Lurking danger 75g Dragon Lair

[kevgib67]

I know, its a bummer. The Bangaii was not being harassed so there was no obvious reason for it not to flourish. I have a lot of fake plants, fake coral ect... for the fish to hide behind so it may well be in there and ok but its not swimming around freely like the others.

He might not be comfortable yet and found a spot out of sight to chill until he is comfortable. If you don’t have carnivorous cuc and you haven’t seen a carcass that’s a good sign. Mine is in with 14 other fish and he seems to be invisible to the other fish, not one even looks at him.

 

[vlangel]

He might not be comfortable yet and found a spot out of sight to chill until he is comfortable. If you don’t have carnivorous cuc and you haven’t seen a carcass that’s a good sign. Mine is in with 14 other fish and he seems to be invisible to the other fish, not one even looks at him.

I hope so Kevin!

 

[vlangel]

Today I did a small water change, siphoned the sand and wiped the glass. I also check parameters:
Alk 7.5
Salinity .026
NO3 5
PO4 .64
All in all not too bad but I am dosing EVS B-Ionic nitrate 6ml daily
I have been dosing AFR 10ml daily and that is holding alk steady for now.
I also have PhosGuard in an in-tank filter and it seems to be bringing phosphate down.
I got a nice top down pic of the clam.

 

[kevgib67]

Today I did a small water change, siphoned the sand and wiped the glass. I also check parameters:
Alk 7.5
Salinity .026
NO3 5
PO4 .64
All in all not too bad but I am dosing EVS B-Ionic nitrate 6ml daily
I have been dosing AFR 10ml daily and that is holding alk steady for now.
I also have PhosGuard in an in-tank filter and it seems to be bringing phosphate down.
I got a nice top down pic of the clam.

Love it Dawn! Makes me excited about getting a maxima. Probably a month or two.

 

[vlangel]

Love it Dawn! Makes me excited about getting a maxima. Probably a month or two.

That is not what I see when I look in the tank because its so high up in the rockwork. Even I was super excited to see how beautiful it is! LOL
I am excited for you!

 

[kevgib67]

Today I did a small water change, siphoned the sand and wiped the glass. I also check parameters:
Alk 7.5
Salinity .026
NO3 5
PO4 .64
All in all not too bad but I am dosing EVS B-Ionic nitrate 6ml daily
I have been dosing AFR 10ml daily and that is holding alk steady for now.
I also have PhosGuard in an in-tank filter and it seems to be bringing phosphate down.
I got a nice top down pic of the clam.

Hey Dawn, I picked up my maxima clam Friday from Corals.Com, mission accomplished!

 

[vlangel]

Hey Dawn, I picked up my maxima clam Friday from Corals.Com, mission accomplished!

How big is it? Are you going to feed it? I have been feeding mine phyto mixed with New Life Coral Gel about 3-4 Xs week. Its definitely growing now. Good luck with your new beautiful Maxima!

 

[kevgib67]

How big is it? Are you going to feed it? I have been feeding mine phyto mixed with New Life Coral Gel about 3-4 Xs week. Its definitely growing now. Good luck with your new beautiful Maxima!

Just phytoplankton and whatever it gets from the water column. Since they rely mostly on light I’m hoping I have enough par. I bought a a a $200 par meter and it’s sitting at 380 so if the meter is off by 80 it’s still sitting at the minimal required. Keep me updated on yours, this is my first clam and if I’m successful it won’t be my last.

 

[vlangel]

Just phytoplankton and whatever it gets from the water column. Since they rely mostly on light I’m hoping I have enough par. I bought a a a $200 par meter and it’s sitting at 380 so if the meter is off by 80 it’s still sitting at the minimal required. Keep me updated on yours, this is my first clam and if I’m successful it won’t be my last.

From having a crocea years ago, the big things to watch is that they are making a growth ring under the mantle. It will look whiter than the older parts of their shell. Also it should shut temporarily when you pass your hand over it and create a shadow. Healthy clams are very reactive to a shadow. Other than that, just watch for gaping or pinched mantle.

 

[kevgib67]

From having a crocea years ago, the big things to watch is that they are making a growth ring under the mantle. It will look whiter than the older parts of their shell. Also it should shut temporarily when you pass your hand over it and create a shadow. Healthy clams are very reactive to a shadow. Other than that, just watch for gaping or pinched mantle.

I forgot to answer size, it’s 1 1/2”. Yes it reacts to light and has white ( new shell growth at the top rim of its shells, thank you. Any fish nippers I need to watch out for!

 

[vlangel]

I forgot to answer size, it’s 1 1/2”. Yes it reacts to light and has white ( new shell growth at the top rim of its shells, thank you. Any fish nippers I need to watch out for!

I remember that once a clam gets to 2" it relies more on light and less on nutrients/food.
Angels and Butterflies I guess are some of the worst offenders as far as nipping mantles. That's the main reason I decided against a Butterfly. I took a chance on the Coral Beauty but I have never had a CB that nipped coral, Feather Dusters or my clams so Alan, my CB angel is a keeper.

 

[kevgib67]

I remember that once a clam gets to 2" it relies more on light and less on nutrients/food.
Angels and Butterflies I guess are some of the worst offenders as far as nipping mantles. That's the main reason I decided against a Butterfly. I took a chance on the Coral Beauty but I have never had a CB that nipped coral, Feather Dusters or my clams so Alan, my CB angel is a keeper.

How big is yours?

 

[vlangel]

How big is yours?

About the same, 1 and a half inches.

 

[kevgib67]

About the same, 1 and a half inches.

Good morning Dawn!

 

[vlangel]

Good morning Dawn!

Good morning Kevin! How's the reef this fine day?

 

[kevgib67]

Good morning Kevin! How's the reef this fine day?

Doing well thanks, ignore the water marks. I did a water change yesterday evening. Cleaning the glass is a priority this morning.

 

[vlangel]

Doing well thanks, ignore the water marks. I did a water change yesterday evening. Cleaning the glass is a priority this morning.

Yes, its looking fine indeed. Very very nice! I forget, what size is your tank?

 

[kevgib67]

Yes, its looking fine indeed. Very very nice! I forget, what size is your tank?

Thank you, it’s a 105g display with a 40g sump.

 

[vlangel]

Thank you, it’s a 105g display with a 40g sump.

I thought it looked bigger than my display. That is a great size and a good ratio for display and sump. My 56g with a 30g sump was very stable once it settled in.
I am hoping that my 75g can achieve that kind of stability with time but it wont have the pod population or the same water volume per fish (at least not with my present stocking) so I will just have to see how it goes.

 

[kevgib67]

Your tank is gorgeous Dawn! I just upgraded from my 32 g , set up for over 4 years, in February and just moved things over and keep adding of course.