Remove clams from new GLR Live Rock?

[SirSaltyNutz]

Ok, probably not the right location to post but thought I would give it shot. My question is around clams that came with my order small order of 10# of Premium Deco live Rock from GLR. I believe three clams came with this order; see pics:

So my questions; first - are these even alive? They are fully covered with algae, sponges, etc... and look to be "attached" upsidedown. Second - if they could be alive or possible shipped "alive" should I remove them or keep? Worried about spike of toxic NH3. I first soaked these is saltwater (1.026 SG) bucket with air stone for 5 hours, remove dead and unwanted hitchhikers and then transfer these in a 5 gal QT set-up. In 12 hrs the NH3 was ~ 1.5 ppm. Plan to do a 50% water change today. My goal is to keep the life of these rocks strong; so I can place them in the main tank ( current building) in 6 weeks. Dealing with these clams are unknown, but I don't want to throw out the life that attached to the either.

 

[dank.reefer]

I dont have any gulf live rock but I do have a cryptic zone that I stocked with LR from a 30year old system shut down that was built with fiji and tongan rock. The rock is full of tiny clams and muscles and many other curiosities. The clams, if still alive, are valuable filter feeders and will only help to keep the water clean. I would keep an eye on them while curing the rock to see if they open. If they do I say leave them.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

I dont have any gulf live rock but I do have a cryptic zone that I stocked with LR from a 30year old system shut down that was built with fiji and tongan rock. The rock is full of tiny clams and muscles and many other curiosities. The clams, if still alive, are valuable filter feeders and will only help to keep the water clean. I would keep an eye on them while curing the rock to see if they open. If they do I say leave them.

Thank you, what you said makes sense. Would these open if they died? Being upsidedown is hard to tell if they are opening. I will watch NH3 closely.

 

[BryanM]

Thank you, what you said makes sense. Would these open if they died? Being upsidedown is hard to tell if they are opening. I will watch NH3 closely.

I have 150 pounds of gulf live rock, plenty of clams came on mine, they are definitely alive, and I kept them all.

 

[SirSaltyNutz]

Thank you, what you said makes sense. Would these open if they died? Being upsidedown is hard to tell if they are opening. I will watch NH3 closely.

I have 150 pounds of gulf live rock, plenty of clams came on mine, they are definitely alive, and I kept them all.

Did you QT/cure the rock or straight into tank? I juat saw two of the bivalves open, so good! Thinking about getting some phyto to feed them and other filter feeders. Any thoughts on this?

 

[BryanM]

Did you QT/cure the rock or straight into tank? I juat saw two of the bivalves open, so good! Thinking about getting some phyto to feed them and other filter feeders. Any thoughts on this?

Straight in to the tank.

 

[minus9]

They're just bi-valves (filter feeders) which I think are pretty cool. I have a few in my main tank that came with the Aussie and Solomon rock. These are the hitchhikers that I really enjoy and cause no problems.