clams
- Thread starter kite
- Start date
Welcome to Reef Central. Have you researched the needs of clams? I ask, because a 10 gallon is likely not a great place for a clam. They have huge light requirements (maximas and croceas usually need metal halide light) and demand stability that a 10 gallon often can't provide.
What are your plans for a reef?
What are your plans for a reef?
well uhh,i trust my local aqaurium store... he said i got the best light i can get for my tank.. he said it was from some company that went out of buisness cause they couldnt compete with the chinese clones.. but he did mention the lights from the out of buisness company were very good.
my plans are some SPS corals.. i want a crocea clam.. and i was thinking 2 fish? (pygmy angel anyone) so yeah thats the plan
my plans are some SPS corals.. i want a crocea clam.. and i was thinking 2 fish? (pygmy angel anyone) so yeah thats the plan
airwaybill
meat popsicle
Yikes not the LFS!!! What kind of lights are they? Florescent or power compact(the u-shaped tubes)? Pygmy angel will eat the clams and sps. A 10 gallon will be very difficult to keep all of those things in if you haven't kept them before. Keep asking questions on this site. It will help you immensly.
Uh oh. Danger Will Robinson.
Rule #1 in reefkeeping is that most everything a local aquarium store tells you is wrong.
Those lights (a custom sea light) fixture are power compact lights, and not enough to sustain a crocea or maxima clam, not even close. It's far from the best light for your tank. The reason they say that is because it was what they had to sell you
SPS corals will also not be ideal choice for those lights also. Montipora will be fine, etc., but if you want the killer looking SPS corals like some of the tanks on this site, you will want better lighting.
I'm guessing your LFS (local fish store) didn't tell you this, but pygmy angels will eat both clams and corals. They are usually not reef safe.
Lastly, a 10 gallon tank is a very, very tricky thing to keep balanced, even for "easy" corals, let alone the super sensitive SPS and Clams.
I'm not trying to sound negative but rather to help you avoid mistakes many have made before. I'd stop listening to your LFS immediately and start reading ASAP. Check out The New marine Aquarium by Mike Paletta or The Consciencous Marine Aquarist by RObert Fenner. They will ggive you a good start.
Rule #1 in reefkeeping is that most everything a local aquarium store tells you is wrong.
Those lights (a custom sea light) fixture are power compact lights, and not enough to sustain a crocea or maxima clam, not even close. It's far from the best light for your tank. The reason they say that is because it was what they had to sell you
SPS corals will also not be ideal choice for those lights also. Montipora will be fine, etc., but if you want the killer looking SPS corals like some of the tanks on this site, you will want better lighting.
I'm guessing your LFS (local fish store) didn't tell you this, but pygmy angels will eat both clams and corals. They are usually not reef safe.
Lastly, a 10 gallon tank is a very, very tricky thing to keep balanced, even for "easy" corals, let alone the super sensitive SPS and Clams.
I'm not trying to sound negative but rather to help you avoid mistakes many have made before. I'd stop listening to your LFS immediately and start reading ASAP. Check out The New marine Aquarium by Mike Paletta or The Consciencous Marine Aquarist by RObert Fenner. They will ggive you a good start.
airwaybill
meat popsicle
Another good book is Natural Reef Aquariums by John Tullock. Check that out too.
I wasn't trying to be negative either. Just hate when stores sell you stuff that won't do what they say.
I wasn't trying to be negative either. Just hate when stores sell you stuff that won't do what they say.
my local fish store owner is actually a member of this site.. just so you know. (i just dont know his username) so your saying SPS isnt possible with PC lights?Some SPS will live (not thrive)under those lights, but you will never have those stunning colors and growth like in the tanks of the month and other metal halide lit tanks. I've seen people try it before. Most acros turn brown. Some die, some bleach. I've seen people try maxima and crocea clams under 96 watts of PC light over a 10 gallon (Thats a LOT!) They lasted a few months then just plain croaked.
Even light issues aside, many advanced reefkeepers will not try those creatures in a 10 gallon...they're too sensitive, and the chemistry gets out of whack way too easily.
With all due respect to your LFS guy, I think 99.9% of the people on this site will disagree with what he told/sold you. WIth those lights you will be fine with soft corals and LPS corals. Just stay clear of clams and SPS other than montipora maybe.
What about the rest of the setup you have....what kind of skimmer? How much live rock, etc. What kind of details can you give us?
None of us don't want you to have SPS or clams, we just don't want you to waste money on a clam or coral onl to have it die soon thereafter.
Even light issues aside, many advanced reefkeepers will not try those creatures in a 10 gallon...they're too sensitive, and the chemistry gets out of whack way too easily.
With all due respect to your LFS guy, I think 99.9% of the people on this site will disagree with what he told/sold you. WIth those lights you will be fine with soft corals and LPS corals. Just stay clear of clams and SPS other than montipora maybe.
What about the rest of the setup you have....what kind of skimmer? How much live rock, etc. What kind of details can you give us?
None of us don't want you to have SPS or clams, we just don't want you to waste money on a clam or coral onl to have it die soon thereafter.
airwaybill
meat popsicle
If you went up to a 29 or 35 gallon, you would have better success with sps or clams. You could get more light and also have a greater volume of nutrients to work with.
Just cause a LFS guy is a member of this site, doesn't make him the most honest salesperson in the world. He still has to make money and sell the products he has. No offense to him, but most would think he gave you misinformation.
Just cause a LFS guy is a member of this site, doesn't make him the most honest salesperson in the world. He still has to make money and sell the products he has. No offense to him, but most would think he gave you misinformation.
ok the tank is:
i forgot either 10-12 gallons forgot exact
red sea prizim skimmer
live sand
putting in rocks on friday so how many pounds do i need?
i checked.. the only reason my tank needed those lights was because i cant fit bigger lights under "DA hood" so uh basicaly im intersted in stocking it with things that you recomend and that i like. my favorite corals are LPS, and i love fire shrimp too. think i could get a fire shrimp in a ten-12 gallon? i <3 fire shrimp so much. and then in terms of coral im thinking about maybe a bubble coral? thats a cool one that i like. and ive seen somthing i cant identify.. im thinking its green hammer coral. i would like to see a picture of green hammer so i can identify what i saw. i was thinking mainly doing somthing like this i terms of live stuff:
rock
sand
bubble coral(s)
other random coral name <here>
shrimp
clean up krew
and what are your thoughts on fish for a ten-12 gallon reef, i know i can have like 1-2 fish (btw my friend said i gotta name a fish after her lol) so what do you think in terms of fish? i like mandarin's alot they are very colorful and i think my mom would like one also
basicaly. what are your thoughts?
i forgot either 10-12 gallons forgot exact
red sea prizim skimmer
live sand
putting in rocks on friday so how many pounds do i need?
i checked.. the only reason my tank needed those lights was because i cant fit bigger lights under "DA hood" so uh basicaly im intersted in stocking it with things that you recomend and that i like. my favorite corals are LPS, and i love fire shrimp too. think i could get a fire shrimp in a ten-12 gallon? i <3 fire shrimp so much. and then in terms of coral im thinking about maybe a bubble coral? thats a cool one that i like. and ive seen somthing i cant identify.. im thinking its green hammer coral. i would like to see a picture of green hammer so i can identify what i saw. i was thinking mainly doing somthing like this i terms of live stuff:
rock
sand
bubble coral(s)
other random coral name <here>
shrimp
clean up krew
and what are your thoughts on fish for a ten-12 gallon reef, i know i can have like 1-2 fish (btw my friend said i gotta name a fish after her lol) so what do you think in terms of fish? i like mandarin's alot they are very colorful and i think my mom would like one also
basicaly. what are your thoughts?
A bubble coral and/or hammer would be fine, just be warned that they will outgrow that tank faster than you might think. THey also need to be placed appripriately in terms of flow and position to each other. Research their specific needs.
A fire shrimp would be ok.
Elegance corals are a big no-no. They almost never survive in captivity. Mandarins also should never be in tanks with less than 100 pounds of live rock so that's out too.
Before you get anything you should get and read one of the books listed above. GOod luck
A fire shrimp would be ok.
Elegance corals are a big no-no. They almost never survive in captivity. Mandarins also should never be in tanks with less than 100 pounds of live rock so that's out too.
Before you get anything you should get and read one of the books listed above. GOod luck
meagan_myers
Premium Member
Rule #1 in reefkeeping is that most everything a local aquarium store tells you is wrong.
Isn't that the truth!!
Isn't that the truth!!
?
