got lotsa questions!

[Nico]

got a 24 gal nano, and have never owned a clam, I need something easy. any and all suggestions and advice on keeping clams would be greatly appreciated. i have always thought that clams are the most interesting and beutiful of all things in the reef! c'mon, please tell me all about your clams!:bigsmile:

 

[beaner_12]

what kind of lighting do you have. also you will probably have to dose magnesium unless you do water changes frequently.

 

[Nico]

I am a newbie to reef thanks, had an aggressive tank years ago, but this is my first run at reef tanks. I just bought the nano, and am getting ready to cycle it, I have the lights that came with it, I think they are compact flours. I wont be ready to add livestock for at least a month, but am doing my research now so that I am informed. I will upgrade if need be with lighting and circulation, but am looking for some rules of thumb when it comes to clams. Thanks Beaner!

 

[BlazinNano]

Not quite sure if the lighting will work........
You might be able to get away wil like a derasa but it would have to higher up on the reef. But I am not sure.

 

[beaner_12]

well you need a strong lighting, im not a fan of LEDs. i dont have any clams because my tank is too small. but you definatelly need that, and feed it phytoplankton. make sure you buy a test kit that includes magnesium, calcium, phosphate.

 

[dougers31]

When you say you had an aggressive tank, was that saltwater or fresh?

 

[skinz78]

I don't recommend adding any clams till your tank is at least 1 year old. It needs to get established.

I agree that you will need stronger lights as well. I also agree that you will need the Cal Alk and Mag test kits. I don't agree however that you need to feed a clam, all they need is high lighting and fish poo broken down to ammonia via the nitrogen cycle.

 

[Nico]

it was saltwater

 

[Alattner]

i started a thread earlier tonight talking about starter clams you might check it out there is some good info

 

[MimicOcto8]

yo Nico...+1 on what skinz says except they do need additional feeding if under 3" end to end. the 1year mark for a new tank is HUGE. start with so fun corals such as zoanthids and palythoas. check out some sponsors here....fantastic frags and reef odyssey happen to be my favorite plus they are local to us

 

[skinz78]

I have never fed clams under 3" or any size. There is no scientific research that I am aware of that proves they need feeding, other than what was sponsored by DT's phytoplankton.

 

[xXch0dyXx]

While I understand why people say to wait a year before you get a clam, I dont believe it to be necessary. I dont think I have owned one tank more than a year, and I have successfully kept clams in all of them.

I setup my current 40br in november, and I have a very happy maxima and crocea in there currentl, and will be adding more in the near future. I do religiously monitor my parameters and I am setting up a BM triple doser as we speak.

As long as your tank has fully cycled and you stay ontop of your parameters, I dont see why you need to wait for exactly a year to add a clam...

 

[dougers31]

I think if you really know what you're doing and have your tank balanced you would prolly be ok adding them sooner(I did).

 

[Alattner]

i know its a little different situation but everyone says your not supposed to keep a bta in a tank less than 6 to 9 months and i got one after my tank was only set up for 4 months and it has done really awesome in my tank