Why are all of my clams dying???

[ref leppard]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

What a coincidence. This has been a horrible year for me too. I've lost 4 clams as well: a squamosa, crocea and two maxima. I've been looking but I cannot find any parasitic snails either. The squamosa was my most recent addition and it wasn't too long after that it and some of the others started showing some bad signs. Loss of color, poor mantle extension or pinched areas. I gave many of them fresh water dips and in some cases it seemed to help but for others they were already too far gone. Two of the clams I had for about 5 years... What I have left is a 5 year old crocea, 3 year old derasa and a 2 year old maxima. I believe the squamosa brought something into my tank with it. I really need to start quarantining better.

I b0ught 2 blue squammys last month too...week later one by one 3 other clams drop dead.I hope that is the end of it . The 2 sqammys and crocea are left. No more new clams for a while!

[ALang]

I feel all your pain. I've had my 10" maxima die on me this fall.
I still have 2 croceas left.
They seem fine. Keeping fingers crossed.

[doch]

Well, it's official... The new Crocea didn't make it. My remaining 2 clams will be coming up to fort Mac on Sunday. Freshwater dip for both and into a totally separate tank. Man I hope this works. How long of a dip should I give? Just fresh water, no coral dip or anything?

[whatcaneyedo]

Giant Clams in the Sea and the Aquarium by Fatherree recommends 30 minutes in freshwater that matches the temperature and pH of your tank.

[doch]

Thank you!

[PoonTang]

Just a quick question from a clam newbie. Are you feeding your clams, perhaps when you get a lot of big clams in a tank there just isnt enough food for them? I dont know, ive had a squammy for a few months and even with a few pyramid snails it seems to be doing nicely.

[whatcaneyedo]

I don't do any supplemental feeding to directly feed my clams. Everything I've read states that it is unnecessary especially considering my high bioload.

[TimT]

Is anyone dosing Iodine to their systems? Clams and corals need it to detoxify radical oxygen produced by Zooxanthellae. Iodine is rapidly depleted in a reef system.

Has anyone checked for copper in their water?

If your Ca drops below 380 your chance of issues becomes huge.

Phosphates over .16mg/l and they begin to have issues as well.

[ALang]

I thought that weekly small water changes would take care of iodine?
I really hate to add chemicals to the tank that I cannot measure, how does one know if we add enough? How much should we be adding?
I am looking forward to antoher clam this next little while, and I really want to make sure that the fella will be OK in my tank.

[doch]

Yes, I dose Iodine... I don't test for it, but I does the 'beginner amount' that is stated on the bottle... this on top of my weekly water changes. I do feed phyto on occasion... maybe a bottle every month or so... just kind of when I happen to remember to pick it up. I also dose KZ sponge power. ALang, I'm waiting on the same shipment, and in the same boat! I'm thinking that my tank in Fort Mac will be a better clam tank anyways. I can actually see past the penant on the top to see the clams glow. In Edmonton my fixture is so big I can't see anything from the top except during water changes.