quarentine clam questions and setup

[burtonboy182]

Looking to purchase my first clam. I would like to QT it to prevent it from brining ich, aptasia, snails or anything else into my system.
How long should I QT a clam for? I was thinking 73 days. Also any special precautions or requirements I should be aware of for best success?

Wondering if I could get away with an innovative marine 10g or 20g.
Kessil A360we since I already have it
Heater
Will pick up a power head

Do I need live rock? I have a dosing pump if needed

Thanks

 

[Tahoe61]

I would cycle the tank with the use of bacteria in a bottle, and add some media for the bacteria to colonize, such as rock or foam or sand. You'll not be medicating the tank so the use of media should be fine.
No dosing pumps needed as long as you do routine water changes. In such a small system dosing may become problematic.
Go with the 20 gal as you will have increased room for error and you can use the tank in the future.
Do not go over board with flow, in a 20 gallon IM you're not going to need a lot of supplemental flow for a clam.
As for length of time 73 days seems excessive, but you need to weigh the risk for your tank.
I encourage you to start with a Derasa.

 

[Shigshwa]

Interestingly, I've found that clams consume ammonia in a cycling QT, I have had instances where I have had to do an emergency quarantine for my clams, and so long as you don't put food or anything to spike the ammonia, then ammonia isn't much of an issue.

I would still recommend cycling the tank if you have the time to though. Install the dosing pump if you can too, it'll make maintenance easier on the tank.

 

[cpschult]

Google polyclad flatworms. Identify their eggs. Real risk with new clams

 

[burtonboy182]

I would like to have he tank use some sort of dosing system just in case I miss a water change one week.
I was recently thinking about using Kalk in the QT tank. Would use for clam, and corals. In reality I have a rising pump which I will most likely use.

Will def be on the lookout for all clam pests. Will look up plyclad flatworms. Thanks

 

[burtonboy182]

Would a sponge for the hob filter be enough, should I use marine pure or pond matrix for bacteria?

 

[burtonboy182]

Also would I need to feel this clam? I don’t plan on housing fish with it. Maybe clean up crew but that’s about it. This tank will def be an ULNS.

 

[cpschult]

Clams like dirtier water. Phytoplankton dosing for small clams, otherwise larger clams can make enough energy from light