Curious about my Red Sea maxima clam

[sushiboss]

Red Sea one is from my lfs. The (crocea I believe?) is from the reefapalooza 2024 Orlando.

I’ve been eyeing my clams for some time and recently the Red Sea one has not been fully opening like the crocea in picture.

It’s reactive to light it appears to be growing. But never fully opening. The approximate par is roughly 230-280 depending on water movement and time of day.

The Red Sea clam has been here in this spot for approximately 2 years. Bought as a 1.5” clam and today it’s likely 4-4.5”. Today I moved it slightly to sort of check it out and inspect and other than these pointy stalk things (don’t appear to be a critter but I honestly have no clue) near the mantel I don’t see anything.

It’s been a couple months since I’ve seen it in full display.

8.1 alk
440 calcium
25 nitrate
.2 phosphate
1650 mag
1.025 salt ppm

No pox, skimmer, blue filter floss and turf scrubber for filtration. Nitrates were quite high (35-45 ppm) but are starting to progressively fall with the increase of nopox dosing. Aiming for 20 ppm nitrates as a nice medium.

I’d say parameters are not perfectly stable but fluctuations are slow and steady if that makes sense.

Both clams are basically side by side and one opens fully and the other does not. Flow isn’t strong but it’s got nice mantle movement.

3 times weekly phyto dosing of approximately 100ml

Any tips or insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance and happy reefing.

 

[sushiboss]

October of last year 2024. Both clams in the same spot fully opened.

I’d say it’s been roughly 3-4 months since it’s opened in all its glory.

I’d likely rule out a fish/inverts bothering it since there’s another clam mere centimeters away but I’m not entirely sure

 

[sushiboss]

@OrionN I saw your write up on PMD any insight would be amazing!

 

[sushiboss]

 

[sushiboss]

looking for the clam experts bump

 

[Tahoe61]

By no means an expert.

What temp is the tank?
Running any GFO or Charcoal?
Have any potential nippers in the fish department?

 

[sushiboss]

By no means an expert.

What temp is the tank?
Running any GFO or Charcoal?
Have any potential nippers in the fish department?

Temp roughly 77. Using a digital probe thermometer off BRS (highest rated at time of purchase)
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/hi98...D=7216&indexName=brs_prod_m2_default_products
Was using gfo a few weeks ago as I had a bit of high phosphates but it’s been removed for over a month since I began no pox dosing

I’d likely rule out fish nippers due to the fact that there’s a completely opened clam less than 2 cm away that’s totally normal and fully opening.

Thanks for the reply!

Debating on a fwd but hoping someone can advise me here.

I’ve had it for roughly 2 years but as of the time of writing this I am not seeing any new growth (white shell).

 

[Tahoe61]

I always dip my Tridacna when they chronically don't expand as much.
I use distilled brought to temp and submerge for 20 to 30 minutes. I will repeat the bath every couple days if necessary.

There's no nearby coral stinging the clam or aiptasia?

 

[sushiboss]

I always dip my Tridacna when they chronically don't expand as much.
I use distilled brought to temp and submerge for 20 to 30 minutes. I will repeat the bath every couple days if necessary.

There's no nearby coral stinging the clam or aiptasia?

Potentially the toadstool pictured in the photo behind it which is why I decided to move it out of the toadstool expansion.

If I decided to dip do I have to worry about ph alk or any of that stuff?

I have a freshwater tank 12” from the reef I could toss into the sump. Water is super clean as it’s a planted tank

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

In the picture it looks pretty snug in there with corals , IME they don’t like anything to touch their mantle and will not expand if something is touching it. But it’s just an interpretation from the picture

 

[sushiboss]

In the picture it looks pretty snug in there with corals , IME they don’t like anything to touch their mantle and will not expand if something is touching it. But it’s just an interpretation from the picture

Right now it’s sort of turned at an angle.

There’s nothing that could touch its mantle now except the crawling snails or hermits.

I moved it about 2” from its original spot due to the toadstool growing.

Do you think it appears sickly?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

No I don’t think it looks sickly but I only have moderate experience with clams. All I know is that when corals grow too close to my clams the clams recede away from the coral. Orion and minus are extremely knowledgeable with clams hope they chime in. Good luck

 

[sushiboss]

No I don’t think it looks sickly but I only have moderate experience with clams. All I know is that when corals grow too close to my clams the clams recede away from the coral. Orion and minus are extremely knowledgeable with clams hope they chime in. Good luck

Thanks for stopping in!

I’m hoping they do as well .

 

[sushiboss]

@minus9 any chance I could bother you for some advice?

 

[minus9]

@minus9 any chance I could bother you for some advice?

No bother, what’s up?