitrates and phosphates and nothing that would bother the clam. I was concerned about my damsel and clown fish but they don't even glance at the clam. I also never exposed this clam to air. I am looking into this pinched mantel syndrome which I remember reading something about but I don't remember if it listed a cause. I appreciate your help, thank you.

 

[C. Eymann]

Thank you. I did inspect it with a magnifying glass when i was acclimating him for pyramid snails. Didn't find any. I have read several articles on them as far as light and flow requirements. And their ideal water parameters like clean water which I have and high calcium. I don't remember reading anything about magnesium being too high. I have never done a freshwater bath on anything before, which is why I asked how to do that. I went to the LFS every week for a month to look at this clam and it never looked unhealthy and appeared to have new growth on its valves, a clear indicator of a healthy clam. And everything I read suggested my tank would be good for a maxima clam. High light, medium flow and high calcium, clean water meaning low in nitrates and phosphates and nothing that would bother the clam. I was concerned about my damsel and clown fish but they don't even glance at the clam. I also never exposed this clam to air. I am looking into this pinched mantel syndrome which I remember reading something about but I don't remember if it listed a cause. I appreciate your help, thank you.

No worries, best of luck with it!

 

[stanleo]

No worries, best of luck with it!

Ok so I have been doing some more research and I don't know if this is pinched mantel or not. it was more open today than it has ever been in my tank but the mantel still wasn't extended past the shell. I have a bath ready but I am nervous about it.

From what I have been reading, PMD presents as the mantel is extended but some of it is not. Mine, none of the mantel goes past the shell but there is some, on one end of the clam that comes just to the edge of the shell. The other end of the clam, the mantel is not coming out as far. But it does look symmetrical when viewed from the top. My question is, should I go ahead and do the freshwater bath or wait a couple more days?

I also and I don't even know if this is anything, noticed a brown strand a little thicker than a hair flowing out of its exit hole.

And the more I am reading today, the more I am thinking you were right that my research was flawed. I apologize for my snarkiness. I did do research but I think I found some bad info on a couple things. I do think it can survive in my tank. Please help me, this is driving me crazy.

Here is another bad pic.