phytoplex and chromaplex useless?

[shabreeson]

I am planning on eventually buying clams and I have several questions

I already read the great info on this forum and am I to understand that feeding them phytoplex and chromaplex is useless because they are not alive, and thus not the right size?

are they only good for corals?

will nitrates at 20ppm damage clams?--my 55 gallon tank with three fish @ about 3 inches and contains about 80lbs of LR never seems to get below 20ppm

 

[skinz78]

It is not necisary to feed clams if you have fish and coral. Clams consume nitrates so you should be fine.

 

[skinz78]

How often do you do water changes and how much volume? 20ppm seems high for 3 fish.

 

[shabreeson]

I know!!! I've had this problem for a while. I have lots of LR. and now I put in a 3+ inch sand bed a week ago (going to test it tomorrow). I made my own sump(20gallons) with a refugium I have a backpack protein skimmer(which i somehow was able to fit in the sump) and a total volume of of at least 75 gallons. I even went so far as to get an osmosis filter!

the problem might have been caused by my 2 inch crushed coral rubble which i just discarded

I do water changes once a month, not to great I know but I still think it is abnormal. the reason i'm' testing it tomorrow is to make sure my test kit is right I have an API Master test kit