Hit and miss with clams

Maacc · Jun 10, 2019

I added 4 clams a few weeks ago and things aren't going well. I lost the blue squamosa about a week ago. It looked good Thursday was closed up Friday and totally dead by Saturday. My larger maxima seems ok. I have one smaller maxima that looks open and happy and one that has been closed the last 2 days but is definitely still alive.
Here are some pictures:

Parameters are:
9.0 alk
420 calcium
1390 mag
0.03 phosphate
10 nitrate
And I had a totally clear ICP about 3 weeks ago.
I would welcome any suggestions

Peach02 · Jun 10, 2019

Maacc said:
I added 4 clams a few weeks ago and things aren't going well. I lost the blue squamosa about a week ago. It looked good Thursday was closed up Friday and totally dead by Saturday. My larger maxima seems ok. I have one smaller maxima that looks open and happy and one that has been closed the last 2 days but is definitely still alive.
Here are some pictures:

Parameters are:
9.0 alk
420 calcium
1390 mag
0.03 phosphate
10 nitrate
And I had a totally clear ICP about 3 weeks ago.
I would welcome any suggestions

they like very strong light so id recommend putting them higher up on the rock work, with mine it got attacked by bristle worms on the sandbed, kept falling over halfway up and barely opening, up top its had no problems apart from a anemone attaching to it for half a hour

DSC reef · Jun 10, 2019

Maacc · Jun 11, 2019

DSC reef said:
The first 2 are gaping, I wouldn't rule out a disease.

Do you have any recommendations? Or do I need to do a 60 day or so fallow period. I currently hit 200-250 par on my sandbed at peak light intensity.

DSC reef · Jun 11, 2019

Maacc · Jun 11, 2019

DSC reef said:
The large maxima looks to be a goner. If the smaller one doesn't improve soon I'd try a freshwater dip. If you were to lose all the clams I'm not sure how long you would need to go fallow but I'd wait 6 months or more before adding another. I'd personally want more par on a maxima through out the day.

How long on the dip for the little maxima? I'm familiar with fish dipping I have never done it with a clam.

DSC reef · Jun 11, 2019

I've gone from 15 to 30 minutes max. I would look up freshwater dip by James Fatheree. Ph match and temp freshwater to your tank water. It's worked wonders with our previous clams but the ones that were to far gone perished within 24 hours.

Maacc · Jun 11, 2019

DSC reef said:
I've gone from 15 to 30 minutes max. I would look up freshwater dip by James Fatheree. Ph match and temp match freshwater to your tank water. It's worked wonders with our previous clams but the ones that were to far gone perished within 24 hours.

Thanks alot for the help. Would you try with the big maxima or do you think there's no chance?

DSC reef · Jun 11, 2019

Your very welcome. Personally I believe the big maxima is to far gone but if you'd like to try it then go for it.

xjiang7 · Jun 11, 2019

The big one is also bleached in the center. I agree that it is a goner. You may want to check if the other two have similar bleach points on the mantle. A central bleach can be caused by light shock but there could be other causes.