Think I got it

[Corvettes&Fish]

I would like 2 purchase a larger clam around 3 or 4 inches so that I dont have 2 feed DT's. From what I've read I think my tank meets the physical requirements.

Lighting:
Aquaspacelight , PC(24w x 4) and 3x250 10K halides over a 125.

1. If your system uses the Aquaspacelight product do you supliment the actinic light?

2. If so for looks or you feel the clam algae does better with it?

3. Anybody have anything on this list think a clam makes a great snack?

I'm particularly concerned about the pepermint shrimp.
false percs
royal gramma
pepermint shrimp
yellow tang
Cerith Snail
Astera Snail

4. What do you know now about keep clams that you wish you knew when you started?

5. I plan 2 put the clam near the acro shelf that wouldnt cause any problems would it? No acro yet but thats where its space is planned.

I am a little nervouse about keeping clams. I want to make sure I have the proper environment for success. Oh I forgot about water params everything I can measure is good.

 

[cromax]

Best advice I can give is do your homework. Get Daniel Knop's book "Giant Clams". Read published reports and studies from universities. Clams in general are difficult to kill if you start with good healthy specimens.

In a very, very, small nutshell, here are my opinions on your questions:

1) Total Kelvin rating at 10,000 or less for the shallow water species. Almost all clams you will see for sale are farmed - have you ever seen what depths your clams are raised at? Nuf said. Intensity is the most important factor in lighting.

2) Actinics appear to neither help or harm clams - but they do make mantles fluoresce.

3) A lot of things will consider your clam a snack whether you know they're there or not.

4) I wish I knew everything I know now when I started. I have a large boxful of empty clam shells from over the years, and a tankful of live, happy and healthy ones from over the years.

5) Clams next to acros are not a problem until your acro starts to shade your clam. Clams are relatively slow growers.

No need to be nervous about keeping clams - they are easy to keep in an established aquarium.