what clam would you choose?

[bboyin4lyf]

just upgraded my tank lights from 4 * 50 w fluro's to 2 * 175 w mh. BIG change ! any whos i made the change to allow me to keep sps and clams. now ive just gota decied which clam to get. what would you guyz choose considering my lights?

 

[Anonymous]

Hey bboy, with 5 w of m/h light per gallon I believe you could keep most Tridanca clams. The maxima clams would need to sit on the rock at least in the middle of tank. A 70 is kind of deep for 5 w a gallon. Maybe the Derasa clam could sit on the substrate. I would be more concerned with the 2 fish you have, both are known to nip clams and sps. A six line wrasse is a good addition for a tank with clams as they will eat the parasites that feed on clams. calc. above 400, and good levels of stront. and other trace elements. Andy

 

[Anonymous]

I keep a nice blue maxima about 1/3 of the way from the top in my 125. I use 3x175 watt MHs(20k XMs) that are mounted about 10" above the tank. It looks great and is growing well. I plan on getting a derasa soon and putting it on the sand.

 

[bboyin4lyf]

thanks guyz, andy h- luckyily for me neither of mine nip corals. ive got gorgonians, softies and lps all with ""frilly bits" i guess you''d call them similar to clam mantles. i think ill go the maxima. how mcuh calicum does the maxima use? currently i dont dose to maintain calicum as i do a 40 liter nsw change a week to maintain it. will this continue to work? what are your thoughts ?

 

[Unarce]

ive got gorgonians, softies and lps all with ""frilly bits" i guess you''d call them similar to clam mantles.

Actually, they're quite different as clams completely lack stinging cells. Once an angel samples a bit of clam mucus, it won't be long before it begins to nibble the mantle.

I agree with Andy H., that Coral Beauty is gonna be a problem eventually.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey bboy, I am not sure about the h2o in Aust. Here in Charleston I have to buffer my h2o quite a bit. Get a good calcium and alk. kit, test your param. and adjust to 400 - 450 calcium. Other trace elements might be maintained with the water changes. The clams are cool. They even use some of the nitrate in the tank. Hippopus hippopus clams make a good first clam as well. Their mantle does not extend past the shell. I find fish are less apt to nip these clams. Andy

 

[bboyin4lyf]

damn didnt think about the stinging cells. as allways good advice reefnutz. if i use say a two part additive should i be cool with a clam and a few sps and lps? is the clam your refering to andy h spelt Hipopus hippos? cause i cant find it any where.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey bboy, It is Hippopus hippopus. My mistake. Just google it and you should get plenty of info. They are cool and hardy. I think any add. that raises the calcium and alk. would be fine. Andy

 

[bboyin4lyf]

just found it. looks mad. a little dull though but heck i cant complain. well now all ive gota do is wait for the lfs to get one in. the idea for the tank is to have red/orange/ brown sps and softies to one side and the blue/green/ whateva else to the other seperated by a sand bar in the middle which is where ill place the clam! thats if it all works out :roll: chuck us a pic of ure tank andy h.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey bboy, I will post some pics as soon as I get a cam. I think my wife and children have one hidden for x-mas. Would rather have another tank though.
29g reef 5" aragonite, 40lbs. live rock, with clown gobies: green, yellow, citron, watchman, torpedo. Pistol, & cleaner shrimp. Feather dusters. Soft corals, sponges, gorg., zoos and shrooms.

40g breeder great size tank for clams as it is low and wide. 3" aragonite, 50lbs. live rock. Several types of clams, sps, gorg., shrooms, zoos, six line wrasse, candy hog, foxface and a few gobies.

51/2g bed side tank 1.5" arag. few pounds or live branch rock with bub. tip anemone with host shrimp, zoos, coral morphs, leather coral, small rock anemone, and 2 baby occ. clowns. I feed these clowns cyclopeze and their color is great. All tanks have small clean up crew. a few fresh h2o tanks as well. Andy

 

[bboyin4lyf]

damn your lucky to have a wife like that. my g.f goes nutz everytime i mention my tank or the lfs. digi cams are the most useful thing for a tank. keep a photo jounral and compare growth rates. lol my only proplem is now whether to keep the coral beauty and not get a clam or get rid of him ohhh well plenty more fish in the sea :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

She is great. She also does not understand the lure of the lfs. She calls it the "Crack House", meaning I can not keep away and all my $ ends up there. Maybe you could make a nice sump/fuge for the fish or clam. Andy

 

[bboyin4lyf]

this may sound trivial but i have no expierence with plumbing what so every. lol being only 18. any way can u install a sump/refugee onto an allready full tank?