Connected clam tank?

[IPT]

Man I love clams! The colors, the patterns, amazing. I have a T Max about 2 years old now, and another about 8 months old that are both doing quite well. Unfortunately, I lost about 4 other clams over the last few months. At the end of the day it was my fault because I really don't have much room for them. I placed them where I could, but they fell often (jumped?) and I think it just stressed them out and killed them. One fell while I was away into a dark place and being already weak and there for 4 days that took it out.

SO, I was thinking about making a "clam" tank :). I can't afford the time or effort to run two systems, so I am considering using a auto WC system, or maybe just 2 Dosing Pumps (or even one if it goes forward and reverse) to "plumb" a 10 gallon tank off my main system. I have Kessil 360X I can use for lighting. Throw in a heater and a cheap Jebao powerhead for flow and I think it might work. if I changed a 1/2 gallon of water per day with the main tank I would think that would suffice.

Thoughts?

 

[Rocks reef]

Are you running a sump on your main tank? If so, you could just plumb the clam tank to that and get a small, dedicated return pump just for the clam tank. I would be concerned about using an AWC system, as the pumps don't usually pump the exact same amount.

 

[IPT]

Are you running a sump on your main tank? If so, you could just plumb the clam tank to that and get a small, dedicated return pump just for the clam tank. I would be concerned about using an AWC system, as the pumps don't usually pump the exact same amount.

Yeah, I am running a sump. The problem become draining it after pumping water into it. Either need a HOB overflow or to drill and plum it. Bother would be a PITA. Another option I though of would be using a using a dosing pump to drain some water from the calm tank and ATO system (I have an unused Tunze) that just replaces the removed water with water from the sump.

Decisions decisions.

 

[CCK_8814]

If you have a sump, why not just drill the 10 gallon, add a basic out the back or out the side drain and then use a small return pump with HOB style LocLine return? Then you don’t have to worry about changing water and separate heaters.

 

[Shirak]

I don't think you will get enough turn over in the clam tank with dosing style pumps to maintain stable water parameters. ATO pumps can move much more water but setting them up so you don't overfill or drain the clam tank sounds difficult and risky if something gets out of whack. 10g tank from petco and a diamond bit and easy to drill a hole on the side for a internal/external 2 drain overflow.