Gold Maxima Leaning....?

[JoJo56266]

I have a RedSea 525xl about six months old. We introduced a Gold Maxima clam about 6 weeks ago and its been doing great, full extension until about a week ago. He is still extending, but not the same. Clam has started leaning and is at about a 45° angle. He is responding, but not as well as previously. He is attached to a rock, but he has been moving a lot lately. Wondering why and should I move him? If so, how do i detach him without hurting him?

I dont see anything superficially wrong with him, no pests that I can see.
Thanks so much for the help, this our first clam.
Just did a 25% water change today. Parameters were a little wonky, but not terrible.
PH 8.0
Ammonia .5ppm (fed a new food from algae barn that may have contributed. Nothing is dead, corals are happy)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10ppm
Magnesium 1350
Calcium 440
Phos .2

 

[LordofCinder]

A clam shouldnt be down low near zoa's, it should be up high to get the highest par possible. Is it on the sand? It should be on a solid surface, like a rock. Water quality is also very important to a clam.

 

[JoJo56266]

A clam shouldnt be down low near zoa's, it should be up high to get the highest par possible. Is it on the sand? It should be on a solid surface, like a rock. Water quality is also very important to a clam.

Thank you for the feedback, I'll find a place up higher. How do I get it to detach from the rock - it's holding onto that rock you see with the Zoas.....

 

[LordofCinder]

I'm sorry I dont know, but be careful with that, hopefully some experts here can answer that for you, otherwise google it and read as much as you can before trying.

 

[Tcook]

Maybe starving from low par. How deep is this tank, what lights, and how high are they above the water? Will need 300+ par.

 

[Tcook]

To remove from the rock you can use a very sharp scalpel blade and slowly and carefully cut the byssal filaments where they come into contact with the rock. Farthest from the clam. Do not pull or twist.

@PacificEastAquaculture

 

[JoJo56266]

Maybe starving from low par. How deep is this tank, what lights, and how high are they above the water? Will need 300+ par.

The tank is about 22" tall - so minus a couple-few inches of sand. He is likely too deep. I will just need to research how to detach him from the rock. I have 3 - AI32s for lights that are about 8-10 inches about the water line.

 

[Dave1993]

maxima shoould be on a rock high up

 

[JoJo56266]

Thank you for the great feedback and instructions. He is doing better today!!

 

[JoJo56266]

To remove from the rock you can use a very sharp scalpel blade and slowly and carefully cut the byssal filaments where they come into contact with the rock. Farthest from the clam. Do not pull or twist.

@PacificEastAquaculture

Really appreciate your comments and guidance. Got him moved last night. Here is this mornings pic. He seems much happier! Thanks to you and all!!

 

[PokeFish]

I have a RedSea 525xl about six months old. We introduced a Gold Maxima clam about 6 weeks ago and its been doing great, full extension until about a week ago. He is still extending, but not the same. Clam has started leaning and is at about a 45° angle. He is responding, but not as well as previously. He is attached to a rock, but he has been moving a lot lately. Wondering why and should I move him? If so, how do i detach him without hurting him?

I dont see anything superficially wrong with him, no pests that I can see.
Thanks so much for the help, this our first clam.
Just did a 25% water change today. Parameters were a little wonky, but not terrible.
PH 8.0
Ammonia .5ppm (fed a new food from algae barn that may have contributed. Nothing is dead, corals are happy)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10ppm
Magnesium 1350
Calcium 440
Phos .2

View attachment 2874067 View attachment 2874068

the ammonia is definitely an issue... besides that are there any changes uve made in the past 6 weeks?

 

[PokeFish]

Really appreciate your comments and guidance. Got him moved last night. Here is this mornings pic. He seems much happier! Thanks to you and all!!

oop nvm lol

 

[Tcook]

Really appreciate your comments and guidance. Got him moved last night. Here is this mornings pic. He seems much happier! Thanks to you and all!!

Need a top down pic of this clam to see the true colors.