I want a solo clam

B

brendan.oates97

New member
I have fallen in love with clams and i want to put one in a 5.5 gallon with a 7 gallon sump. This is not my first time keeping hard to care for species but this is my first clam. I am either wanting a crocea or a flame scallop. The crocea is a bit expensive but easier as it is somewhat photosynthetic. The flame scallop i know i would need to feed baby daphina and yeast and pea flour mix to constantly. Do you think this can be done as i really just want a solo specimen.

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Crocea is the most light demanding clam that you can get. Although you might be able to keep it with 6 or 8 T5 bulbs, they really do best under Metal Halide.

The amount of food that a flame scallop will need will pollute a small tank unless you have massive filtration and change a lot of water.

How about a singe type of zoa that covers the a whole mound shaped rock that could live under a few watts of LED? Perhaps some Blue/Red Hornets or some Utter Chaos? This will look like a solo specimen after it grows in.
 
jda said:
Crocea is the most light demanding clam that you can get. Although you might be able to keep it with 6 or 8 T5 bulbs, they really do best under Metal Halide.

The amount of food that a flame scallop will need will pollute a small tank unless you have massive filtration and change a lot of water.

How about a singe type of zoa that covers the a whole mound shaped rock that could live under a few watts of LED? Perhaps some Blue/Red Hornets or some Utter Chaos? This will look like a solo specimen after it grows in.
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What would ve a goof led option, i lnow we have leds that are high par for medium cost?

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brendan.oates97 said:
I just found someone selling a kessil a150 for $100 with the mount. Is this a good option?

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I think jda is doing you justice by steering you away from T. Crocea, I haven't much experience keeping Tridacnids long term under Leds, but if you are just getting into the hobby and having a clam is a must, stick with easier Tridacnid species, such as T. Derasa or T. Squammosa. Granted, these species will out grow a 5 gallon, they are much less light demanding than croceas and maximas and overall are easier to keep.

Flame scallop.....stay away. It will eventually starve and die in a conventional reef.
 
C.Eymann said:
I think jda is doing you justice by steering you away from T. Crocea, I haven't much experience keeping Tridacnids long term under Leds, but if you are just getting into the hobby and having a clam is a must, stick with easier Tridacnid species, such as T. Derasa or T. Squammosa. Granted, these species will out grow a 5 gallon, they are much less light demanding than croceas and maximas and overall are easier to keep.

Flame scallop.....stay away. It will eventually starve and die in a conventional reef.
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The only problem is i can do up to a ten gallon and thats it. A 5g is much more convenient. My question would be then, what clam can i fit in a 10g. I still will probably get the kessil because that is a really good price. And i still am using the 7 gallon sump.

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C.Eymann said:
I think jda is doing you justice by steering you away from T. Crocea, I haven't much experience keeping Tridacnids long term under Leds, but if you are just getting into the hobby and having a clam is a must, stick with easier Tridacnid species, such as T. Derasa or T. Squammosa. Granted, these species will out grow a 5 gallon, they are much less light demanding than croceas and maximas and overall are easier to keep.

Flame scallop.....stay away. It will eventually starve and die in a conventional reef.
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Squamosha seem like the next best option but do the get wider than a foot. I see 18 inchs long so thats barely going to fit the 20 inch 10 gallon.

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jda said:
The a150 is a good light for a tank that size... not a good light for a Crocea clam.
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Then what clam can i keep. I figured if the max a 18 inches that will take 10+ years before i have to really worry about tank space.

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Alright i didnt get the light, i had a parasite show up in one of my freshwater tanks and had to divert my funds to that problem.
I am doing more research and some people use a par38 bulb but there is an actinic, freshwater, and a mixed versions. Which would be my best option as they are definitely in my price range.

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sde1500 said:
You're going to need to monitor Calcium like a hawk if you actually do one in a tank that small. I'd guess you'll be needing to dose it. As for the light, if a Kessil won't cut it, the par 38 certainly won't.

I like this write up about clams, very informative. https://www.nano-reef.com/forums/topic/153218-a-faq-on-clams/
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Calcium is not a problem. I have a limesti e well that has off the chart levels of calcium. I will mix it into my top off water.

What would be a decent light then. This is the most discouraging thing about saltwater for me. I cant do mh because thats way to much power usage. I would prefer led so i dont have to keep replacing t5 bulbs.

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Your top off water should be pure RODI water. Tap/well water will contain plenty of other undesirable elements in it that will not do the tank any good. Your water you use for mixing should be pure RODI water as well. Calcium would be provided by either purchasing a supplement or mixing up a DIY one.

As for what light, the size of your tank makes selection tough. A kessil 360 maybe? I use a brick LED light, they don't really fit over tiny tanks. That one would, and is pretty powerful.
 
sde1500 said:
Your top off water should be pure RODI water. Tap/well water will contain plenty of other undesirable elements in it that will not do the tank any good. Your water you use for mixing should be pure RODI water as well. Calcium would be provided by either purchasing a supplement or mixing up a DIY one.

As for what light, the size of your tank makes selection tough. A kessil 360 maybe? I use a brick LED light, they don't really fit over tiny tanks. That one would, and is pretty powerful.
Click to expand...
Whay about the rapid diy leds?

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I talked with a few companies. Rapid led gave me a par reading test and tild me what they think would work best. I ask them for a 12 inch depth i would need 350 par minimum. They suggest 2 par38s

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