can someone plz help me tons of good pics

brandon7491 · #1 12/18/2007, 02:49 PM

hey guys i got a maxima clam last friday its very alert and in very good conditon. my params are this

ca-455
alk-10
ph-8.2
nitrite-0
nitrate-0
amonia-0
mg-1300
phos-0

i have noticed on the mantel one is smaller than the other and was wondering what u guys think it is. is it growth,pinched mantel? ect.. my tank has been set up for almost a year and i have done tons of previous research before getting any of the livestock. i take great pride and care of these creatures and only give them the best so if anyone can tell me what it is that would be great. here are lots of pics

brandon7491 · #2 12/18/2007, 03:41 PM

also i found this little guy on my glass is this a pyrmaid snail ?

a4twenty · #3 12/18/2007, 04:14 PM

i was just going to ask if you have looked for pyrams

yes that sure looks like one, take the clam out of the tank an hour or two after lights out and take a good look. pyrams are nocturnal so they are easier to find at night. you will have to remove them manually and check every day or so for more. keep an eye out for any egg masses on the shell as well. if you have more than one clam you will need to remove and clean them all.

try to limit the amount of time the clam is out of the tank to prevent a spawning incident.

brandon7491 · #4 12/18/2007, 04:23 PM

jeeze... other than that do u c any thing physically wrong with the clam? i have 2 more maxima clams comming in tomorrow. i mean the clam is very very extremely responsive to any shadows. he is attached to the rock and i dont wanna have to cut his threads to get him off. is there any other way i could elimate ps? also do they automatically come from clams or could they have been on the lr before i put this clam in. bear with me here im a freak when it comes to my tank. does the clam physically look bad or does he look fine dispite the ps?

a4twenty · #5 12/18/2007, 04:33 PM

take the rock out and look for the snail if you don't want to detach him. cutting the byssal thread if done right does not harm the clam.

it is possible the pyrams are not going after the clam but another mollusc ( snails ) but you better be sure befoer you add more clams. they don't come from clams more they come with clams as hitch hikers.

the clam looks fine other than the area in question.

there is no other way to get rid of pyrams, but they can be avoided by QT'ing and giving them a good scrubbing.

PS: i wouldn't add anymore clams till you get this figured out.

brandon7491 · #6 12/18/2007, 04:43 PM

agreed but its kinda too late because the order already has shipped. i will set up a qt tank with a mh over it so i can get this thing squared away. i cant move the rock because it weights about 10lbs and it would just be a mess. but i do have good news its not a tear or n e thing i just realized that and nothing is on it i inspected it before i got it and just now. im not to worried maybe that is the only ps in there lol (yea right). also since friday i have been very vigilant for ps,flat worms,crabs picking at it,fish picking at it, ect. i have gotten up at 1am and just looked at it untl 3 am. nothing no signs. i will keep inspecting

a4twenty · #7 12/18/2007, 04:53 PM

the pyrams. will hide under the clam ( byssal opening or scutes ) during the day and come out to feast at night. if you can set up a QT for the new clams just till you make sure, that would be best.

also check all your snails......

incase it's not pyrams, what fish / inverts do you have?

how close is it to the leather, they play with some nasty toxins??

what ( and how ) are you dosing?

brandon7491 · #8 12/18/2007, 05:16 PM

i have 2 skunk cleaner shrimp
like 5 or 6 blue leg hermits
3 yellow tail damsels
3 domino damsels
1 flame angel he does not pick at any thing i am very lucky.

the leather is no where near touching the clam
i do run activated carbon
the only thing i dose is b-ionic 2 part and that is when ever its needed.

a4twenty · #9 12/18/2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon7491
1 flame angel he does not pick at any thing i am very lucky.

are you sure??? and that is no guarantee that as he matures he won't snap as this species is known to do.

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon7491
the leather is no where near touching the clam

it doesn't have to touch it.

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon7491
i do run activated carbon

good to hear, just make sure your changing it out

Quote:

Originally posted by brandon7491
the only thing i dose is b-ionic 2 part and that is when ever its needed.

clams need stability, no big changes in parms. it would be better if you could get into a routine of dosing. rather than 70ml once a week ( example ) you would be far better of dosing 10ml every day. that way the parameters don't fluctuate to much.

HTH

brandon7491 · #10 12/18/2007, 06:29 PM

yea when i dose its only 7.5 mls of each and that is just to maintain ca and alk levels. my ca is always high like 455 470 so i havent been dosing the ca part just the alk part to stay at 10. its a very stable tank no huge fluxuations. what i do to keep salinity stable is top is off with fresh ro till the salinity is 1.023 that is in the morning so when i get home and throughtout the night and day its 1.025. i know it can be a chemicle war with the softies but thats not the case thought it is a percaution i take highly. i ensure that i or my fish dont disturb the corals and i limit my self as much as possible from sticking my hands in the tank. you are very right the flame angel at any moment could pick at it but if that ever comes he will be moved to my neighboors 350gallon fowlr aquarium. i will tomorrow post pics of the 2 maximas that are comming in and i will take a vid to show u. i did make a vid of this clam to show the alertness of him and wow he is aleart as hell lol. thanks for your help man