Clam ID and Tips Please

[kbriers]

Could you please identify this clam for me? It is my first and I want to make sure it looks good. Sorry for the crappy iphone pic. It was taken with blue+ and coral+ only @ around 30%

He is in the middle of a 105 gal. tank on the sandbed. Lighting is an ati 8x54 sunpower fixture with blue+ x 5, purple+, Coral+ and a GE 6500. From the light fixture to the clam is roughly 24 inches.

My lighting schedule is...
10am coral+ and blue+ come on and ramp to 100% by 11am
11am remaining lights come on and ramp to 100% by 1pm
1pm to 4pm all lights @ 100%
4-5pm blue+ x 4 purple+ and GE ramp down to off, blue+ x 1 and coral+ ramp down to 25%
5-5:30pm blue+ and coral+ ramp from 25 to off

Flow wise I have tunze 6095's X 2 on various profiles throughout the day.

Any tips or recommendations with this guy would be most appreciated.

 

[michika]

Looks like a crocea to me and it looks pretty good. Your lighting sounds fine too.

I've always found clams love to suck back the magnesium and find that I have to suppliment for mine. This may or may not be the case for you, but FYI you might want to watch your Mg levels.

Pretty much your clam will thrive under the same conditions that SPS will thrive under; consistent stable dKH, good water quality and lighting.

 

[kbriers]

Thanks. Yeah I have heard and read the clam/sps water quality "rule" but, I've only had sps a short time so just wanted to make sure lighting/placement/flow was ok?

I'm scared with the way my rocks are, that the clam would more or less be blasted with current if not on the sandbed.

I was thinking this was a maxima clam due to the scutes being all the way down to the base of the shell. Glad I asked.

 

[ca1ore]

Actually, I do think it is a Maxima. Will need lots of light, but will also tolerate a bit more nitrate and phosphate than SPS. Good luck, looks like a nice clam.

 

[Fretfreak13]

Quick question, sorry for the slight hijack. Its kind of related though. How do you guys pronounce "scutes"?

 

[kbriers]

ScUtes? I don't have a clue.
I'm a Texan so we kinda have our own language anyway

Quick question, sorry for the slight hijack. Its kind of related though. How do you guys pronounce "scutes"?

 

[moliken]

skoots

 

[jda]

Looks like a tahitian maxima to me. Those are notoriously tough unless you have an insane amount of light. The great news is that it is not overextending in the picture. If you ever see it extending like a Crocea, then that is typically not good. Once established at 3-6+ months, I find that they grow very well and can filter a lot of N and P out of your water.

scutes - the scooter blenny "scoots" along the bottom of the reef.

 

[kbriers]

If you ever see it extending like a Crocea, then that is typically not good.

Do you happen to have a picture or a link of what exactly you are talking about? I'm not sure what a Crocea looks like as this is my first clam.

I know I can ask "The Google" but I want to make sure I'm looking at the correct signs.

As far as insane lighting, do you think I have adequate lighting/schedule/placement etc?

Thanks.

 

[jda]

8 bulb ATI is a lot of light. I have only had success with Tahitians under metal halide, so I have no idea how this will come out. Sorry.

Here is an image of a crocea - the reach out almost as far as they can all/most of the time. There are a bunch on Google Images. This is good.
http://www.aquahobby.com/marine/img/Tridacna_crocea_1.jpg
http://www.acanlord.com/content/images/thumbs/0000246_purple-crocea-clam_2048.jpeg

Your maxima looks like these, which are not all the way extended. This is also good.
http://************.com/2010/05/04/...axima-clams-arrive-at-sea-dwelling-creatures/

If your maxima is stretched out really wide a lot of the time, then it is most likely not getting enough light and is starving. There are no guarantees on this, I am only giving you my experiences and observations. Here is the best that I can come up for a picture. This is not good:
http://www.thesaltybox.com/forum/at...m-possible-gaping-intake-opening-img_0859.jpg

Anyway, just my opinions and experiences.

 

[kbriers]

Great. Thank you very much