A new Derasa Clam???????

[rehctelf69]

I have actually about two questions on this clam, I am seriously considering getting one, mainly because I hear they are the easiest to maintian, and since I am rather new at this I want to start off kind slow, but my questions are, WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THIS TYPE OF CLAM, IN MY SUBSTRATE, i HAVE ABOUT 2 INCHES OF CRUSHED CORAL FOR SUBSTRATE SO IS THAT THE BEST PLACE FOR ONE OR WHAT, my second question is WHAT ALL DO i HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WITH THE WATER PARAMETERS MY LIGHTS ARE GOOD i HAVE THE CORALIFE SET 48INCHES WITH THE TWO WHITE LIGHTS AND THE TWO BLUES ONES SO i KNOW THAT IS STRONG ENOUGH, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CALCIUM HOW HARD IS THAT TO MAINTAIN, AND HOW WOULD YOU CHECK IT IF IT IS IN THE WATER i HAVE NEVER SEEN A CALCIUM TESTER, SO YOU GUYS WITH EXPERIENCE PLEASE HELP ,ME OUT WITH SOME TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES BECAUSE i REALLY WANT ON. wELL THANKS SO MUCH

 

[alguy344]

Can you be more specific? Just because you have 2 white lights and 2 blue ones, doesnt mean you have enough light. Also, they have calcium test kits, sealife makes them i think. GL.

 

[rehctelf69]

well all I know is that it is the coralife set, the one that is 48 inches in length, has two uv lights and and two 10,000 white lights that should be more than enough for a derasa I would think

 

[alguy344]

Possibly, how many watts is it?

 

[PSEUDOREEFER]

Maybe a picture? It looks like you need to read up MUCH more about lighting. Please be more specific and we can give you some advice.

 

[jedininja]

If you dont know what type of lighting, I would definatly wait until you are more experienced before getting a clam.

 

[Freed]

There a few different wattages that you can have in the 48" flavor. We need to know what wattage they are so we can judge better if they will be strong enough to penetrate thru the water down to the clam. They may be the correct spectrum but may not be the correct wattage. Please be more specific. Freed

 

[Jierongk]

I think it should be okay light for it. I had some coralife 130 watts on my 40 gallons for my crocea tank and it was holding on pretty okay. I recently purchased some metal halide because i saw some bleaching. But for the derasa should be okay since they dont need that much ligthing.

 

[john rochon]

In all honesty just by the way your questions are worder you are a beginner at this for sure. Clams are not a good suggestion at this stage for you. I would just keep reading up here on them for some time and you could purchase DANIEL KNOPPS book on clams. your lighting to me is still not suffient as well. I know some have kept them under VHO but in all honesty MH are your best bet with clams.

 

[StephenA]

Reseach this!!! None of the LFS in Columbus or Phenix City carry MH lighting much less know anything about clams. Read Knopps book and read Tridacnid Clams and other Mollusks forum here on RC.

I keep my Derasa in the sand bed under a 10K 150watt MH light. He does great. I would never keep a Derasa under anything but MH!

Before you ask, I lived in Columbus for 20 years. I've been to the stores (about a month ago). Thought about buying one of them.

 

[Peabody]

I have to agree...first make 100% sure you know what kind of lights and what wattage, NO, PC, etc. (Hate to say it, but I would suspect it's not enough light for sure) Then, read read read.

After all that, wait at least another 6 months+ before you even think of buying a clam if your tank is only 5 months old.

 

[Peabody]

Oh...and another thing: Be prepared for MASSIVE calcium and alkilinity supplimentation and have Salifert ALK and CA test kits around. I had to step up my calcium reactor when I got a 3 inch Derasa a month ago. He's already added a half inch of shell!!!! I can't believe it!