grocery store clams in my reef tank?

[tonyjared]

Don't laugh, I wonder if I can drop some live clams from the grocery store in my tank. Wonder if they will help my DSB? Any thoughts?

 

[LeslieH]

It's a common question. The common answer is this: Grocery store clams tend to come from temperate or cold water. They'll survive for a while in a tropical tank but due to thermal stress it may not be for very long. They either become food for your other animals or add to the bioload as they rot.

 

[tonyjared]

Thanks LeslieH,
I have been studying alot since I posted the line. I have found that several online companies are selling littleneck clams just like the grocery store as sandbed clams. Just like you said they die eventually and poison the tank becuase they are below the sand. There is one company Indo...... that is selling sand bed clams that seem to sound good at first. but a little digging found the truth. They just say genus Tapes but a search reveals the species and it is the carpet shell clam. Looking a little further found that this is the manila clam that we get from the grocery store. They say it is a sand mover but I have my doubts. It seems that clams might not be a great sand stirrer after all.
Thanks,
TJ

 

[rekn]

if by sand mover you mean, barry in the sand and stay in one spot forever then yeah, initially they move sand.