Keeping Clams without a Reactor...

[ABahn]

Hi there,

My LFS has recently received some beautiful Crocea Clams, and was considering purchasing one for a show piece.

I currently am running a 180g reef, with metal halide lighting (900W, 10K) combined with VHOs (280W actinic), with some hard coral, LPS, and a couple of softies. I currently am NOT running a calcium reactor (though considering a DYI jobbie) and all is doing very well. Was wondering if such a clam would do well in a system without a calcium reactor???

As usual, any thoughts are much appreciated.

ABahn

 

[MiNdErAsR]

As long as you can maintain proper alkalinity and calcium levels by other means, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[ReefEze]

I should hope not, since im doing it!

dont worry about it
HTH
RE

 

[jim norris]

Abahn,
System sounds good! Clams can consume calcium very fast. Watch your level.
After many years of keeping clams. I just installed my first calcium reactor.
If you get hook and start getting more clams then I would buy additives like Seachem Advantage calcium by the pound!

Jim

 

[JT]

One word: Kalkwasser.

 

[ABahn]

Thanks for the replies!, FYI, I top-off with a KW solution, and add magnesium, strontium, and iodide regularly. Thats it for now. LAst time I checked my Calcium levels, it was approx 440.

So then, I'm sold!!!

ABahn

 

[firechild]

Kalkwasser works fine for me. I have 3 squamosa and 1 maxima clams in my 80G and all are growing quite fast and all stony corals are also growing well.
I don't think the magnesium, strontium or iodine additives are any good and may even be detrimental to the system. Unless you are regularly testing these levels, I would strongly advise against adding them. Most trace elements can be easily sustained by water changes.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Sounds like you're OK, just keep an eye on your alk as well. As your alk drop your Ca will actaully test higher, so you could 4have 50ca and a dkh of 6 and your clams would actually be worse off than Ca 380 and alk of 12dkh.

I use Liquid Reactor, superbuffer and liquid Ca - all by KENT, to keep my Ca and alk up. I have a 29gal with 5 clams and some stonies, the clams really used a ton of Ca.