Known as the “Holy Grail for Reef Aquariums,” Maxima Clams live up to their name in more ways than one.
They’re one-of-a-kind clams and come in a variety of colors and patterns. These clams can be striped or spotted, and come in blue, brown, green, gray, purple, and yellow. On average, Maxima Clams grow to about 12 inches but reach up to 16 inches. Their mere presence brings stability to your closed saltwater aquarium system, but their care is no small task.
Read on for a quick, simple Maxima Clam care guide.
Setup
Most importantly, new tanks are not ideal for keeping maxima clams. They’re a finicky breed of clam and don’t do well with any amount of ammonia or nitrite. Nitrate and phosphate are also not welcome.
If your tank is already set up and ready to go, it’s important to acclimate your Maxima Clams.
First, let the bag float around in your tank until the water in both environments is the same (this helps avoid temperature shock). Next, to avoid any contaminants in your tank water, place the clam into a separate bucket and pour the water over it (never just dump the bag into the bucket).
Finally, you’re going to use a water-transferring siphon pump between your tank and the bucket until the salinity in both is the same. Once this step is complete, the clam can be transferred to your tank.
Maxima Clam Care
Now that the Maxima Clam has been acclimated to its new home, you want to make sure it’s living in the ideal environment.
Your clam should live on a flat surface that exposes the entire mantle to light. Since Maxima Clams rely heavily on photosynthesis, this is important. Also, do not place your clam in a crevice that won’t allow it to fully open its shell.
A healthy clam will open with its mantle fully exposed during the daylight hours. If you notice the clam not opening fully, it might not be able to with its placement.
If this isn’t the case, check the current of your tank. Maxima Clams do not enjoy strong, direct currents. Be sure to keep it in a calm part of your tank.
Maintenance
As I said earlier, Maxima Clams have high standards and enjoy living in near perfect conditions.
To achieve this, at least 25 percent of the tank’s water needs to be replaced on a weekly basis. They also thrive with high light exposure.
The three main elements these clams require are calcium, strontium, and iodine. Calcium levels should remain between 400 and 500 ppm with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4 and a DKH between 8-12. Strontium levels should remain between 6-10 ppm. Iodine should remain between 0.04 and 0.08 ppm.
The Perfect Addition to Any Reef
Overall, Maxima Clams are the perfect addition to any reef, whether you’re a beginner or advanced caretaker. They require some love and close maintenance, but most reef species do. Maxima Clam care is the easiest to maintain of all Tridacna clams, making them the hardiest of the bunch.
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