Buying my first clam?

[wademcarthur]

I think I'm ready to buy my first one.

I have a 55 gallon with 2x250W MH. It's been set up as a reef for nearly two years. The bottom consists of calcium rubble from 1/4" to 1" in diameter. What clam is my best bet?

Thanks,

Wade

 

[dragon_slayer]

if your water quality is top notch (you didnt mention it) i dont see a problem with you keeping any kind you'd like. keep in mind a 55 is a narrow tank and some of the larger clams will outgrow it in a year or two.

your substrate sounds a little odd to me, it sounds like it would be bad at trapping waste and building NO3 levels................but clams like a little NO3, just not a lot.

if you could give a little more details on water quality and filtration it would help give a definate on if you tank is ready, but after 2 yrs as a reef (meaning your keeping corals) it should be fine.


kc

 

[wademcarthur]

I know my substrate is a little strange. Dumb move that the LFS talked me into. I'm actually planning on converting over to sand but I'm not sure yet if I want to go full blown with a DSB. Anyway, you asked about water quality. I'll give it to you as best as I remember it a couple of days ago:

Temp.: 78 degrees
Specific gravity: 1.022 this morning, usually a little higher.
pH: 8.2 or 8.3
Calcium: around 400 mg/L give or take. I try to use kalkwasser everyday.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: always a little. Like you said, the substrate helps, in addition, my well water has traces of it.

Fish: 1 yellow tang, 2 cinnamon clowns, 1 arc eye hawkfish.
Corals: An assortment of SPS and softies. In the process of gradually moving into all SPS.

60+ lbs. of live rock.

That's probably a little more info than you needed. Could you rate the different species of clams from easiest to keep to hardest? Also keep in mind that I will definetly be looking for a clam over 4". I'm not disciplined enough to feed a little guy every couple of days.

Thanks for the help.

 

[dragon_slayer]

your current substrate is great for clams, its been told that sand is not good for them something about it irratating the clam internaly. personaly i find it hard to belive as most clams live in sandy places in the wild, some even in mud.

IME the derasa is one of the most hardy/easy to keep and the teardrop is the most dificult.

a 3" or larger derasa would be a great choice for a starter IMO. keep in mind they get quite large, 20+ inches.


hth
kc

 

[wademcarthur]

Thanks for the help. I did a lot of reading on this site today since I didn't have to work. I was actually leaning towards a Derasa or Squamosa. There's a 5" Derasa on clamsdirect I was kind of eyeballing.

It's obvious to me that with a clam that can grow that big, I'mm be needing a new tank and maybe this is the ammo I need to convince my wife of it. Oh well, It'll be a year or so before I upgrade.

Thanks again.

 

[dragon_slayer]

you didnt mention what you keep in the tank allready, but keep in mind a big clam uses a good deal of calcium. if your not, you need to check into a calcium additive with the clam.

hth
kc

 

[wademcarthur]

I'm using kalkwasser but I'm kind of looking towards a calcium reactor. Not sure yet.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[dragon_slayer]

been thinking along the lines of a calcuum reactor myself for about 5 years now, just havent made up my mind yet.


kc

 

[wademcarthur]

I've got a B-day coming up soon so maybe I can talk the wife into it. Or probably not. But at least I'm thinking.

 

[dragon_slayer]

its always a good idea to get one larger then your tank so you dont have to rebuy when you upgrade later.......you will upgrade

kc