Beginner question about clams...

[MrMongoose]

I'm been mostly centered around SPS but I've been considering a clam for my tank. I'm not really sure what I can have if anything, and would like to do the research instead of buying whats cool and killing it later. Here is my tank information.

65G Display 29G Refugium
Lights
(2) 250MH 14K
(2) 96W PC Actenic

Water
Cal 415
Alk 9.6
Ph 8.2-8.28
No2 0
No3 0
Temp 80.0-81.0
Salinity 1.025
(Weekly 20% water changes w/ RO/DI)
(over 2000GPH ciculation)

Tank Mates
Various Montipora's and Acros
Hammer Coral, Ricordia
Yellow Tang
Red Sea Regal Angelfish
Pair of Neon Gobys
BL & Scarlet Hermits out the Wazoo

My question is what would be a good beginner clam and what is possiable for me to keep? How big does a clam have to be to get most of its food from photosynisis? Please keep in mine that my tank is 18inches deep and the clam will be on the sandbed.

-Nathan

 

[d4a2n0k]

With your lights you can keep any clam you want on your sandbed. A good beginner clam is a Derasa.

At about 2.5 - 3 " is when clams typically get all their needs met by lighting.

 

[d4a2n0k]

In addition, if you can keep SPS then you wont have any problems with clams. Clams are more hardy than people give them credit for. Your tank parameters look good so make the jump!

 

[Peabody]

I agree, but you will probably need to get rid of your angel before getting a clam.

 

[MrMongoose]

Thanks for the information...Maybe I'll PM 'Copps' If I recall I think he had a regal in with some clams. Maybe its a hit and miss sort of thing, at any rate thanks for all the help.
-Nathan

 

[mbbuna]

it is hit or mis but hard to rid when it a mis

 

[dirtyreefer]

I have a red sea regal angel and I just added a crocea a couple weeks ago. He shows no interest in it.

I'm not sure which I would let go though if they weren't compatible, I love my regal!

 

[LisaD]

There is a regal angel thread in the Reef Fishes forum. I don't remember reading that the regals bothered much besides zoanthids.

 

[Scuba Dog]

From what I have been reading the regals really dont mess with the clams..mind you Im just going by reef cental threads on the subject...And hey if you have a regal that eating and dosent mess with acros ! well thats priceless, Im sure you have about a 75 to 80% chance the regal wont mess with the clam, then agen if the regal does mes with the clam, I would take the clam back and start planing a clam tank that could be plumbed into your sps reef...for a clam fuge so to speak....Thats what i did...also it added about 100 gallons more water volume to my 75 gallon sps reef!