Clams and nanos

[Savannah88]

So I've got a 13.5 set up that has been cycling for about 7 months. My end goal is 2 long fin clowns, 1 bubble, 1 clam, a few other corals, and of course a cleaner crew.

I know that clams are filters so with that small of a bio load is a clam going to be okay?

Would I need a protein skimmer or would that be over kill?

Should I put fish in first and let them settle before I get the clam?

It's not a permanent home for the clam, I know it will out grow the tank but this is what I want.

 

[Uncle99]

I think the clam idea is fine assuming you size it for your tank.
A huge Sqamy would not work, but something over 2” and below 5” would be a good addition.
While the clam is a filter feeder, he gets 70% of his nutrients from photosynthesis, so light is important.
I dose a small amount of phyto twice weekly.
I skimmer is not a required provided you have a method to export waste so nitrate can be kept in the 2-10ppm range and phosphate in the 0.07-.1ppm range.
Water changes are usually the best if your not using a skimmer.

 

[LovestheReefer]

I think the clam idea is fine assuming you size it for your tank.
A huge Sqamy would not work, but something over 2” and below 5” would be a good addition.
While the clam is a filter feeder, he gets 70% of his nutrients from photosynthesis, so light is important.
I dose a small amount of phyto twice weekly.
I skimmer is not a required provided you have a method to export waste so nitrate can be kept in the 2-10ppm range and phosphate in the 0.07-.1ppm range.
Water changes are usually the best if your not using a skimmer.

Wow beautiful mantle on this clam. I just recently got a clam for my tank and it hasn’t really opened very much and I’m starting to get worried. What do u think? So far water parameters are normal. Calcium is around 440.

 

[LovestheReefer]

Wow beautiful mantle on this clam. I just recently got a clam for my tank and it hasn’t really opened very much and I’m starting to get worried. What do u think? So far water parameters are normal. Calcium is around 440.

Any clam tips would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[VLR3]

I just put a clam in my 13.5 a few weeks ago. So far so good. No skimmer. Just a refugium. Chaeto, bio filter media gems, filter floss and Fritz Maxout Pro.

 

[Alexopora]

So I've got a 13.5 set up that has been cycling for about 7 months. My end goal is 2 long fin clowns, 1 bubble, 1 clam, a few other corals, and of course a cleaner crew.

I know that clams are filters so with that small of a bio load is a clam going to be okay?

Would I need a protein skimmer or would that be over kill?

Should I put fish in first and let them settle before I get the clam?

It's not a permanent home for the clam, I know it will out grow the tank but this is what I want.

You just need to be on top of your water changes. This is to ensure that you replenish necessary elements (calcium etc) that will be taken up bu the clam. For a tank that size I would recommend a crocea since they stay small and don’t grow as fast as other tridacnas. Adding the fish before the clams should be fine.

As for skimmers, I dont use skimmers for my tanks as I feel regular water changes are more than sufficient for my 20 gallons. It really is up to your preference. If you think having skimmers is for you, go for it.

Depending on the size of the clams, you might want to dose phyto a few times a week to supplement the clams. This is especially so if you got a small one.

Also, this is just purely based on my experience and some reefers experience. Our clams don’t appreciate reef roids. We would normally refrain from broadcast feeding reef roids and directly feed it to the corals instead. Rotifers and other zooplanktons are fine but it seems that reef roids may irritate clams.

 

[Savannah88]

You just need to be on top of your water changes. This is to ensure that you replenish necessary elements (calcium etc) that will be taken up bu the clam. For a tank that size I would recommend a crocea since they stay small and don’t grow as fast as other tridacnas. Adding the fish before the clams should be fine.

As for skimmers, I dont use skimmers for my tanks as I feel regular water changes are more than sufficient for my 20 gallons. It really is up to your preference. If you think having skimmers is for you, go for it.

Depending on the size of the clams, you might want to dose phyto a few times a week to supplement the clams. This is especially so if you got a small one.

Also, this is just purely based on my experience and some reefers experience. Our clams don’t appreciate reef roids. We would normally refrain from broadcast feeding reef roids and directly feed it to the corals instead. Rotifers and other zooplanktons are fine but it seems that reef roids may irritate clams.

This is great information! Thank you so much!

 

[Savannah88]