Can I get a clam?

[Zucker26]

I have a 29gal that's been set up since early June. So far I only have a few mushrooms, polyps, and tree frags. Since this is my first reef tank, I intended on sticking to softies because I assumed I wouldn't be able to keep my water clean enough for SPS or clams. However, over the last 3 months my water has been much more stable than I ever anticipated.

Livestock is 2 green chromis, one ocelaris clown, one bicolor blenny, one coral beauty angel, and a coral banded shrimp.

I'm running a 10gal sump with a skimmer that was built for a much larger system (bought it used and couldn't pass up the price), PhosBan reactor, top-off with kalkwasser, and dosing C-Balance 2-part daily. Lighting is a 150W HQI + 2x65W actinic PCs, with a class cover on the tank (humidity issues in a small condo, I can't help it ).

Parameters are pretty steady at temp=77-80, salinity=1.024-1.025, Ca=400-440, dKh=8-9, and undetectable nitrates, nitrites, and phosphate.

I know some people say coral beautys are notorious for nipping clam mantles, but I have also heard some people say they've never had a problem. I would love to add a Crocea or a Squamosa, but have no idea how hard they are to keep or whether or not my system could maintan them. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

 

[tpenn187]

from what i have read in most forums they recomend waiting a year to add clams. it seems that your set up would be fine. i think for size restrictions you sould look into a crocea clam, they wont get as big or grow as fast. i would try some hardy lps to see how your system handls hard corals first. someone else may have a different view. as for a coral beauty.... every fish is different.

 

[skinz78]

even though the tank is doing quite well it is still less than 6 months old. Everything else sounds good to me but I would give it another month or two. When you do add a clam just be careful of getting it too close to your softies as they grow fast and move arround alot. The coral beauty is a toss up, you will have to monitor it closely.

If you add a squamosa it will outgrow your tank soon.

 

[unbreakable]

i see no problem why not if the tank has been setup for at least 6 months or so. i think some people say to even have setup longer before purchasing any. the sticky in the tridacnid forum states 150w mh minimum for croceas and maximas, so i see why not. but youd probably have to keep them up high on your rock work.

im skeptical about your angelfish, but like you said, its a 50/50. your parameters look good.

not sure about the phosban reactor, but i think you might have to run carbon with it as well.

start out with a crocea, something about 4" or so. im sure you could go with a maxima as well. hope someone else can come in and help you out as well

 

[mbbuna]

you have two fish that could cause problems for clams, the angel and the blenny

 

[Zucker26]

I guess two fish that are 50/50 doesn't give me very good odds. It sounds like I should wait a few months at the very least, then maybe I'll try out a Crocea and observe it very closely. If either the blenny or angel start picking on it, then I guess I'll decide to keep it and get rid of the fish, or post the clam for sale or trade. Thanks everyone!!!