I am wondering if anyone out there has in excess of 15 clams in their system? I need to know if there has been any elemental depletion when one keeps such high numbers of clams in one system. Does anyone have any observation/advice to offer when getting to this high of number of clams? Are there any additives that are essential to add (or water testing to keep on track of)?
15+ clams in reef anyone?
- Thread starter mia1974
- Start date
20gallonnano
In Memoriam
I would think that many clams would suck the water dry of calcium and other elements that are suppose to be in the water but I guess if you keep the calcium up (along with all the other things) it should be fine.
kennerd
New member
I am actually keeping 11 clams in a 10 gal. (proceed with flaming NOW).
1-4" blue dot squamosa
1-4" golden teardop maxima
1-2.5" B/W maxima
3-2" B/W maximas
5-<2" Blue maximas
along with a bunch of SPS frags. lighitng is a single 150w HQI halide.
This was an experiment on growing out tiny clams purchased as part of a group buy. I have lost 3 clams total, but all of the B/W's and the Blue maxis were 1"-2" when added at the end of January. All have shown at least 1/4-5/8" of new shell growth in that time.
Basically, I only dose this tank with Red Sea Success Calcium+3 and Buff and top off with kalkwasser daily: about 20 oz of topoff in the mornings. I dose VERY heavily with DT's phyto and Kent Chromaplex and PhytoPlex (red: every two days) and maintain a vigorous 2-3 gal water change weekly.
I also have the following clams in my 65 gal w/ 2x250w HQI and 2x110 VHO:
3-4" ultra croceas
3-4.5" golden teardrop maximas
1-5.5" golden teardrop maxima
1-3.5" ultra crocea
Top off with 280 ml/hour of kalkwasser and 30 ml/hr of Reef Builder and additions of the same phyto regimen above (not nearly as potent, given the largersize of the clams) and Kent Coral Vite.
See my website for details and pics.
1-4" blue dot squamosa
1-4" golden teardop maxima
1-2.5" B/W maxima
3-2" B/W maximas
5-<2" Blue maximas
along with a bunch of SPS frags. lighitng is a single 150w HQI halide.
This was an experiment on growing out tiny clams purchased as part of a group buy. I have lost 3 clams total, but all of the B/W's and the Blue maxis were 1"-2" when added at the end of January. All have shown at least 1/4-5/8" of new shell growth in that time.
Basically, I only dose this tank with Red Sea Success Calcium+3 and Buff and top off with kalkwasser daily: about 20 oz of topoff in the mornings. I dose VERY heavily with DT's phyto and Kent Chromaplex and PhytoPlex (red: every two days) and maintain a vigorous 2-3 gal water change weekly.
I also have the following clams in my 65 gal w/ 2x250w HQI and 2x110 VHO:
3-4" ultra croceas
3-4.5" golden teardrop maximas
1-5.5" golden teardrop maxima
1-3.5" ultra crocea
Top off with 280 ml/hour of kalkwasser and 30 ml/hr of Reef Builder and additions of the same phyto regimen above (not nearly as potent, given the largersize of the clams) and Kent Coral Vite.
See my website for details and pics.
Sardaukar
Premium Member
No reason to flame. Clam tanks are just fine - as long as it is big enough to hold the clams, who cares. BTW, all of your tanks look awesome. Is that Xenia that you have glued to the walls of that 7 gallon? Id love to get a bunch of those 2"ers from Barry next time he posts a list 
firechild
Premium Member
I have 9 clams in my 80G and have a lot of trouble keeping up calcium and carbonate hardness levels (usually around 320ppm and 7dKH respectively) using a Korallin C3001 reactor. The clams range from 3" to 8", mostly ~6". I think the main problem is I have 6 squamosas and 3 maximas, with the squamosas having a massive growth rate compared to the maximas meaning a significantly greater Ca uptake. All but one (6" maxima) were added at between 2-3" meaning there is a total of a couple of kg of shell added in under 3 years.
Proxymoron
New member
I think Project Reef has quite a few in his tank.
Ereefic
In Memoriam
We have 20 clams (along with several SPS as well) and we're only dosing kalk to make up for evaporation. It is keeping the levels pretty steady at 10dkh and 420 Cal. We are evaporating about 3.5 gal. a day.
If I stop the kalk drip for 24 hrs. the levels drop considerably. But working well so far.
If I stop the kalk drip for 24 hrs. the levels drop considerably. But working well so far.
ktani
Premium Member
good question Julio,
nothing quantifiable except they do like nitrates and phosphates, so they must do some. It would be interesting to see some information on roughly how much different types of clams as well as sizes of clams do to remove nutrients from the water.
Heck, if anything it does make one really cool looking tank though, to have a bunch of them in one place.
Kip
nothing quantifiable except they do like nitrates and phosphates, so they must do some. It would be interesting to see some information on roughly how much different types of clams as well as sizes of clams do to remove nutrients from the water.
Heck, if anything it does make one really cool looking tank though, to have a bunch of them in one place.
Kip
firechild
Premium Member
Remember that the size of the individuals is as important as the number of clams. To have 20 clams in a 45G cube I would imagine that almost all are only a couple of inches long. The uptake of these clams is minimal compared to clams that are around the 6" mark (ie 2 3" clams would take much less calcium than 1 6" clam).
