simple clam tank plan, please provide input

REEF-DADDY

REEF-DADDY

New member
After buying our first crocea clam my wife and I got the clam bug pretty bad. We've since bought a 6" gigas, and a 2" maxima. My tank is a 125 with a large hood, and it pains us not to see the full colors of the clams. I would like to set up a dedicated clam tank. The stipulations being that its simple and not too costly.
My plan is to buy a 30 gallon breeder 36x18x12 which will fit my area nicely. Place it right next to the 125 and run an overflow from the 30 to the sump of the 125. The point being all my exsisting equipment heaters, dosers, skimmer, all have extra capacity so they can support the clam tank as well. I will buy a 400 watt pendant to light the tank. So heres a list of hardware, please critique!

30 gallon breeder 36x18x12
diy stand
400 mh pendant 12" above the tank. enough, too little?
600 gph return from the "common sump"*
300 gph power head *
3 inches of live sand *
30ish pounds of live rock for rock dwellers.*
heaters skimmers and the rest will be handled by the main tank, anything marked "*" I already have it stock! I also have a 250 mh bulb that I would like to use but don't think its enough light that high above the tank.
 
how do you not see full colors? don't get offended...but you know to see clams like you see in the books and magazines, you have to look from above? ..not implying anything, just making sure you don't do all of this over a reason so simple as that.
--and are you adding Ca and Alk seperatly? or do you have a Ca reactor...calcuim is very important for these guys--
 
thats the point, you really can't look from above on a 125g with a 12" canopy. I want something shallow and low, so even my 5'2" wife can see it.
 
Perhaps a clarifying question is: Where are you planning to view your clams? I'm thinking of the 400w pendant (quite cool, i can imagine!) and what room will be left over to look down with a tank that size- perhaps something more shallow for the clam tank? I'm thinking of my own experience attempting to get views while craning my neck around a hood- definite do-over next time....
 
I've designed my clam tank as a look down tank with two PFO mini pendants hanging over the tank. I have them connected...or will next weekend...as one unit and I have the very cool GripLock hanging kit. Very easy up and down movement of the whole pendant system on these little grip locks that easily lock in place and unlock with a simple twist and slide. This way folks can easily peer down into the tank without hitting their head on the swinging pendant. My tank is a shallow custom job by Lee Mar...AWESOME craftsmanship with Eurobracing so no center brace to get in the way of viewing:D. Dimensions are 3' x 2' x 18". I also had a short stand custom made...though after all is said and done, i.e. built, it is still a few inches taller than I had hoped. Oh well, it is always something :). I am trying to figure out a quick way to shut down alll pumps and circulation while viewing the tank from above and easily fire it all back up with one switch. So much to think about :D

Steve, I think your ideas are sound...
 
isn't 400 watt overkill ? I currently use a DE 250 Phoenix bulb. Same dimension as your tank with 10 inch additional distances from water to prevent explosion.

Could do from 125 to the 30 to the sump and a good strong pump for return to the main display.

Eliminates extra skimmers, heaters, etc. Save a lot of money that way.

Could get a 20 gallon long tank and use a 150 watt MH. 20 gallon long is similar in dimension like the breeder. However; it is more shallow if I remember currently. Get a better look :)

You could get a custom made lagoon tank..but thats expensive.
 
I have a 57 gallon clam tank plumbed into my 75 gallon sps reef. Its 34 x 30 x 13. with 20 degree pains, can also be viewed as a look down system. I use a mag 7 to push water from the sps tanks sump to the clam tank, the clam tanks over flow drains into a 37 gallon oceanic refugium, that inturn drains back into the 75 gallon sps sump...all filtration equipment is housed in the sumps....

For lighting I use a single 250DE mini pendant, with the 14KAC, purchased it before the 14k phoenix was available same bulb different name.

For sand I would go large and corse, the small sugar sized sand will choke the clams...

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/emptytank.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
 
and with a few select maxs

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/ScubaDog/Fish%20pictures/bluelightcdclams.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
 
kfisc said:
Perhaps a clarifying question is: Where are you planning to view your clams? I'm thinking of the 400w pendant (quite cool, i can imagine!) and what room will be left over to look down with a tank that size- perhaps something more shallow for the clam tank? I'm thinking of my own experience attempting to get views while craning my neck around a hood- definite do-over next time....
Click to expand...

Well the pendant is about 12 inches around and I'll keep it about 12" above the water, centered. I figure that should spread the light out and give me room to look under it. I plan to make the stand so that the top of the clam tank matches the bottom of the 125. make sense?
 
So is the general consensus that 1 250 watt bulb will do it? That will save me some cash too. Thanks for all the input!

Do you have contact info for Lee Mar. A google search turned up stands and canopies?

Scuba -nice tank, you made that correct?
 
For my tank the single 250 DE does just fine, then agen I dont have my clams around the edges of the tank. I purchased the tank from exotic tropicals in Rogers Arkansas for $150.00, have around 300 invested in the light system...the rest was diy work , did the majority of the drilling and built the stand....The next tank I set up Ill have a cabnint maker do the wood work, I found out Im no carpenter lol....no eye for detailed planing...
 
I went through a lfs to get the Lee Mar custom tank. It was a bit of a fiasco...the lfs was in Arizona, I am in Northern Cali. and Lee Mar is in North San Diego. The first tank, yes first one, went to Arizona and then was shipped to me. It came in broken and I refused the shipment. I then started dealing directly with the tank builder at Lee Mar. He built me another tank, arranged with a local Los Angeles Fish store to hold the tank until I could drive down and pick it up. I did not want to risk another broken tank. It was well worth the wait. It is a sweet tank with a beautiful trapezoid overflow in the middle back. The Euro-bracing is very nice and they used 1/2" glass for the whole tank. It is heavy but sturdy. I was thrilled with the workmanship and quality of the system. Tom, the tank builder, at Lee Mar was great to work with. You have to find a local dealer that distributes as Lee Mar does not work with the public.
 
[

Could do from 125 to the 30 to the sump and a good strong pump for return to the main display.

You know I was considering that, as I do have 2 overflows on the 125 and a mag 1800 return. My worry is bubbles, any ideas on how to overcome that. I was thinking of sectioning off a return area of the clam tank.
 
you could do what everyone does by sectioning if your sump is big enough.

My sump isn't big enough to do that, instead i went to an arts and craft store and bought plastic canvas. I line the canvas up together and did a little sewing. Wrapped the canvas around the thing around the outflow of my skimmer to trap the bubbles.

You could do the same thing, don't have to wrap anything. Could get the selcon(sp?) from Home Depot to seal it in. The dual canvas trap most of the bubbles, some will get in, but not awhole lol to do damage.
 
I have a 20 long that has a 150 watt de 20k bulb. In the 30 inch tank light at the edges is sparce. You will probably have to raise the light a couple more inches to get the desired effect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
New Crocea Clams - Some opening some not?
Replies
3
Views
558
hilde123
H
S
Its been a while.
Replies
8
Views
440
sleeperls
S
A
Please help reef tank
Replies
2
Views
372
SantaMonica
S
A
Please help reef tank
Replies
9
Views
398
wvned
wvned
S
Why do oversized protein skimmers not adequately remove protein from a tank?
Replies
12
Views
413
Paul B
Paul B
Back
Top