Nick's 345G Build

[DKPminus]

Beautiful set up…. ..

 

[chizerbunoi]

I agree with you. I don’t feed directly but do broadcast feed mysis.

 

[this is me]

marks 13months into this tank. So far, I’m pretty pleased.

 

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I haven’t really added anything for the last 3 months. Just really focus on the tank stability and focusing on negative bioload critters like clams and feather dusters.
9 clams and 4 coco worms, and lots of feather dusters in the tank. I almost did a clam table with 48”x30”x12”. Still thinking about it.

 

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[Acropora52]

Looking great! Love how open everything is. Where did you pick up your clams?

 

[GBRsouth]

Really beautiful Nick! Love following your builds!

 

[jassermd]

Absolutely beautiful!
I gotta know, how are you able to keep acans, blastos and trachys right next to the clams? Based on all the information I've read and learned here on R2R and other sources, clams require quite high PAR and the others are on the absolute opposite end of PAR need and would likely die in the same PAR that clams require. Please educate me!

 

[this is me]

Absolutely beautiful!
I gotta know, how are you able to keep acans, blastos and trachys right next to the clams? Based on all the information I've read and learned here on R2R and other sources, clams require quite high PAR and the others are on the absolute opposite end of PAR need and would likely die in the same PAR that clams require. Please educate me!

I’m not exactly sure why you’ve heard that. I would think most people would keep LPS like acans and brains on the sand and that’s where the clams should be placed(?) I don’t know, my clams and LPS are always my sand covers.
I haven’t tested my par for awhile but when I had a par meter, I tested 450 at the highest most coral position and 200 on the sandbed at 40% power. I thought I was burning corals especially the 200 par on the sand. I ran this for awhile and didn’t like how things look. I slowly increased the par 5% each week and saw improvement. I’m now at 75% and never bother to test the par.
i was very close to ditching these radion G5 6 months ago. I think if the Geisemann spectra MH/T5 are feasible to acquire, I would have one over the tank right now. So I stuck with the G5 and played the patience game and over the past 3 months, the tank has taken off.

edit: I actually have one small maxima at the very top of the tank. Honestly, I see no difference in coloration or growth or health than the ones I have on the sand. They were bought together at the same 2.5” aquaculture size. I’ll take some pictures of them tomorrow.

 

[this is me]

Looking great! Love how open everything is. Where did you pick up your clams?

My LFS has been getting nice clams from Sea Dwelling Creature. At least this was the boxes I see when they unpack their stock.
I ordered a derasa earlier this year. My first clam in this tank. They shipped me an ice box but the clam was still alive. I sent them an email right away and send picture of the thermometer in there water if 55degrees. But the clam looked okay. But I think the (internal) damage has been done. The clam died 2 weeks later and of course, I wasn’t qualify for their warranty since the clam didn’t die within the 14days. I also had some other issue with some brain I ordered. The box was cold. I haven’t ordered anything since except for frozen fish food from LA. I’ll give them another try. I think they have the nicest derasa clams.
pacific east always have nice clams. I haven’t ordered any from them in this tank but have in the past. They have nice maxima and squamosa.
Im at 9 clams. I think I gotta watch those squamosas. They’re growing at a very fast rate. The maximas, I’m not too worried about but the squamosa grow pretty fast.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Those chonky Acanthos...

 

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It’s pretty amazing how the fish know just the time to come up for food. They don’t do this everytime I go near the tank but when it’s dinner time, they all swarm together to the top. The rest of the time, they can careless and go do their own grazing on the rocks.
I think I got all the fish in the shot.

 

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Maxima clam at the highest point on the rock.

Maxima clams on the rock just above the sand. I don't see any difference between them. They grow pretty much at the same pace.

 

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Some pics from tonight's top down.

 

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I'll leave you with my favorite picture of tonight.

 

[panic]

WOW!! The tank looks great

 

[fc2989]

Hi Nick, love your tanks. why no angels in your new built, any reason other than they may pick on corals.