H. hippopus information

[quantim0]

i just got my first clam last sunday, so it's been in my tank for a week now. it was a good deal, 2.5" for $15. all the information that i could gather is that they are hardy. i read over Knopp's book and it was really no help. what can everyone tell me about this clam from personal experience? how fast do they grow and where do they prefer to be kept. i have mine on the sandbed, which Knopp's book says. my tank parameters are listed below.

65 gal AGA 36x18x24 with 20 gal sump
Kent Marine EX skimmer
400W 10K MH 8" from water surface, 2 55W Actinic PC
pH: 8.3
Nitrates: <5ppm
Ca: 420ppm
50 lbs of LR
4" DSB

 

[ADS]

The hippopus is a deeper water,lower light clam. The sandbed is fine. They do adjust to bright MH light and will change some coloration. The clam should be fed at that size every other day(or 3 days some prefer). You can target feed with live phytoplankton, just turn off flow and use about 10-20cc directly over clam. Don't blow it into incurrent siphon, just spread above clam.
Under the right conditions they will grow rapidly and get big.
Good luck with it. Adam