How does everyone feel about a clam?

[InsaneClownFish]

Well I've gone and done it. I took my girlfriend with me to Exotic on Sunday, and now she is insistent on buying me a clam for my birthday.

Now, I've done a great deal of reading about clams, but I'm trying to decide if my tank is ready for one. Personally, I think a clam will do wonderfully in my tank for various reasons.

The main question is how do you folks feel about a clam in a tank that is slightly older than 2 months?

There seem to be two prevalent schools of thought:

1. It seems many people feel that if you've done your homework, all of your water parameters are stable, and you can provide the proper lighting- then go for it.

2. A clam should only be added to a reef that has been established for 6 months.

Help me out folks- I'm really lookin to give into my girlfriend on this one...:love1:

Tank- 40 Breeder
6x38w T5 Tek fixture sitting directly on top of the tank(basically on the waterline)
Salinity- 1.026
Temp- 78.5-81.5
PH- 8.3- 8.4
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate- .10

Salifert tests
I would like either a Maxima or Crocea- it would be placed no more than 4 inches from the lights.

 

[The Shrimp X]

I think a clam would do fine as long as it is either a Squamosa, Derasa, or a hippopus. My reason is is that you have plenty of light to even try a maxima but your tank is still very young, the best clams for a tank like yours would be a hippoppus or a derasa but a squamosa is a goood choise to, these are all good beginer clams, a maxima and corcea clams are almost a whole nother leage, corcea are the hardest and can definately be done with T5 lights, but the tank is to young, a maxima would do better than a corcea, but the tank is to young and the smaller maximas can be very hard to take care of.


Just my 00.02$

 

[reefamania]

here is something to read by couple of guy's who are regarded as the top experts with our bivalved buddies.

http://www.aquariumfrontiers.net/On_The_Half_Shell.html

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/Clam_care/Clam_care.htm

 

[northbay-reefer]

clams are prety hardy, the trick is not to move it too much. And as long as you keep your water parameter within acceptable range.