New To Clamming

[SaltyDog08]

I just purchased my first clam the other day. I'm pretty sure it's healthy. I heard from someone that if I wave my hand over the light it, the faster it closes the healthier it is and this one closed all the way pretty quickly. Although I was wondering how long it takes for the clam to be comfortable enough to completely come out. It's only been in the tank for 2 days so it might still be adjusting, I'm not really sure. I just thought I would post this to see what differences people do to their tanks for the addition of clams. Food, placement in tank, lighting, fish that can't go with, etc...

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[returnofsid]

As long as you're giving adequate lighting, it won't need fed at all.

Placement in the tank will depend on species and type of lighting you have. However, if it's been in your tank for 2 days, placement may be a moot point, depending on how you placed it. There's a good chance it's already attached it's bysal threads. There's a long list of fish that aren't clam safe, you're best of researching all your fish, and any future possible purchase, before purchasing, to make sure it's safe with clams. A short list would include just about any of the large Angelfish, though there are a couple that are kinda safe. Even most Dwarf Angels "CAN" nip at, and decide to chow down on clams. Most Triggers won't be safe, though there are 2 or 3 species that are.

The more information you give us on your particular tank, inhabitants, equipment and the species of clam you purchased, the more information we can give you.

Oh, don't forget pics!!!

There's also some great information on this forum that'll probably answer all of your questions, and will be great reading!!

 

[SaltyDog08]

I have a 75 gallon reef, about 80lbs of live rock. 2x250 HQI, 2x35watt t5. Fish would include 1 percula clown, 1 yellow tang, 1 coral beauty angel, 2 yasha gobies, 1 pistol shrimp, 1 pearly jawfish,1 firefish, and 1 twinspot goby. I'm running two rena2 filters, a cpr bakpak skimmer and 2 askoll powerhead 402.
Salinity 1.023, KH 13, phosphates 0, nitrates 0, nitrites 0, calcium 450, ph 8.2

 

[SaltyDog08]

Here are a few pictures

 

[Barry N.]

Some tridacnids will not open fully if they are in a high flow area.

Good luck with your new baby.

 

[returnofsid]

The Coral Beauty may nip at the clam.

As Barry said, Clams prefer low flow areas. If their mantle isn't extending, it could be because of flow. You don't want them in an area where their mantle is continually moving due to flow. If it "flutters" now and then, from flow, it's okay, but that's about the maximum amount of flow you want a clam in.

Not that this pertains much to the clam, but those 2 Rena filters could quickly become a nitrate producing factories and your skimmer isn't adequate for your size tank, especially with the pretty high fish load that you have.

 

[SaltyDog08]

the power heads are situated different. there might be decent flow in the tank but closer to the sand bed the less flow there is. i have both renas pointed cross way to the front of the glass from each back corner and the power head on the left is pointed up. the one on the right is pointed towards the back slightly so i wouldn't think there would be much flow on the clam. i don't notice the mantle "fluttering". and Ive sat for a few hours and looked, i don't see the coral beauty nipping, but i guess that's not really an indication that it doesn't nip. for the most part i think the clam is healthy. it doesn't really open up really wide but im not sure if that is a characteristic of the maximas. i went ahead and put it on a rock and it seems to like that better. do smaller maxima clams open up fully?

 

[Barry N.]

IME, they will not open up as much as larger one.

 

[SaltyDog08]

thanks for the great information!!

 

[Barry N.]

There's a long list of fish that aren't clam safe, you're best of researching all your fish, and any future possible purchase, before purchasing, to make sure it's safe with clams

Please take the time to do some research prior to putting these awesome animals in your system.

 

[Myteemouse]

Yea this could happen.. LOL

Fish didn't make it and the guy killed the clam prying it open with screw driver trying to save the fish!

 

[duckmans]

Wow

Yea this could happen.. LOL

Fish didn't make it and the guy killed the clam prying it open with screw driver trying to save the fish!

That was a pricey mistake. I will make sure I dont put any Clams in with Tangs. Thanks for the info

 

[duckmans]

Lighting

As long as you're giving adequate lighting, it won't need fed at all.

Placement in the tank will depend on species and type of lighting you have. However, if it's been in your tank for 2 days, placement may be a moot point, depending on how you placed it. There's a good chance it's already attached it's bysal threads. There's a long list of fish that aren't clam safe, you're best of researching all your fish, and any future possible purchase, before purchasing, to make sure it's safe with clams. A short list would include just about any of the large Angelfish, though there are a couple that are kinda safe. Even most Dwarf Angels "CAN" nip at, and decide to chow down on clams. Most Triggers won't be safe, though there are 2 or 3 species that are.

The more information you give us on your particular tank, inhabitants, equipment and the species of clam you purchased, the more information we can give you.

Oh, don't forget pics!!!

There's also some great information on this forum that'll probably answer all of your questions, and will be great reading!!

Sid is 150 W Halide efficent enough to rasie Clams????

 

[returnofsid]

duckmans, that will depend a lot on the tank they're going in and where you're placing the clam. IMO, if it's a shallow tank or the clam is near the top of the tank, it should be okay. 250MH or T5HO with individual reflectors would be better. If I remember right, from another thread, you're specifically asking about putting one in a 24 gallon Aquapod? We have a 24 Aquapod with 150 MH Sunpod, with a beautiful T. maxima in it. The clam is at the very highest point in the rock work, and doing great. I would never try any clam in the bottom of a tank, lit by 150MH, however, I've seen several people do so, successfully.

We also have several clams in our 200, under 6Xt5HO lighting. A 4XT5HO fixture will be added soon, because of the size of the tank. All of these clams did fine in our 75, under the 6 bulb fixture, for several years.

Some other things to consider, aside from lighting, is flow, water quality and parameters, tank mates and the reef keepers experience with keeping clams.

Sorry, the mention of another post was mistaken. That was another member, asking about a clam in a Nano.

 

[duckmans]

Thanks

duckmans, that will depend a lot on the tank they're going in and where you're placing the clam. IMO, if it's a shallow tank or the clam is near the top of the tank, it should be okay. 250MH or T5HO with individual reflectors would be better. If I remember right, from another thread, you're specifically asking about putting one in a 24 gallon Aquapod? We have a 24 Aquapod with 150 MH Sunpod, with a beautiful T. maxima in it. The clam is at the very highest point in the rock work, and doing great. I would never try any clam in the bottom of a tank, lit by 150MH, however, I've seen several people do so, successfully.

We also have several clams in our 200, under 6Xt5HO lighting. A 4XT5HO fixture will be added soon, because of the size of the tank. All of these clams did fine in our 75, under the 6 bulb fixture, for several years.

Some other things to consider, aside from lighting, is flow, water quality and parameters, tank mates and the reef keepers experience with keeping clams.

Sorry, the mention of another post was mistaken. That was another member, asking about a clam in a Nano.

Sid no problem I do have a aquapod and a biocube and 2 other tanks a 60Gal LPS tank and a 30 Red sea tank.

The one I put the Clam in was the Pod with the Sunpod lighting system. I was thinking to myself he has a great memory. Anyway I've been a member here for some time but for a while I took my tanks down but couldnt handle not having a tank running so now instead of one 125 gal tank I have 3 Nanos and a 60 Gal go figure.

Thanks for all the info you guys share it help greatly. Mike

 

[trido]

That was a pricey mistake. I will make sure I dont put any Clams in with Tangs. Thanks for the info

I have five clams and three tangs...

Pictures like this are not necesarily the norm. For the most part, tangs are vegetarians. My sailfin does start picking on only one clam (its favorite apparently) when I neglect to feed it enough to make it happy.

 

[MMERITT28]

So how is your clam doing and did the mh150 seem to be enough light in your situation?

 

[Faciosity]

Sid, you seem to know a bit about clams. I want a maxima.

 

[Barry N.]

Maxima. IOE, farmed raised maxima do better than wild collected maximas. They may not be as big but the price won't be as big either.

 

[returnofsid]

Sid, you seem to know a bit about clams. I want a maxima.

Ben, I'm not sure what your question is....lol.