The two parameters that people would point to that were out of whack were nitrate at 40 ppm and phosphate at 0.5 ppm. Both parameters have been like this since mid-October (I have been trying to reduce them but it apparently is a slow process).
Seems to me that if either of those water parameters caused it the clam would have given up the ghost months ago, but maybe it takes longer than I think.
Actually as I was looking back at the history of my four year old tank, I have had a number of items that fluorished for a year or more and then crashed (contrasting with some items that have been in the tank for four years).
Here's a list of things that grew rapidly for at least a year and then crashed.
Golden toadstool
Orange Montipora Capricornis
Kenya Tree
Like they say, good things happen slowly, bad things fast, in this hobby.