An Introduction and Clam Question

[Dolmo5000]

Hello COMAS peps, My name is Richard Dolman. I am a PhD student working in the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit up in Stillwater (OSU). My research is in terrestrial Lanscape Ecology and Conservation, but I am an avid water lover. I have been in the hobby for around 2 years after being given my first and current 55g LPS tank by a professor who took a job in Australia. I have been a member (mostly reader) of RC for some time, but have not taken the time to become active in the Oklahoma area until recently (work and study take lots of time). I would really like to become active here and COMAS seems to be the best way to achieve that goal.

After the small intro I have a question concerning the procurement of a clam (any of the species potentially). I recently had to replace pretty much every component of the tank as it was over 7 years old when I got it. I now have a reef octo diablo xs 160, large sump, refugium, and 6 bulb aquaticlife T5 light fixture. I think I can keep pretty much any clam i want at this point, but as many people have suggested only to get one when you yourself can perform a few health checks (hand test) I was wondering, where in oklahoma might I go to purchase a nice giant clam?

Thank you very much for your time and have a great day everyone.

 

[cjilge]

Any of the good lfs can help. I would start if in okc Highdefcorals, Custom Reef creations, Aquariums of Edmond. If in Tulsa Oddballs, Tulsa Aquatics, or Filtered Aquatics. Mine came from Highdefcorals and is absolutely stunning. We are very lucky here in OK to have some really great suppliers. Also Welcome! We always enjoy meeting new people in the hobby.

 

[Dolmo5000]

Thank you very much cjilge. I am waiting to hear back from hidefcorals about when they might have some more available. I have had some pos and neg experiences with places here in Oklahoma, but that is of course the state of things every where. I'm really wanting to get down to reef creations, but havent had the time yet. Maybe this weekend or the one after. Again, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[lauremf2002]

I would second all of cjilge's suggestions. Welcome!

 

[cjilge]

No prob, all of them are great stores and can offer good advise. I would call them all friends.

 

[Dolmo5000]

Update,

Thanks to your suggestions, bobkill, and reef creations my aquarium is looking amazing. Bobkill was looking for a new home for his T. derasa and I just happened to be in the market. He also had a great little ORA Blue Milli I couldn't pass up. After meeting and picking up the clam in Norman I stopped in at Custom Reef Creations and met Bill. All I can say is WOW! That place was amazing. Bill was very nice and helped me find a Staghorn and Orange Monti cap. I will surely be visiting reef creations when I'm jonesing for a frag fix.

I have to say, in the past few months I have met some very nice people in the COMAS area who have made my semi forced transition from LPS dominated to mixed reef. The first was a guy named Anthony in western OKC who has one of the nicest set-ups I have ever personally seen. An amazing display in his living room that is plumed into the garage, where he has a SICK frag tank full to the brim of gorgeous corals. My favorite was his engineer goby down in the sump. Then yesterday I was lucky enough to be given a great looking clam and meet Shawn and Bill. Here are a few pics of my tank and critters. Thanks guys!

My 55g drilled aquarium (all photos today are with actinics only. Acclimating corals and clam)

T. derasa Bobkill was nice enough to give me

ORA Blue Milli also from Bobkill

Some kind of blue Staghorn from Reef Creations

Maxi Mini I already had

Coco Worm I have had for 3 years (Yeah!!) and favia behind

Purple Catspaw from Anthony

Birdsnest I already had

ORA Green stylo I believe (left), and unhappy or blue milli (right)

Reference for the tank 1 year ago. RIP 60+ polyp duncan (after lights changed he got brown jelly disease). The frags you see in new pics above are what I have left. Most wont be in the tank tomorrow I suspect. I just hope I can save at least 1.

Again. Thank for all of your suggestions and kindness. I look forward to being more active in the area. Have a good one!

 

[Dolmo5000]

P.S. In the first pic you can see that I have lots and lots of hammer frags. I would be happy to sell/trade/give if anyone is interested. I REALLY need to open up some space around the tank and they are taking tons of realestate.

 

[BigPurp]

if you're ever in the norman area, pm me ;-)

 

[Dolmo5000]

I'll be sure to do that BigPurp, thanks for the post.

 

[bobkill]

Good to see you made it home with ur clam! - tanks
Looking good

 

[Dolmo5000]

Hey dude, I really cant thank you enough. This thing is wicked cool. A few friends can in town this afternoon (of which one is a stream ecologist whom has worked on bivalves before) and totally geeked out on the clam. Its really a striking addition to the tank. Thanks for the kind words about the tank. Its in a transition and I'm SUPER bummed about the duncan, but I thing I'll be able to save a frag with about 3-4 polyps. "Duncan" my wife named "him" will live on. Have a good one bobkill.

 

[bobkill]

I was just paying it foward - cjigle and blakers have helped me out every time I asked and have hooked me up - and bill and Anthony for that matter so just passing on the love I have received before - it looks good in your tank