maximum clam sizes-species tank

[Snooker]

I have been kicking around the idea now of a species tank for a large clam

I am thinking of placing one in the center of a large cube tank and letting it GROW.

I was wondering what types of clams would be appropriate for this type of setup. This would be a ground up species tank with the care of the clam being first and formost importance.

I am interested in a clam that would grow to the 12-20" range, something to be a centerpiece.

I assume that a mh lighting system would be mandatory, along with a closed loop for flow, what other considerations should i make? Big skimmer, fuge, etc?

Any ideas/experiences keeping giant clams would be helpful.

 

[Scuba Dog]

I have recently set up a clam tank...its 34 x 30 x 13...with two front and back 20 degree viewing paines...I have a bout a two inche agronite bed fine sugar sized sand...and a small amount of live rock ...small pieces no more than 15 to 20 lbs of rock...I have some sps and a few LPS such as a pagoda cup, frogspawn, hammer star polyps and zoanthids on the rock work and a grow out area for some sps frags...

I light the tank with s single 250 DE pendant 12 inches off the surface that is adjustable...its PFO mini pendant with a 250 DE 14k AC ran off a single 250 HQI PFO ballast...under the clam tanks stand I have a 37 gallon oceanic refugium that drains in to the sump that is left of the clam tanks stand under my 75 gallon sps tank...both systems are plumbed together for maximum water capacity...and they both share a euroreef cs62 skimmer...a calcium reactor and other various equipment......I dont keep much fish life in the clam tank two maroon clowns and a lawnmower blenny...and 8 clams ....Im just interested in maximas mainly and croceas...The aqua scaping will change...I just did not want to keep clams in the tank but some other low flow corals that like high to moderate light...Ill post some old pics that jamed packed with clams and corals...but the tank is different now,...all the sps frags you see have been moved back the the sps tank now that I finished rearanging the rock work but it will give you a genral jist of the tank...

the fuge
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/newfuge.jpg">

 

[Scuba Dog]

empty tank...its way blue in the pic but not so in reality..I havent taken the time to find out how to adjust the white ballance in the camara...<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/emptytank.jpg">

 

[Scuba Dog]

here is the front view...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/frontview.jpg">

 

[Scuba Dog]

Here is a top view...once more its super blue in coloration..Ill post more pics in time once Im satisifed....the tank is open top and I really enjoy the look down feel....its much easier to work with as well....

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/clamtankpic.jpg">

 

[Snooker]

very nice looking setup

sort of what i was thinking of doing

do you think a 250 de would be enough light for a really large clam? I don't really have a problem going to a 400 if its necessary,

I'm planning on this being a 90% DIY setup, tank, stand, skimmer, lighting, reactor, sump, fuge, etc

what kind of pump are you using on the closed loop? Not sure how much flow clams need. BTW I like the looks of that CL setup !

Keep up with me... hopefully I'll have something to post before too long. I'm already starting to gather materials

thanks for the reply... it's inspiring

 

[Scuba Dog]

For your light system it depends on the depth of the tank...for depths of 24 inches or less a 250 SE would be enough, I just prefer the 250DE pendants....and youl save some on electrical costs as well...250s are enough to keep maximas and croceas happy...croceas are the most light demanding clam there is....

My set up was quite a bit of DIY work, I built the stand, drilled the clam tank, and the 37 gallon oceanic tank for its sump/fuge.....and all the plumbing work....

For the return pup i used a mag7...since i only have two 3/4 inch drains, thats why I did not plub the return out of the overflow box....on the bottom left hand side of the tank I drilled a 1 and 3/4 inch hole and used a 1 inch bulkhead.....Both my sps and clam tank feed and drain into the same sump under the sps tank....I have 2 check valves on a one inch line feeding the clam tank from underneath its stand...the 90 pvc on the left is where the water enteres the tank and continues all along the multi ports to the last 90...I have it pluged at the end of the 90....I decided at the last moment that I didnt want a closed loop....but im sure it could be easily done... just a matter of emptying the tank...drilling another hole on the back...one side would be the inlets and one side would be the outlets......I just didnt think that the clams needed a closed loop...Ill have two seio 620s providing the main flow for the tank....

The only thing I did not like about the set up was the small overflow box and small drains...I wised the drains were at least an inch...I dont get a lot of flow out of my return out of fear that the drains would not handel much flow....but they do a fine job....i could probally move up to a mag 9.5 or more since I have so many ports....but since i allready have the mag7 illl ride it till it quits....

Over at the razorbackreef club form my fellow reef club member schiller bought a tank just like mine....and went even nicer on his set up..a diy all oak stand and canopy...and he is drilling for a closed loop on his...ill copy and paste the thread here....

 

[Scuba Dog]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=462156

and mine
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=451583

 

[Barry N.]

Very nice setup

 

[Scuba Dog]

Thanks barry! Means a lot coming from you! Now I just need to have some extra cash when you have some max's in stock lol!

 

[inlandreef]

Nice work Scuba.

 

[Scuba Dog]

inlandreef thanks man.....Snooker definilty use PVC for a drain system I tried to take a short cut and use vinal tubing...it reduces my flow too much..so Im not finished have to go back and redo the drain system...will be a major pita since the tank is set up...but should perfom much better...My main concern is keeping water off the floor during a power failer...if I had a power failer today water would be on the carpet...du to all the excess water in the refugium I might need to increase the drain size to increase flow and reduce all the excess water in the fuge...I know it dosent make sence...