OK, so trying to be a diligent reefer, I'm trolling these boards, other sites, and basically every book I can get my hands on to maximize my chances for reef success. I really would like to get a nice clam, Maxima or Crocea, but want to be somewhat sure that I'm properly equipped.
I think my biggest challenge in successfully keeping a clam are as follows:
Phosphates: I'm getting some phosphates in the tank which I think may be contributing to my cyano problem (noted below). I can easily and cheaply get my water change water (changed 10% every two weeks) from a LFS which gets it from Catalina (a small local island off the coast of Southern California). Such water is known to have some phospates but I figured that it was the easiest and most natural thing around. On the other hand, I've read from a few places that clams use phosphates and should thrive in such an environment. So I'm thinking that introducing a clam is good for the clam and good for the tank (eats the phosphates and gets rid of the cyano). Right?
Lighting: I've got 4 x 55W PC's (2 ultraday / 2 actinic) which my open brain (and everything else) seems to love. I know some think that its MH or the highway, but is that necessarily true? Anyone have success with clams using PCs?
Feeding: I was planning on increasing my dosing of "Sea Snow" from one cap every other day to one cap every day once/if I get the clam. Is this increased feeding necessary/appropriate? I believe "Sea Snow" is the 'Dead Phytoplankton" variety which, as I understand it, is acceptable if not the best food (which would be 'Live Phytoplankton'). Am I correct in this understanding?
For further reference, I'm providing the following background information which may or may not be relevant.
Inherited my tank from my younger brother who had it established for about a year and half and I've been upgrading and running it for about 4 months now (so almost a 2 year old tank). Upgraded/added just about everything but the skimmer, and live sand. I've got a standard 55 gallon tank, 4 X 55 PCs (2 ultraday/2 actinic), 60 lbs of LR, 2 inch sand bed (would say DSB but know I would get flamed for not having 4'' - 6'', and I intend to add another 20lbs of Argonite), a CPR Bak Pac skimmer (no bio material), and a Fluval cannister (got stuck with it, no bio material, used purely for mechanical filtration [cleaned once a week], and occassional carbon filtration, and, of course, increased water circulation). Livestock includes 5 fish (1 maroon clown, 1 royal tang, 1 cardinal fish, 1 firefish, and 1 dragonet [doing well since I have tons of copepods]), possibly 3 anenomes (1 sebae, 2 little unknown hitchhikers living on rock with white trucks and maroon hairy ends (possibly BTA, but not sure), 3 peppermint shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 urchins (1 pencil, 1 rock boring hitchhiker), 25-30 turbo snails, 10 astrea snails, 40 blue legged hermits, 2 orange starfish, 1 purple starfish, 2 white sandstars. For Corals I have leathers, button polyps, one flowerpot, one soft branching (forget the name), and an open brain on the substrate (which I've had for a couple of months and is doing really well). Purple coralline is in the process of covering the LR and seems to be doing well.
I feed the tank every other day some brine shrimp and a cap full of "Sea Snow."
Current Tank Problems: I've got a 'dusting' of green algae on the glass which I clean every few days with a magnet and some specks of cyano (red slime) which is giving me some concern. I think the Cyano is currently my biggest problem.
Thanks and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
I think my biggest challenge in successfully keeping a clam are as follows:
Phosphates: I'm getting some phosphates in the tank which I think may be contributing to my cyano problem (noted below). I can easily and cheaply get my water change water (changed 10% every two weeks) from a LFS which gets it from Catalina (a small local island off the coast of Southern California). Such water is known to have some phospates but I figured that it was the easiest and most natural thing around. On the other hand, I've read from a few places that clams use phosphates and should thrive in such an environment. So I'm thinking that introducing a clam is good for the clam and good for the tank (eats the phosphates and gets rid of the cyano). Right?
Lighting: I've got 4 x 55W PC's (2 ultraday / 2 actinic) which my open brain (and everything else) seems to love. I know some think that its MH or the highway, but is that necessarily true? Anyone have success with clams using PCs?
Feeding: I was planning on increasing my dosing of "Sea Snow" from one cap every other day to one cap every day once/if I get the clam. Is this increased feeding necessary/appropriate? I believe "Sea Snow" is the 'Dead Phytoplankton" variety which, as I understand it, is acceptable if not the best food (which would be 'Live Phytoplankton'). Am I correct in this understanding?
For further reference, I'm providing the following background information which may or may not be relevant.
Inherited my tank from my younger brother who had it established for about a year and half and I've been upgrading and running it for about 4 months now (so almost a 2 year old tank). Upgraded/added just about everything but the skimmer, and live sand. I've got a standard 55 gallon tank, 4 X 55 PCs (2 ultraday/2 actinic), 60 lbs of LR, 2 inch sand bed (would say DSB but know I would get flamed for not having 4'' - 6'', and I intend to add another 20lbs of Argonite), a CPR Bak Pac skimmer (no bio material), and a Fluval cannister (got stuck with it, no bio material, used purely for mechanical filtration [cleaned once a week], and occassional carbon filtration, and, of course, increased water circulation). Livestock includes 5 fish (1 maroon clown, 1 royal tang, 1 cardinal fish, 1 firefish, and 1 dragonet [doing well since I have tons of copepods]), possibly 3 anenomes (1 sebae, 2 little unknown hitchhikers living on rock with white trucks and maroon hairy ends (possibly BTA, but not sure), 3 peppermint shrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 urchins (1 pencil, 1 rock boring hitchhiker), 25-30 turbo snails, 10 astrea snails, 40 blue legged hermits, 2 orange starfish, 1 purple starfish, 2 white sandstars. For Corals I have leathers, button polyps, one flowerpot, one soft branching (forget the name), and an open brain on the substrate (which I've had for a couple of months and is doing really well). Purple coralline is in the process of covering the LR and seems to be doing well.
I feed the tank every other day some brine shrimp and a cap full of "Sea Snow."
Current Tank Problems: I've got a 'dusting' of green algae on the glass which I clean every few days with a magnet and some specks of cyano (red slime) which is giving me some concern. I think the Cyano is currently my biggest problem.
Thanks and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
