clam with predators?

teddyzaper

teddyzaper

New member
ok,

so im new here (kinda floated around for a bit though) and i thought, hey i made an account why not post up some questions lol...... kinda the point of a forum :hmm4:. im setting up a 55 gallon tank with a 20 gallon overflow and an additional 7.5 gallon in line, and i wanna do corals, but i also wanna do bigger fish. so ive chosen my fish, snowflake eel, fu man chu lionfish, and a frogfish. ive been told by many places and have read a lot that they will be fine together. ive also read that the snowflake eel is only considered not reef safe because it can, 1 nock corals down, and 2 will eat inverts. so here is my question, can i keep a clam with these fish since it is an invert? also, what would be a good beginers clam, i really like gigas and maximas, but i dont know whether either go on sand or rock? i want them to stay on the sand so any suggestions are welcome!

thanks!
 
PROBABLY BEST TO FORGET CLAMS if you're set on that. gigas are just unavailable anywhere and would outgrow your tank very soon. basically i'd suggest you do more research. any clam in a new tank is doomed. you need to have a mature setup. read more.
 
moliken: I'm pretty sure that is what he is trying to do right now (do some research that is)... it's not like he said, "hey guys, I just put some clams in my tank, and I just set it up yesterday... what do ya think?". Give him a break... we were all newbies once.

Having said that Teddy, I'll answer the questions you've posed.

1) The snowflake eel is only a threat to inverts such as crabs and shrimp, but is not a threat to corals and/or clams, except if it knocks it off the rockwork. The problem with your fish selection though is that they are "dirty eaters" and create lots of waste, which in turn could keep your nutrient levels high, which is something you don't necessarily want with corals and especially clams.

2) moliken is right about the gigas, it will grow fast and get much too large for your tank. Squamosa clams are supposed to be the least demanding clams when it comes to light requirements, but I honestly wouldn't consider any clams "beginner" clams... my first clam ever was a Maxima (which has now grown to twice the size as when I first got it and looks extremely healthy), and it's been easy for me from the start, but that's probably because I've been keeping corals for a while, and know the importance of lighting (I've got metal halides), constant/steady parameters, and water changes.

3) If you're looking to place the clam on the sand, and you're thinking of getting either a maxima or crocea, then you'll probably need to have some metal halide lighting (the wattage will depend on how deep your tank is, but likely 250W would be the minimum) or a good T-5 setup. Otherwise, if you have T-5 lighting with poor reflectors or 175W metal halide, you might need to move the clam up in the rockwork. If you have PC lighting, then I wouldn't suggest getting a clam yet until you upgrade your lighting. Squamosa clams are less demanding when it comes to light, but still would not be a consideration if you only have PC lighting.

And finally, as moliken was saying above, if you're new to the hobby and just setting this tank up, it's probably best that you wait on clams for now and do some additional research so that you can better understand their care requirements and what equipment you'll need to keep them healthy and growing. Lighting is just one element, but a very important one.

Hope this helps a little... good luck.

-Chad
 
gofor100, i wasn't trying to imply that teddy hadn't done any research, but that he needs to do some more. didnt mean to come off as harsh.
don't forget that the least demanding clams, derasas, can go on the sand. a derasa may outgrow a 55, but so may its owner.
still you really shouldn't get one until the tank is stable for 6 months after initial cycling. waiting is hard, but watching a beautiful critter die overnight is worse, as we all know.
 
6 months is a must if u want success with sensitive corals or inverts such as clams or anemones. the 3 fish u listed r fine with clams.
 
Not sure if 6 months is a "hard and fast" rule... I think a better way of determining when you're ready is after you've been able to keep your paramaters steady for a good month or two (it just so happens that for some people, this ends up taking about 6 months). Although, if you have a quick cycle (meaning you started with good rock), and are vigilant in doing weekly water changes and maintaining your calc/alk/mg at constant levels, you can add one sooner (or later for that matter).
 
im sorry, i didnt really post everything i had to say about this. first off, yes i plan to do a BUNCH more reaserch, but ive found that you guys are awsome and know a lot so i just wanted an "is it possible" answer. i think from what ive read that, yes it is possible, but if im wrong please correct me. ive been keeping corals for 6-8 months now and they are all doing great in my 10 gallon, but im upgrading because we all know how addicting this hobby is

the lighting over the tank will be 2x 250 watt MH which is 500 watts (if you cant do math :P). ill probably have some little pc actinic light becuase from what ive found so far is that my corals are more intesnly colored and color up faster under a little actinics. as far as skimmer, im still thinking about it but i got aboiut $150-200 to cash out for one so it wont be to cheap, but not the top of the line.

i definatly dont plan on adding any clam or corals till i get the tank up and running, finish the cycle, get stable then add fish. after fish are adding i tend to get a mini cycle (even though i cycled my 10 gallon for over 2 months), so when that gets stable again i will start adding my softies and LPS. then move to the harder to keep which will be SPS and a clam if its ok.

i will NOT be upgrading after this because im shelling out so much money and im only 14 so money doesnt come fast. im willing to devote up to 1/3 of my tank to a clam if that is the amount of space it will take up. i dont want it to sit on rock though because my sps and LPS will be on rock and i dont want them touching (even though ive heard of stories of them touching).

im not really looking for a begginer clam, just one that doesnt have special needs, AKA one that needs more than other clams.
 
Then based on that additional info, if you wait until after the cycle, the params are good, and the ca/alk/mg levels are good and stable, then you can definitely keep a maxima and/or crocea in the 55 gallon. They both remain relatively small, so you should be fine. Although, like moliken said before, the gigas is way too large for most tanks(I've seen one in a 200+ gallon, and the guy had to literally tear apart- take off the eurobracing- to get the thing out, and it wasn't even done growing).

Good luck, and post pics down the road when you end up getting your first clam.
 
thank you! wow i didnt know gigas get that big, i gues thats why they are called that though..... do you think i need a calc reactor or any other type of reactor? i havent even got the stand or anything, just the 2 tnaks and the lights so i can still put those in the design if i need some.
 
You can do either a calcium reactor or just dose calcium/alk and mg. I personally dose and am in the process of getting dosing pumps to maintain my system automatically.
 
good news from ya teddy. at 14, youre already doing better than most. even a cheap ca reactor won't be cheap, with the co2 needed and media and etc. i kept clams for a long while w/out a reactor, no probs, but have one now, and it's a pleasure not to worry. get a maxi or crocea that looks good to your eyes, regardless of "ultra" or "super ultra" over 2.5 inches to be safer, from a good source. but ONLY when all is stable. here is a great site for clammers
reef hyphen geeks dot com. fantastic info in their clam forum. experts. some with 25 or so clams.
 
i got a Co2 canister, PH probe/monitor, and a guage.... also got a difuser. it was gonna be used for a freshwater tank but never got around to it. could this work? i tried to set it up and couldnt figure it out, so if this is a possability ill post some pics of the pieces so you guys can help :P
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
New Crocea Clams - Some opening some not?
Replies
3
Views
474
hilde123
H
S
Clam in an unfavourable position - help moving it
Replies
19
Views
1K
Scotty333!!!
S
P
5G ADA Pico Reef with Cherub Angel
Replies
3
Views
221
Dustin07
D
A
Feeding regime
Replies
1
Views
138
griss
griss
J
Bare Bottom QT tank won't start cycle :(
Replies
13
Views
806
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
Back
Top