My first Clam (PICS!!!)

[mattydub]

Hello all...so I got my first clam a week ago and I'd like to get some advice...

Tank-26g Bow
35lbs LR
Coral beauty
A. Ocellaris
mostly leathers/some GSP's/one baby RBTA
Ammonia 1.0 ppm (Just did a water change today, I'll be watching it)
Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0
Ph-8.3-8.35
Alk + Calcium -B-ionic daily so they're good
RO/DI water
Aquaclear (300?) HOB filter running carbon right now
Hagen PH 302

This is clammy's (her name as per my wife) journey thus far...

day 1

day3

day9

I'm feeding it Kent MicroVert right now b/c I can't find any DT's around here...

Do you guys think it looks ok? I don't think she opens up quite enough...but it could be just because she's really small (2.5")
Thanks for any/all advice/opinions...

oh yeah...I got her from this great vendor

 

[Peabody]

Looking pretty good, but your right, maximas usually open up so you can see more of the actual mantle between the two shells, not just the part of the mantle that extends past the shell.

The ammonia is a concern, but I would be really worried about the coral beauty. That's a lethal combination, IME, and there's many clam deaths and near deaths on Reef central thanks to coral beauties. At the best, they're a 50/50 shot at becoming a clam killer. Some start nipping right away, some wait a few months, some will sudenly turn clam killer after several years!!! (Its true, but hard to beleive, why a well fed fish would do it after years.....who knows why!) I remember a fellow who posted here who's maxima would travel all the way from one side of the tank to the other in one night. After getting up several nights in a row to watch his tank, he saw his coral beauty picking up the clam by the mantle and swimming over to the other side of the tank with it!

On another note, what's your ALK measurement, and what's the salinity (refractometer or hydrometer?)

 

[mattydub]

wow...thanks peabody...I haven't noticed any bad behaviour yet by the CB, it does like to pic at some of the others though...such a shame b/c it's a really pretty fish.

The alk is normal to high (Sorry...only have cheapo RedSea test kit right now...Salifert on the way)
and Salinity is 1.023 hydrometer

thanks....

 

[mattydub]

Oh...and I use an Aqua C remora PS.

I'm wondering if I should move clammy to less flow area and maybe higher up onto the rocks?

 

[mattydub]

"baby turn around and let me say that sexxy body go BUMP BUMP BUMP..."

 

[Peabody]

Clams don't appreciate high flow....but as long as his mantle isn't flapping in the current, he's ok.

Yes, you need a Salifert alk kit...glad you got one The clam will thank you! Shoot for 10-11 dkh. Once or twice I looked in my tank and thought the clams didn't look 100% happy. Both those times my alk slipped down to about 9. Just my experience.

Have you checked your hydrometer against a refracometer? It could be reading several points either way as terrible as all those are (I tried them all!) Go to a good LFS and check it against their refracto. Your tank and clam would likely benifit from natural seawater level salinity 1.025-1.026

best of luck!

 

[mattydub]

Clams don't appreciate high flow....but as long as his mantle isn't flapping in the current, he's ok.

Yes, you need a Salifert alk kit...glad you got one The clam will thank you! Shoot for 10-11 dkh. Once or twice I looked in my tank and thought the clams didn't look 100% happy. Both those times my alk slipped down to about 9. Just my experience.

Have you checked your hydrometer against a refracometer? It could be reading several points either way as terrible as all those are (I tried them all!) Go to a good LFS and check it against their refracto. Your tank and clam would likely benifit from natural seawater level salinity 1.025-1.026

best of luck!

Thanks peabody....yes I have checked the hydrometere...it's spot on so far, I just make sure I rinse it out really well each time. I need more $$ to get the refracto (don't we all!)

Anyway, here's a little update on clammy...moved her a bit to the left in the tank where there's slightly less flow but still good light.
My readings today after 10% change are as follows...
ALK-normal (still waiting for salifert)
Ph-8.35
Ammonia-0
NO3-0.05
NO2-0.0
clammy day 10

another

another

can you see it's gills open here?

thanks for looking...any advice?

 

[Bamm Bamm]

It looks nice how big is it?

 

[GatorReefman]

Congratulations on your first great looking clam. It is very beautiful. Five weeks ago, I bought my first baby high blue maxima( under 2 inches) and 3" Green/Purple Crocea. They both are doing great under my 175 watt 10000K ushio metal halides. I think my maxima might have already grown a little- measured it and it seems to be at 2 inches. I heavily feed my tank 3 times a week with DTs. I use minimal filtration with only a protein skimmer running 24/7. Good luck with your maxima! john

 

[mattydub]

It looks nice how big is it?

Thanks BammBamm...it's a baby, only 2.5" right now...I'm looking to get some DTs from somewhere so she can start taking off getting bigger!

 

[mattydub]

Congratulations on your first great looking clam. It is very beautiful. Five weeks ago, I bought my first baby high blue maxima( under 2 inches) and 3" Green/Purple Crocea. They both are doing great under my 175 watt 10000K ushio metal halides. I think my maxima might have already grown a little- measured it and it seems to be at 2 inches. I heavily feed my tank 3 times a week with DTs. I use minimal filtration with only a protein skimmer running 24/7. Good luck with your maxima! john

Thanks Gator...I'll upload some new photos tomorrow when I get rid of the Coral Beauty! She started nipping at clammy two days ago, almost right after I said I hadn't seen any problems yet! She's a gonner!

 

[GatorReefman]

Sorry you had to get rid of your coral beauty. They have a reputation of being nippers. I have visited State College several years ago and can say it is a beautiful campus. Even saw a football game there.