Clam advise please

[JR719]

Hi all,

I just purchased MH lighting so as to keep clams. The only tank I have set up at this time is a 55gal. The lights are 250 watt. I will be putting 2 on the tank. Is there any particular spectrum better for clams? I will more than likely have 10K or 14K bulbs. Other than this, what else should I look out for and be careful of when introducing clams? I have been reading many posts, but some seem to contradict. I guess what I am really asking is, what do you recommend for having clams. All suggestions are welcome. By the way, water params are "0".

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[birdie]

From what I have heard, and seen, clams show the most growth under bulb between 6500k and 10000k. People successfully keep them under 14k and 20k bulbs as well they just seem to have slower growth, but they will show with a better color IMHO. So it is really whatever you prefer on your aquarium. Some people run just 20k bulbs and some people still supplement with actinics. We have a 90g at work that has 2 250 14ks and 3 96w PC's and that is more than blue enough for me. Oh and BTW you might want to bring your pH up a little higher than "0". Sorry but I can't help it I am childish.

Peace
Richard

 

[jda]

6.5K to 20K would be fine. Just pick what you think looks best. The difference in growth is negligable IMO. Lights is just one aspect of growth - water quality, tankmates, water changes, etc. have as much to do with it as lights.

I like 14K personally. I have halimton in DE and a coralvue in SE. They are different looking, but I like them both.

Calcium stable at 400-440 and alk stable at 8.0 to 12.0. Try not to let them fluxuate too much. Pick your fish wisely - some will pick on clams and literally irritate them to death. When in doubt, go to the SPS keepers forum and check out water quality. Water quality in a SPS tank is great for clams too. So are the lights.

Go to your local library and see if they have Daniel Knop's book. I checked it out there and read it. Good stuff in there. I suppose that you could buy it too.

Nice work in actually asking and researching before you bought anything.

 

[JR719]

birdie, ok, got me on that one. Guess I should have said the bad stuff is "0".
jda, from the numbers you list, my tank will do fine. I will go and try to find Daniel's book. Thanks for the help, now continued research.

 

[JR719]

Any advise on what clam for a starter? The hardiest hopefully with good coloring? Kids like the blue mantles that we've seen.

 

[birdie]

JR719,
The best starter clams, are unfortunately, not that colorful. Deresas are one of the hardiest and best starters. I have had my original Deresa for 5 years and love it. They have their own allure, and you will love it with time. They also grow really fast, and it gives you a reason to upgrade . Once you get some experience under your belt you can add some Maximas and Croceas.

Peace
Richard

 

[Scuba Dog]

Keeping clams isnt all that tricky. Just cover the basics mentioned above, plenty of light, you have that, then you need great water quality, a small trace amount of nitrates is ok for clams...a big factor is your calcium and alkalinity levels....but the biggie concerning water quality isnt just giting great results on the test kits but maintaining consistancy no rapid changes in the system, and the other factors are keeping preditaion and parasites out as well....If your tank has been set up a whyle and the water levles are good and stable then I think your ready!

 

[WaterDogs]

I use XM 250 watt SE 10K.

 

[jda]

Blue rim deresas are pretty and hardy. I would start with one of those. I have found that gold Maximas are pretty hardy.

Teardrop clams can be a little tricky (especially wild caught ones), so I would avoid those for a while.

Also, buy clams over 3" while you are learing. Smaller clams require feeding and more work.

 

[JR719]

I appreciate the info. I have to add B-Ionic during water changes, guess I should break down and get a kalk reactor. This current tank has been set up for 3 years and is fairly stable, until water changes. I'll figure something out for stability. Dose prior to change. What is the best to feed clams? and is this a target feed?
Thank You again for the info.
Jeff

 

[Scuba Dog]

to feed clams go with a live phytoplankton...such as DT's or culture your own...the larger the clam the less dependence on phyto, the smaller the clam the more dependence.....if you purchase a one to two inch clam definitly target feed it by the bowl technique...

 

[Scuba Dog]

bowl technique is placing the clam in a bowl or cup...dont let the clam be exposed to air so place it in the container whyle its under water...add a few mils of DTS till the water has a slight green tint....and later when the water has been filtered clear by the clam place it back in its spot in the tank....has worked well for me, and I noticed that the clams grow much faster when I feed them that way...

 

[JR719]

Scuba Dog,
As is taking the clam out of the tank? What if it attaches to a large rock? I have read where one cuts a pop bottle in half but don't really understand, the bottle would be under water so how to put in DT's? I am using my 55 for the clams I want to get. I am trying to get as much info as I can so as not to wipe it/them out when I do purchase. Usually when I add DT's to my tank, I turn off everything but powerheads. I let it circulate for about 30 minutes then everything back on. I suppose I could get a long tube and put over the clam, then pour the DT's in. Would this work? I know there would be alot of excess but everything else would benifit, would it work?

 

[Scuba Dog]

I placed my baby max on the sandbed, and one is atached to a clam shell so mine are easily moveable.....If yours are atached to the rock work, then cut the top off a 2 liter soda bottle and place the top/funnel over the clam and feed the dts with a syrenge through the funnels opening...that will help concentrate the dts for the calm to get a more concentrated mixture out of it.......now if you purchase larger clams 3 inches and up I would not worry so much about feeding them....

 

[JR719]

Thanks Scuba Dog, Thanks also jda,
I think I may start shopping for a blue rim, fairly good size, around 3"? I went with the LFS suggestion when setting up my reef a few years ago, not sand but crushed coral. Would it be a good to place the clam in that with some sort of shell or tile under the gravel to attach itself to? It is not a tall tank but want it to get all the light needed. If that is not enough how will I know? I don't want to make any mistakes and that is why I have so many questions. In the past have had fish only setups and still new to reefs. Sorry if I seem like a pest but, I don't want to kill a beautiful creature due to stupidity. So everything I can learn is a real benifit to me.

Jeff

 

[Scuba Dog]

no problem at all....a flat piece of rock or old clam shell will sufice...or juts place it on the crushed coral....the deresa isnt a high light clam so It will be more than happy to live on your sand bed...just keep an eye open for the pyrmid snails when you purchase it...and im sure it will do great, clams arnt all that difficult to keep...just maintain the water quality...and keep an eye out for the parasites...

 

[JR719]

I am thinking of getting a six line prior to the clam, just to clear out any pyramids that may be lurking. I know it sounds like crazy talk but, I don't really care very much for six line's. My current tank is mostly tangs, well, 2 eng. gobies, they really have torn up the aquascape and want to get rid of. This combo of fish won't be a problem will it? Also brittle star, cleaner shrimp, hermits and a damsel I am going to get rid of. Who know's what else is lurking in the rock.

 

[Scuba Dog]

I enjoyed my six line, but the guy just up and disapeared all a sudden???????? maybey he jumped out of the tank and the cat got it? should be fine...lepard wrasses will do the same job as the six line, and the yellow coris wrass is another possibility...but i think the six lines are more common and easier on the pocket book....I think your choice of fish is fine...

 

[JR719]

Thank you, Scuba Dog, it appears you are the clamxpert here. I really appreciate your input and advise. I am going to be shopping around for a health clam. My lfs does not carry them, the closest store is 1 1/2 hours away. I was there 12-9 and they only had 1 clam and the one "valve"? was wide open. From what I have read this is not normally a good sign. The color was blue but appeared faded. I figure if it is still there in a few weeks and unchanged, or for better I may pick it up. Is there a good place to mail order clams? Trustworthy? I have purchased corals for very low prices due to them looking very horrible, only to have them continue down to death. Thats what I get for thinking I could nurse them back. I don't want that with a clam, to beautiful of a creature to watch them die. I am learning alot and appreciate your input. Write a book and send it to me. I do have friends in high places (and good swampland to sell).

 

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks Naw I just read alot and asked the same questions you did....but there is an excelent book on the market Daniel Knops book on trinacnid clams...Yep that one is on my christmass list this yeat...as far as mail order sites.. www.clamsdirect.com is the best Barry has a good asortment of clams and now sps and ricordia...plus he has a forum on his web site and thats a big help....all of his stuff is what you see is what you get....www.etropicals.com has a decent asortment of clams but they are not what you see what you get...but they have great shipping and an excelent stay alive garantee...I have ordered a couple ultra maximas from them and they are alive and well...one just made it past the one year mark and the other is almost 4 months old...jeffs exotics has some clams as well a good selection but i havent ever ordered from them....but over all barry at clams direct has the best repitation...sign up for his mailing list his stuff sells out pretty fast.....