Looking to keep a clam

[Andrew]

Never kept a clam before but am looking into keeping one in my 20 reef in the future. Im upgrading to 175 watt mh over my 20 gallon high tank. The tank now has softies, polyps, shrooms, and LSP. I have a thing layer of sand. What type of clam is best for beginners and what type doesn't need a large sandbed? Heres a list of my questions:

- Is 175 watts enough for a clam? ( 20 gallon )

- Which clams require a small sandbed?

- What do clams eat?

- What fileration is required for clams?

- Do I need anything else besides the sump and fuge? The fuge has cheato and the sump has a skimmer thats pretty good. Its a no-name brand and was a DIY skimmer and works like a charm.

- Do I need to add anything to the water? ( calcium...ect )

- Any other info would be great!

 

[mbbuna]

the easy clam to keep is T.derasa but they grow large.they will out grow a 20g in a few years.
with the right lighting you dont need to feed clams.
you will most definitely have to add CA.and Alk.
here's some links for you to read.

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

http://www.reefcorner.com/introtoclams.htm

http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/d_potts_081797.html

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/jf/feature/index.php

 

[Andrew]

Done reading. How do I add CA.and Alk. to my tank? Will liquid calcium be good to add? Whats ALK and how do I add it?

 

[mbbuna]

first you will need to get some test kits and test for these things.
you will want Ca.around 400ppm to 450ppm.Alk(alkalinity)you will add with a buffer or baking soda (check the chem. forum)and the levels you want for that depend on how the test kit you use reads it.

 

[Andrew]

Thanks

Hopefully in a few months ill be getting a clam.

 

[angelfishlover]

Get a calcium reactor. Clams are calcium hogs.

 

[Andrew]

Get a calcium reactor. Clams are calcium hogs.

There has to be a cheaper way to raise calcium without spending $200+ for a calcium reactor.

 

[angelfishlover]

kalk reactor?

 

[grimmjohn]

There has to be a cheaper way to raise calcium without spending $200+ for a calcium reactor.

Randy's DIY 2-Part
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/april2004/chem.htm

Or if you don't feel like making it then B-ionic should be pretty cost effective for a 20g

A couple drops of these guys can do more for Ca and Alk than a couple gallons of Kalk..and in a 20 you can't just dump in that much kalkwater () : )

Or you can use like Turbo Cal for Ca and Reef Buffer for Alk...though by the time you buy those two combined you might as well have bought a big bottle set of B-ionic.

Cheers,

grimmjohn

 

[evinny101]

Definatly go with the b-ionic agreeing with the previus post they are calcium hogs as for filtration they are actually in them selves great filters.

 

[evinny101]

Oh and by the way before you get a clam you should be warned!!.... they are addictive!

 

[inlandreef]

b-ionic is great IMO. I use it. and I have a deresa and a squamosa