SPS Tank + Maxima Clam: Good idea?

[flamehawkfish]

hello All

Does anyone have luck mixing in a Maxima clam with his/her SPS-dominated reef tank? I'm tempted by one of those 5" blue French polynesian maximas, but want to gain your feedback first.

If you recommend it, what's your feeding routine? Do you offer general feedings of DT/Plankton/greenwater, 'spot-feed', or just let the clams generate energy from filter-feeding & light? I don't want to jeopardize water quality to keep my clams healthy & well-fed.

I have a 95g reef w' mainly SPS, some LPS, & softies along w' a handful of fish (pair of maroon clowns, purple tang, flamehawk, damsel, 4-line wrasse).

-Flame

 

[reefsahoy]

i got 2 in my tank and never feed them. they are filter feeders

 

[rutz81]

i got 2 in my tank and never feed them. they are filter feeders

Agreed, I never fed mine when I had them, they like light and whatever is in the water column should be enough for them.

 

[Znut Reefer]

Keeping 3 maxima's and a Squamosa in my sps tank. I don't feed them.

 

[nvdiz]

I got a maxima in my sps nano and it looks like it loves its home

 

[jbird69]

maximas and sps go together perfectly. Both require good water quality and strong light.

 

[Sardaukar]

maximas and sps go together perfectly. Both require good water quality and strong light.

Pretty much this. Strong light, good clean water and strong, stable Ca levels are the keys to success for both these organisms.

 

[poormansreef]

MY buddy had 2 clams. He didn't have a protein skimmer, he just had the clams, and I guess they replaced the protein skimmers.(clams did)

 

[hatfielj]

Absolutely, get lots of maximas if you can afford them! They help filter the water of nitrates and other organic material and they love the highlight environments. I've got three maximas, a crocea and a deresa in my tank and they are definitely a nice addition.

 

[jbird69]

The cool thing about clams is they arent detrimental to your bioload, they usually tolerate contact with eachother. So the only limitations to how many you can have is in direct proportion to how many of these you possess...

 

[E.intheC]

^^ lol. Clams are awesome. I agree with the above about stable water params, high light, and high calcium levels.

 

[mutateddogbone]

clams and SPS go hand in hand

 

[Genetics]

Clams work out well in SPS tank since SPS and clams have a lot of similar requirements.

 

[myaerica]

I have 8 of them in the 180 spstank they do fine. I never feed them.

 

[Thairun]

Keeping 3 maxima's and a Squamosa in my sps tank. I don't feed them.

Same here, + one acan maxim. Definitely a good combo with sps.
They just love the light.
Some pics
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=109655&stc=1&d=1271827714
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=109649&stc=1&d=1271827295

 

[nano427]

how much flow can the clams tolerate? what if the mantles are blowing around a bit but still extended? thanks

 

[Thairun]

Do you see my squamosa, it has been there for nearly three years at 6in and now double the lenght with extra 4 scute. My 5footer runs with 2 wavebox and 2 6100 and 6080 with alternator. All pointing to the middle of the tank where it situated. You can imagine how the flow like but my squamosa like it as my sps do.

 

[rkb]

Like the above, I think clams make a great addition to the SPS tank. They filter out excess nitrates and really help to keep a ULN system. My 40 breeder is home to a 7 inch Derasa, small squamosa and two mature croceas- nitrates are undetectable.

The challenge becomes placement, finding a spot where the currents are not too great for the clam. In my system my flow turnover rate is around 40+ times per hour and if I can find places that I'd think almost anyone could.

Also, while lots of clams equals low nutrients that also applies to calc/alk. Be prepared to amp these up in a tank with several growing clams.

Just keep in mind that when taking on clams you will be limited in what fish you can keep- basically no angels.






PS- was your four line wrasse 34% cheaper than a six line wrasse- sorry, just a little wrasse humor.

 

[stony_corals]

Like the above, I think clams make a great addition to the SPS tank. They filter out excess nitrates and really help to keep a ULN system. My 40 breeder is home to a 7 inch Derasa, small squamosa and two mature croceas- nitrates are undetectable.

The challenge becomes placement, finding a spot where the currents are not too great for the clam. In my system my flow turnover rate is around 40+ times per hour and if I can find places that I'd think almost anyone could.

Also, while lots of clams equals low nutrients that also applies to calc/alk. Be prepared to amp these up in a tank with several growing clams.

Just keep in mind that when taking on clams you will be limited in what fish you can keep- basically no angels.






PS- was your four line wrasse 34% cheaper than a six line wrasse- sorry, just a little wrasse humor.

The amount of nitrates that clams will uptake won't make a system ULN unless the density is so great.... I have a 1' gigas in a 50 g, I typically run about 5ppm NO3........ You need a ton of clams to make an impact....

 

[Psionicdragon]

Clams are good in SPS tank as said by others. HOWEVER, they don't like a lot of flow.