Getting ready for my first clam . . .

[tangman99]

I am getting my parameters in my tank ready for my first clam. Here are my specs for my tank and my readings. I'm looking for things that still need some adjusting.

90 Gallon Berlin system running about 4 years. 100 lbs fiji live rock, 4 inches aragonite DSB. Will have 29 Gallon Fuge on after this weekend with Macro algae.

AquaC EV-180 protein skimmer with Mag 7

2 250W Reeflux 10K MH lamps
2 110W URI actinic VHO lamps

1 Mag 7 return pump from sump

2 Maxijet 900 Powerheads in tank for circulation. I will adding 2 SEIO 1100s next week to get more circulation for some SPS corals.

Parameters:

Temp 80-83 degrees
Salinity 1.024
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrates - 0 (Checked with 2 test kits)
Phosphates - Red Sea says .1, Salifert says 0
PH - 8.3
Alk - 9 dkh (been buffering this up from 6 over the past 3 days)
Calcium - 475 (Used Oceanic salt my last 25% water change 2 weeks ago)

Currently, I don't dose anything at all. Just water changes once a month.

The only problem I am currently having is hair algae and I don't know why with my parameters. It seems to have slowed way down. Should I wait until it is all gone before adding the clam?

 

[creyes]

hi tangman99 I thing you are rigt with your parameter, to eliminate algae you can buy a fish called algae blenny or sailfin. About your future clam I cant tell anything because i had two dead of clam, rigt now IÃ"šÃ‚´m looking the reasong because I have the same parameter but the clam only are a live for 2 week. well i hope that my commnets help, take care.

 

[Ti]

Just water changes once a month.

The only problem I am currently having is hair algae Just water changes once a month.

Nutrient issue

 

[mbbuna]

what else do you have in the tank? and how/ what do you feed?

with those #'s i would say go ahead and add a clam.

also throw away the red sea kits

 

[tangman99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7234921#post7234921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbbuna
what else do you have in the tank? and how/ what do you feed?

with those #'s i would say go ahead and add a clam.

also throw away the red sea kits

Yellow Tang
Six line wrasse
3 Greene Chromis
Coral Beauty

Blue leg hermits
Scarlet Hermits
Turbo Snails
Peppermint Shrimp

Devils Hand
Yellow Polyps

Will be adding some SPS corals after I get my SEIO 1100's this week.

I am ordering all Salifert Test kits to replace what I have. I have heard nothting but good things about them.

Right now because of my Hair Algae, I'm only feeding every 4 or 5 days, but I usually feed every other day.

I usually feed frozen brine shrimp and frozen formula 1 and some seaweed sheets on one feeding

The next feeding I will feed frozen brine shrimp and frozen formula 2.

 

[mbbuna]

make sure you rinse all frozen food well. the juice from frozen foods is loaded with phosphate's

pygmy angels and clams can be trouble. most of the time if a clam is introduced after the angel, the fish will give it a few nips to see if its food and IMO angels think clams taste good.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

its not just the water parameters, its maintaning them stable (over a long period of time)
On the alage thing, find out were your phospates are coming from ( the source) frozen foods, are you using Ro/DI water! (I had to add a 2nd DI cart) ( with salivert test po was 0)

 

[Charlie Davidson]

btw, coral beautys and yellow tangs are well known "nippers" of clams/corals!
Not that your fish are, each fish has its own personality much like people.

 

[reverendmaynard]

IMO, you might want to wait until you develop a dosing strategy for alk and calc. Occasional testing and "dosing up" isn't going to cut it for clams, lps, or sps. I suggest dripping Kalk as your make up water, or daily dosings of a 2 part additive. Check the reef chemistry forum for info on maintaining alk, calc, and mag. Randy's 2 part is economical and easy. Whichever way you go, you'll need a few weeks to figure out the correct doses.

 

[reverendmaynard]

Oh, and you should rinse all frozen foods before adding to cut down on phophates. Thaw it out in a cup of water, let it settle, then pour off as much of the water as possible.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I 2nd it---Add the clam! a derasa is a good starter!

 

[tangman99]

Thanks Guys! I have not been rinsing the food. I just let it thaw in a cup of aquarium water and then pour it back in the tank. That may be a problem.

I plan on doing 2 parts at first and then maybe adding a calc reactor later if needed.

I will definitely keep and eye on my fish. I hope they behave themselves.