Is their any clam you can put in a nano?

[smoney]

I have a stock 12g Nano Cube by JBJ, and I was wondering if I could put a small clam of any sort to put into the nano cube?

 

[HorseoftheSea]

you could put a clam in any tank pretty much as long as the tank has enough light

 

[mbbuna]

in small tanks the water parameters can fluctuate too much too fast. clams will use Ca and Alk like there's no tomorrow, your biggest problem will be keeping Ca/Alk stable, next will be DOM

 

[smoney]

is ca calcium? cuz i use calcium in the tank already

 

[mbbuna]

yes Ca is calcium. the problem is that a clam will deplete Ca and Alk so quickly you will have constant swings. the Alk is more of a concern. you will need to set up some kind of auto dosing system, other wise the swings will put a constant stress on the clam.

 

[Peabody]

Agreed with Mbbuna. Even if you had enough light (the stock light in a nanocube is not enough for any clam) it would still be too risky unless you hadsome sort of auto dosing for CA and ALK.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

and try to gte a smaller clam (not derasa or gigas)

 

[pikachoi]

What kind of lighting would be recommended for a nano in order to keep a small clam? I've got two of the coralife 50/50 actinic mini-CF bulbs right now in a 10G.... will that do? It says each bulb is 10watts = 50 watts incandecent.... don't know if that's any good.

 

[Peabody]

You would need metal halide light. CF bulbs are insufficient for clams.

Even if you had MH light...I still do not reccomend clams in tanks that small. THey are just WAY too difficult.

 

[raddogz]

After keeping a nano, the biggest issue I have with mine is evaporation; thereby causing rapid salinity changes.

I agree with the posts above that a top-of is necessary not just for calcium and/or alkalinity, but just to keep the salinity in check.

 

[Peabody]

Exactly, Raddogz. All elements of chemistry swing VERY rapidly in a nano, and that's just not good for clams.

 

[Claydog]

deresa

deresa

deresa looks great in my 20h w 2x65w pc's

 

[pinkninja]

With rapid SG changes due to small water volume, you would probably need a auto top off for tanks under 10 gallons. If you do weekly water changes I don't see a need to dose calcium or alk.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

ninja- i disagree. clams are calcium and alk HOGS. test to be sure, but I would almost guarantee, after a few days, your calcium/alk will be unsuitably low for clam growth.

 

[Jovreefer]

I do think you need to be in the hobby for a year and learn to keep everything stable, learn all the slang & lighting options before attempting a clam in a nano.

That being said... I've had my crocea in a nano for 2 years now.
Started in a 2 gallon pico 13w pc for 3 months
"upgraded" to a 10G with 96W pc for a year
then moved and "upgraded again" to a 20H with 150W MH.

The clam is still...well... happy as a clam

 

[jmaneyapanda]

i agree- nanos require diligent attention, things sometimes a novice may overlook. I know i did when i first started

 

[SnowboardKid26]

I have a Maxima, and a Crocea in my 16g nano... both clams are doing great and growing like weeds. You can keep clams under CF lights, just need to put them up as high as possible on your reef. I don't really recomend it, but I have seen it done.

As to what these other guys are saying about CA, ALK, and SG (specific gravity) I'd definatly agree with them> I know my tank evaps quite a bit of water everyday... something like 3 quarts (near a gallon). Your going to either need an auto top off, or you can do what I do, and start a Kalk drip every morning. Hope it helps


SBK

 

[supraeli]

newbs shouldnt mess with clams, period.

if one doesnt know that Ca is the chemical symbol for calcium, then one should probably not be adding it into the tank. remember, calcium CAN be overdosed and swing alkalinity off.