New to Group/?s about second shipment

[AnnieM]

Hey All:

I just talked to Richard at TBS today and I'm getting the second half of my 55 gallon "package" on Thursday. A few questions for any of you more experienced keepers.

Food: After a week, I was planning on feeding live phytoplanton. Is this a good plan? Any other suggestions?

Supplements: How often do you add supplements and what kind?

Chicken Liver Sponge: I have one in the tank and it's the strangest thing I've ever seen; it changes appearance and is now all bumpy and seems to be stringing off and reproducing. Is all of this normal? Is this a "good" sponge?

Clam: How can I tell if one of my clams is dead? It was attached to the rock pretty well, but it's fallen off and I don't see it open and close much. No smell, however.

Thanks in advance to any and all!! Looking forward to becoming part of the "community"
Annie

 

[patsan]

Hi Annie, that's great you're getting your part 2 this week. It looks like there are lots of people getting their TBS this week.

I'd wait until you're fully cycled before I'd start in with the phyto. That is totally normal for the sponge to do that.

We have a pretty active group you're more than welcome to come and ask away if you'd like. There are a bunch of people expecting their shipments this week, so I'm sure there will be lots of pictures posted and questions asked.
Our TBS

 

[Fountainhead]

Re: New to Group/?s about second shipment

Clam: How can I tell if one of my clams is dead? It was attached to the rock pretty well, but it's fallen off and I don't see it open and close much. No smell, however.

If it doesn't smell, it's not dead. I've had two of those things expire in my tank over the last year, and it's the most foul odor you can imagine. The shell opened completely, and the meat literally disintegrated throughout the tank. It was a couple of water changes, and a couple of days of carbon before the stench went away. Disgusting.

Now, whether the clam will re-attach itself, I don't know. Given my previous experience with dead clams, I'd be inclined to remove one if I had any suspicians that it might be on its way out. But that's just me.