wldavenport
New member
I have a 45 gallon system that is about 1Ã"šÃ‚½-years old. It is adequately illuminated to keep clams. I have several colonies of Acropora and Montipora which are thriving and the tank has coralline algae plating 3 inches off of some of the rocks. I mention the health of the SPS and the algae for the purpose of conveying that I believe that I have an environment suitable for keeping clams. About six months ago I had the experience of keeping baby T. crocesas on two distinct occasions.
In both cases the outcomes were the same. Each of the clams looked very healthy for several weeks. Then, in both cases, the clamsââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ mantles stared retracting and the clams were not opening as much. It only took about 3 -5 days after the first signs of this retraction before the clams were dead. After reading more material about clams, I believe now that I starved them to death. I had read of the importance of feeding phytoplankton and I did dose the tank TDââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s, however, I only did it about twice per week. In addition to not feeding frequently enough, I also have an oversized skimmer.
After not trying my luck again for almost Ã"šÃ‚¾ of a year, I was in my LFS came across a beautiful T. derasa. I bought him; heââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s about 3ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ long and his name is Fred. I do not want to loose him. Hence, my question.
I have read that Fred is at the stage where he is transitioning between being a juvenile clam that requires regular feedings of phytoplankton and one which is sufficiently large to accommodate enough zooxanthellae to be self sustaining.
Obviously, my greatest fear is that Fred will wind up like the others. I thought that it may be a good idea to put my skimmer on a timer so that it turns off for several hours per day, namely, during the time of day that I dose the tank with Phytoplankton.
All things being equal, if I were pick a time to turn off the skimmer, I would probably choose mid to late afternoon when photosynthetic activity is at its height. By doing it at that time I imagine that it would affect the range of volatility in oxygen levels the least. This is the time that I would also choose to dose the tank with Phytoplankton. Unfortunately, I am not usually home during this time.
My guess that the next best time would be in the early evening, turning the skimmer back on right when the oxygen levels start to really fall.
Does anyone know if the clams feed at any particular time? Do they feed on phytoplankton at night? Will they feed on phytoplankton in the early morning when before halides turn on?
Any information that anyone could provide regarding this subject would be greatly appreciated. Not least of all by Fred.
Thanks.
In both cases the outcomes were the same. Each of the clams looked very healthy for several weeks. Then, in both cases, the clamsââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ mantles stared retracting and the clams were not opening as much. It only took about 3 -5 days after the first signs of this retraction before the clams were dead. After reading more material about clams, I believe now that I starved them to death. I had read of the importance of feeding phytoplankton and I did dose the tank TDââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s, however, I only did it about twice per week. In addition to not feeding frequently enough, I also have an oversized skimmer.
After not trying my luck again for almost Ã"šÃ‚¾ of a year, I was in my LFS came across a beautiful T. derasa. I bought him; heââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s about 3ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ long and his name is Fred. I do not want to loose him. Hence, my question.
I have read that Fred is at the stage where he is transitioning between being a juvenile clam that requires regular feedings of phytoplankton and one which is sufficiently large to accommodate enough zooxanthellae to be self sustaining.
Obviously, my greatest fear is that Fred will wind up like the others. I thought that it may be a good idea to put my skimmer on a timer so that it turns off for several hours per day, namely, during the time of day that I dose the tank with Phytoplankton.
All things being equal, if I were pick a time to turn off the skimmer, I would probably choose mid to late afternoon when photosynthetic activity is at its height. By doing it at that time I imagine that it would affect the range of volatility in oxygen levels the least. This is the time that I would also choose to dose the tank with Phytoplankton. Unfortunately, I am not usually home during this time.
My guess that the next best time would be in the early evening, turning the skimmer back on right when the oxygen levels start to really fall.
Does anyone know if the clams feed at any particular time? Do they feed on phytoplankton at night? Will they feed on phytoplankton in the early morning when before halides turn on?
Any information that anyone could provide regarding this subject would be greatly appreciated. Not least of all by Fred.
Thanks.
