Looking at getting a clam

[Ken_wied]

Alright all. My tank has been set up for 5 years now. I preferred to wait on the bigger stuff until I knew my tank was completely cycled, and after 5 years, I believe it is I added an anem a year ago with great success. I currently run a 2x 250w metal halide system (15000k bubls) and 260w of actinic supplemental lighting. I really want to add a clam, but what would be the best recommendations? All of my corals and other inhabitants are doing well. I just want to do all of the possible research before buying.

 

[rc02116]

As far as lighting goes, you should be able to keep most clams (including croceas or maxmimas fine). I have the same lighting setup and currently have a few croceas and a maxima without issue... How deep is your tank and where you want to place the clam is of importance. Make sure you place a clam on an empty shell (or flat piece of rock) and move the clam (with the shell/rock) accordingly based on its need.

Personally I think croceas & maximas have the most vivid colors/patterns but it is all personal taste and preference here.

Apart from corals, what other tank inhabitants do you have currently? Based on these inhabitants ( and planned future additions), this also determines whether you should have clams in your tank. G' luck!

 

[moliken]

+1 for rc's comment on inhabitants. be careful of nasty present critters that might hurt clams. howzbout a list of what u have now.
BUT
Make sure you place a clam on an empty shell (or flat piece of rock) and move the clam (with the shell/rock) accordingly based on its need.
well, derasas move around a while frequently before settling so a rock/shell isn't necessary. they like the substrate. maximas want to be on the rockwork.

 

[Ken_wied]

I currently have;
1 Watchman Goby
1 Blue Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Perc Clown
3 Chromis
2 Cleaner Shrimps
2 Peppermint Shrimps

I have a regular 90g reef ready All Glass Aquarium. I'm thinking the depth is around 18", but not 100% sure, and I'm at work now so I can't check. I have about 1" of sand substrate. Thanks for the input. I just want to be really informed before making the purchase, so I can make the right choice on getting one or not.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Just keep an eye on the blue tang,mine got to nipping at my dersea,he might go a month,without bothering it, then I would notice a couple of bite marks.The clam is doing great,it is still growing.

 

[bergzy]

if your corals are doing fine...normally, this is a good sign that a clam should do pretty decently as well.

post your parameters as well...just for information's sake.

mine are now: temp 78, mg 1350, alk 9.6, ca 430.

the clams i kept have been in the craziest conditions: very infrequent water changes (with old tank water from my 180g nonetheless), old halide bulbs from the 180g...sometimes without a bulb change for three years, large'ish temp swings, no calcium or alk supplementation for weeks on end etc etc. i am NOT recommending that anyone do this...i am just stating that clams can take a lot of craziness and still do great.

what i found to be important for clams is halide lighting (sorry about my biasness t5'ers ) and moderate to gentle water movement. my clams thrived in a skimmerless/infrequent water change tank for years with great growth...even with the poor alk/ca supplementation schedule.

now...i am a little 'worried' about my new office 90g *clam* system in which i transferred all my clams to. in the tank is good aged established live rock (marshall and tonga branch), gentle water flow and great lighting. what is 'different' on the system is the addition of a ca reactor that is now consistently keeping alk/ca levels where they 'should' be...whatever that 'should' is. if the clams start to show signs of stress because of consistent alk/ca levels, then the ca reactor goes offline. what were my parameters before? crazy would be the descriptive word. alk ranged from 6.5 to 8.0, ca was usually around 370, mg was 'probably' at 1150 and temps ranged from 74 to 82 depending on the time of year. in the summer it could be 76 to 82 in one day. in winter, it can range from 74 to 77 in one day. thus, even i am surprised that i havent lost a clam in years with this 'almost' negligent maintenance schedule.

 

[Ken_wied]

Thanks Ben
My params are as follows
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
pH is consistantly hovering around 7.8-8.0 ( and i do water changes every 2 weeks)
Ca around 420-430 depending on the day
Temp 78-83 (not usually that much in the winter)
I have never tested my alk - i need to get a test kit when I go to Foster and Smith next.

I dose with phytoplankton, marine snow and vitamins for the corals as well on a weekly basis. All of my inverts are doing great also, so that is a good sign I guess You would think that after 5 years of "taking it slow" I wouldn't have the hesitation I do right now. But again, probably a good thing.

RC - That is my complete inhabitant list. I plan on adding 1 more clown to make the pair and that is it. No more fish for me