Another sick clam thread?

[MJAnderson]

Here was my 2" MAxima when I purchased him a week ago:

And here he is now.

This is my first clam and I waited 6 months before picking one up. Tank uses kalk for topoff, so no swings. parms are calcium at 420, alk at 9.3-9.5, temp at 80. I checked him for snails and I don't see anything. I had him in the sand and he kept falling over, so I but a flat rock under him and one to each side to prop him up, but he isn't wedged in there. He closes when anything gets near him, but just doesn't look good. Suggestions?

 

[lloydo]

I know how you feel, doesn't look too good. Have you read my thread from yesterday - 'sad clam' ? - Not much consolation but I think my clam looks even worse....

I've no idea what's wrong, my water is good (except for a currently low calcium) - when he initially seemed unhappy on a rock ledge, I moved him - may have inadvertently damaged the 'foot' - actually didn't know he even had one. Also he my by chance have been getting too much light, being perhaps 12 inches below the surface and a further 8 inches to my twin 250w halides??

 

[MJAnderson]

Yea, I don't know what it is. I've never lost anything before. I feel a sense of guilt.

 

[gophia]

I wouldn't give up on the little guy just yet. How about you move it higher on to the rock work instead of the sand bed. IMO, the little guy dosn't look too bad, just stressed.

HTH

 

[Peabody]

What fish do you have? You might have a nipper in your tank.

 

[a4twenty]

maxima's like a lot of light, move him up on the rocks.

 

[MJAnderson]

I have 2 false percs, 3 vanderbilt chromis and a 6 line wrasse. Some scarlet hermits and various snails. I didn't think any of those were nippers.

As for the lack of light, would he show signs after only a few days?

 

[mbbuna]

72g is a deep tank, with t-5's i would have the clam at least half tank.

have you checked for pyram snails?

 

[MJAnderson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8460232#post8460232 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
72g is a deep tank, with t-5's i would have the clam at least half tank.

have you checked for pyram snails?

Really? Is their something clams need beside par? I borrowed a light meter and I'm getting more par on my sand bed than friends are getting with their MH 250s. I did the test with corals in mind, but is there a difference?

 

[mbbuna]

there's more to lighting then just PAR. PAR #s can be a good tool but its only showing you whats Available, not whats usable or preferred.

besides all that ,i dont think lighting is the cause of your clams condition but if its not getting the light it needs it may hinder its recovery.

have you checked for pyram snails?

 

[MJAnderson]

yes, I waited an hour after lights out and checked. No snails. I read something on the clams direct site about people having issues using supposedly reef-safe epoxy with clams. I had used some in the tank after putting the clam in. I started running carbon last night so hopefully that will help.