Clam ?s

[Fireworm]

Ok, I have had my reef set up for over a year. I had 2 crocea before, and both of them died. I beleive that after reading some of the stuff on here I might nit have had enough light. I have a 250w MH ove my 29. My first bulb was supposed to be a 14k, but was more like a 20k. I just switched over to a 10k XM and wanted to kknow if that is to much light for squamosa?

Do you think I had to kittle light before with a 20k bulb for the crocea?

 

[mbbuna]

can you tell us a little more about your tank

 

[Fireworm]

sure

29g, 250w MH now with 10K XM, 35lbs+ LR, 1.5" dsb

1 pair of orange skunk clowns, 1 coral beauty angel, 2 cleaner shrimp, 1 pep, 1 harq shrimp, 5-10 blu leg hermits, handfull of snails.

for flow I have a seio 620, and a MJ 600, and a HOB full of carbon.

Lots of coral, mostly all frag size.

Getting ready to set up sump and fuge

 

[skinz78]

What happened when your other clams died? what signs did they show? Your cleaner shrimp and coral beauty angel are throwing up a red flag for me.

 

[Fireworm]

When my other clams went it was fast. My big one (4"+/-) looked great for a few months. One day the color was not as bright and the mantle was not all the way out. By that night, it was bad. I picked it up the next day to find a few bristle worms in it.

The little clam, 2.5-3", lived for a while longer. It was about the same way, just a little slower kill.

It put a funk in my tank though. My skimmer went nuts. I had to do a few 5gal water changes to get rid of teh film on teh top of the water.

 

[Fireworm]

My coral bueaty has not bothered anything in my tank yet. he messed with my basket star for a day or to, but now he ignores it.

My cleaners are very friendly. I can't put my hand in the tank with out them cleaning my hand and arm. Was neat at first, now it is just a pain.

 

[skinz78]

If you have an angelfish that is picking on things you more than likely will never see it happen. They know when you are watching.

What are your water paramaters?

Your lighting sounds good to me

 

[Fireworm]

My water is great. At least it was last week when I tested it. My angel might have to go. I am wanting a clam bad.

 

[sailfintang]

I dont think you had to little light on the tank a 250 watt bulb over a 29 gallon tank gives you about 8.6 watts per gallon. I am successfully keeping clams running 2-150 watt halides with a 20K bulb. You will need to look at the clam closly for any pesty snails and look down inside to see if there is anything odd about the inside of the clam.
What is you calcium level at?

 

[paintballer768]

Ive got 150 watts 14k on my 24 and my clam hasnt shown any signs of a light-deficiency. I think before it died due to light-related issues, it would have moved around a bit in order to get better exposure.

I have a coral beauty and a cleaner shrimp. My angel hasnt picked at any corals or the clam. Just know that it pretty much varies by the individual fish whether it will pick or not. The cleaner shrimp is more in a pain than the angel. Its always walking over corals until they close and such. Just try to watch from afar and see which one it is, because I would bet one of them is the culprit. Like skinz said, they know when youre watching.

Did these two clams come from the same place? Were there any tiny, white snails on it perchance?

 

[Fireworm]

The two clams did come from teh same place, but a few months apart in purchase. The first one one was close to 4" and the second one was about half that size. I had a few friends that bought when I did with no problem. I haven't checked my calcium in a week or two, but it always runs on the high side of good.

Should I get a fish before hand that will eat the snails just incase? Is there something better than a six line?
Do I need to dose Magnesium as well for a clam, or use the trace element blocks?

 

[Fireworm]

Should I stay away for the crocea? I found a squamosa that I like that is aroun 2.5 or 3". Has real nice color to him. I could keep him on the sand. If I could find a crocea I have a few spots I could set them. As long as I can find a little peice of rock for them to attach to first.

 

[skinz78]

Go with the squamosa but post pic's of it asap and we'll see what you have.

 

[Fireworm]

is teh squamosa easier to take care of than the crocea? How about a maxima?

 

[skinz78]

crocea and maxima are the hardest, squamosa is one of the easyest

 

[Fireworm]

Should I get a fish before hand that will eat the snails just incase? Is there something better than a six line?
Do I need to dose Magnesium as well for a clam, or use the trace element blocks?

 

[skinz78]

fish do not do much on the battle against pyramid snails. pyramids are nocturnal, wrasses's arent.

 

[Fireworm]

so how do you get rid of them if you get them?

 

[skinz78]

Manual removal, mbbuna just did a great article in the www.reefkeeping.com magazine.