My first clam died, what did I do wrong?

[24gnanonewbie]

I bought a smaller maxima clam, and everything seamed to be going fine. Yesterday I noticed that it was not out of its shell... I reached in the tank, and it still reacted to movement so I left it alone. I looked at it this morning and it is "dried up" in its shell...

What did I do? I have a 70w DE Halide, and it was close up to the light.


This was my first one, so I would like to learn from my mistake!

Thanks!

 

[bpd964]

how long have you had the clam and how long has your tank been set up?

params?

 

[24gnanonewbie]

month to a month an a half. My tank is rounding 4 months old...

alll my params are really good. Ph 8.3, nitrate and nitrite 0, ammonia 0... salinity 1.024.

 

[sdaousa]

You will need at least 150w metal halide. I don't think 70w is enough.

 

[sdaousa]

But the 150w will be too much for you 24 gallon nano tank.

 

[nudilove]

I disagree sdaousa, I have a 150 on my 24 and its happy as a clam, I have three clams in there who do nothing but grow. However, it requires constant vigilance with salinity fluctuation and other factors.

Do you test for calcium and alkalinity? Four months is a bit young but then again I had my gigas that early on.

 

[kaserpick]

I disagree as well; 150w MH is not too much for a 24. I've got one on my 25. It does seem like it would a lot for a tank that size, but it's definitely not. In fact, I wish I had 2 150's cause my tank is kinda long for the pendant. Go figure. :/

 

[hebdo27]

How big was the clam?...small baby clams (less than 1.5") need supplementary feeding with something like phytoplankton. Larger clams get enough nutrients from their algea. next time stick with +2" clams.

 

[24gnanonewbie]

it was smaller... I would say close to 2"... I did read last night were 2" and under are a little more touchy.

 

[neyugn0w01]

you can never have to much light

 

[mbbuna]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9655655#post9655655 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by neyugn0w01
you can never have to much light

you are correct in that

there was a very interesting article in AA where Dana Riddle showed where some corals/inverts started photoinhibition and T. clams wouldn't do it:eek2: to me it says a whole lot about how much light clams really need

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/3/aafeature1

 

[Lpabsolute]

I know someone who is keeping a Clam under 100w PC lighting. And it's on the bottom of a 55g tank. So it can be done. But....it could be a whole list of things that caused your clam to die on you. Good Luck in the future.....

 

[marlin_dory]

i disagree as well i have a ten gallon with a clam in it with a 65 watt light i used bio-spira tht i got from a lfs it cycles ur tank in just 24 hrs and my corals and my clam r just doing fine

 

[jmaneyapanda]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9657415#post9657415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lpabsolute
I know someone who is keeping a Clam under 100w PC lighting. And it's on the bottom of a 55g tank. So it can be done. But....it could be a whole list of things that caused your clam to die on you. Good Luck in the future.....

How long is "keeping"? I am almost already sorry for biting at this, but I dont feel people should be suggesting to keep clams under such inadequate light.