thinking of getting a clam

[ChickenCannoneer]

i have a 350 gallon reef 84x24x36 LWH. it has 3 400 watt halide bulbsand two actic bulbs. i saw a store with several 3-4 crocea clams, a gigas, and a gold and brown clam unknown i dentity. i have:
0 ammonia
0 nitries
about 15 nirtrate (they wont go any lower)
ph 8.4
slinity 1.024
calcium 450

the other inhabitants include: blue legged hermits, yellow tangs, fowface, damsel, eel, grouper, and a clownfish. I also have many other corals that are thriving.
any info on placement type and adult size would be great,
Thanks

 

[thrlride]

I don't know about the eel or grouper but your lighting is fine. Keep in mind these guys are going to suck the calcium and alk pretty heavily when they get big so be prepared for that.

 

[James Yeung]

I don't know about the grouper either. But don't go anything smaller than 2.5". They need to be fed live phyto. However, people with larger clams still feed them phyto.

From my experience, I bought a 2.5" clam almost 2 years ago. I didn't feed it phyto (along with the other 9 clams). All I did was add 1.5-2 gallons of lime water everyday to keep calcium and alk in good order. It appears that 1.5-2 gallons/day of lime water was enough to keep 10 clams (size range between 2.5-6") and a ton of SPS at appropriate calcium and alk levels. I lost 90% of my SPS recently (not before giving some of it to a fish buddy), due to algae outbreak and lack of water changes.

Some people do more some do less (like me) with excellent results. If I were you, I wouldn't buy anything smaller than 4-5" to start off since it'll virtually look like a frag in your big tank.

Also, don't get too addicted. I started off with 2, now I have 12. They're very pretty too look at and I lost it when I wanted a clam bed.

Go here to look for my clam pics: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5641406#post5641406

James

 

[bkztrini465]

I'm not sure about the grouper either. I'd go with something a little bigger as well, maybe 4 inches as a minimum. Dont want your clam getting lost in that huge tank you've got.

James,
How do you make lime water?
-Kris

 

[fish lad]

CORRECT ME IF WRONG BUT I BELIEVE LIME WATER IS KALKWASSER