clam opinions

[billy31422]

i am thinking of getting a maxima clam. i would like a blue maxima. anybody have any opinions on which clams are more hardy? i read somewhere that the less colorfull clams need less light but i dont think light will be a problem for me. i do want to put it on the bottom though. tank specs are below. also what supplements will i need? thanks in advance

[Bruce]

With you lighting the clam would be fine (lighting wise) for the question of hardy, i would say that the most hardy would be the Derasa and Squamosa Clams. You would want to dose with calcuim, iodine (iodide...w/e i never know lol) and the other trace elements

[90_Berlin_joe]

Billy, although I just started saltwater in July, I have have gained a lot of knowledge and one thing is for sure is don't believe everything that anyone tells you.

I was told in order to keep clams you need to have metal halides(LFS, online, experts), well i don't have any metal halides, I am running a Coralife 48" @ 260watts + 40 watts 18,000k balid around 3.2 watts per gallon and I have a Crocea Clam that is doing great (pic below).

I do a water change ever 3 weeks r/o water.about 20gal on a 109gal. I don't test my water everyday maybe once a month if i am feeling frogish. I feed daily add calcium in the morning and when feeding at night. I use phytoplankton along with iodine and feed my fish mysis, formula one and two and use flake food.

The thing of it is what you find works go with it. It is not always how much you spend or how much time you spend on it. If it works then do it. In my case yes i have lost a few things due to weird events like my killer clowns but nothing due to the water quality or there forth.

So to give you an idea as to go with a clam or not if you go with the book then you should have enough to be very beneficial. You will want to get a cal test kit to keep your calcium right(i do not test), phytoplankton to feed the clam(general distribution) and calcium. Other than that it looks like you have your ducks in a row.

Good luck!

[Bruce]

well if you cant believe anything that anyone tells you...how do u learn...dont tell somone that...imo its a bit disrespectful to the people that are trying to help...i know that every tank is different that is why i stated that all of the my statements were that...my opinion...i too have clams under my pc lighting. other than that i agree with you joe

[billy31422]

i didnt know they needed calcium. i am allready dripping calcium though so it shouldnt be a problem. that clam is very cool joe.

[Birdlady]

I have two blue crocea clams. Clams under 3 inches need phyto. Over three inches, they are self sufficient with proper lighting (which you definitely have)

They do need calcium (big calcium suckers!)

Please do not dose iodine without testing. It can build to toxic levels. Really, you should test for anything you are adding, including calcium.

I do know of people who's clams have died under PC lighting. That is not to say, it cannot be done, only that the best chance of success comes with MH lighting. Post on your clam in 6 months to a year. 3 months is not alot of time.

Billy, clams are one of my personal favorites, and IMHO, are quite easy to keep. I say, go for it! You have excellent lighting so any color you like should be fine. (I have my eye on a teardrop gold maxima....as soon as I make some room!lol!)

[Bruce]

ya i agree, thats why im not gona buy any more clams untill i get mhs, i have the deresa high up so it might be ok otherwise when the new ballasts for the 245 come (old ones caught on fire...during the class...can you say chaos? lol..) but ya if it starts doing bad im gona put it there...

[Jason McKenzie]

90_Berlin_Joe. Straghten up your Clam man

Just JK

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by 90_Berlin_joe

Billy, although I just started saltwater in July, I have have gained a lot of knowledge and one thing is for sure is don't believe everything that anyone tells you.

I was told in order to keep clams you need to have metal halides(LFS, online, experts), well i don't have any metal halides, I am running a Coralife 48" @ 260watts + 40 watts 18,000k balid around 3.2 watts per gallon and I have a Crocea Clam that is doing great (pic below).

I do a water change ever 3 weeks r/o water.about 20gal on a 109gal. I don't test my water everyday maybe once a month if i am feeling frogish. I feed daily add calcium in the morning and when feeding at night. I use phytoplankton along with iodine and feed my fish mysis, formula one and two and use flake food.

The thing of it is what you find works go with it. It is not always how much you spend or how much time you spend on it. If it works then do it. In my case yes i have lost a few things due to weird events like my killer clowns but nothing due to the water quality or there forth.

So to give you an idea as to go with a clam or not if you go with the book then you should have enough to be very beneficial. You will want to get a cal test kit to keep your calcium right(i do not test), phytoplankton to feed the clam(general distribution) and calcium. Other than that it looks like you have your ducks in a row.

Good luck!

Joe, I have to agree with you there. Find out what works for you and go with it. I have also been told by a local really experienced reefer, that you can somewhat make up for a lack of light by increasing the length of time that the light is on. I don't know if this is totally true or not--but it holds out hope for me in the future.

Anne

[My2heartboys]

Originally Posted by Bruce

well if you cant believe anything that anyone tells you...how do u learn...dont tell somone that...imo its a bit disrespectful to the people that are trying to help...i know that every tank is different that is why i stated that all of the my statements were that...my opinion...i too have clams under my pc lighting. other than that i agree with you joe

Bruce, didn't think about it that way...but now that I think about it that is how it could interpreted.

Anne