Happy Clam?

BCreefmaker · 08/11/2007, 11:05 AM

how can you tell if your clam is doing well other then if its open? its looks like its mantle is extending over the shell, but not reaching towards the light. sometimes if i got near it or fish or shrimp gets too close it will close up for a second but open back up in a bit. i will try and get some pics, but all i have is my cell phone. it is a Crocea clam. and andother question. I'm pretty sure i know the answer but im gunna ask anyways. i do not test. my methods so far and from the very beginning have been "aux natural", just water changes every week. is it safe to dose kalkwasser without PH/ALK/Calcium tests? as long as im super carefull im under dosing my topoff?

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 12:08 PM

Crocea tend to need strong illumination, Don't wait to long on bulb changes,the clam will be the first to pay. They are very sensitive to changes in specific gravity.Croceas typically extend their mantles well beyond the upper margin of the shell,so much that the shell almost completely hidden.
Test kits are important, mineral uptake changes with more additons of corals, At least get your water tested at the LFS.

BCreefmaker · 08/11/2007, 01:01 PM

you mean the mantle covers the top part and the inside of the shell right? not the entire outside?

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 01:16 PM

When looking from the front and above its extended almost completely over the shell witch usually burrows into hard substrate

BCreefmaker · 08/11/2007, 01:18 PM

do they require such a substrate? or will they be find on the bottom of my tank nestled in the sand?

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 01:23 PM

If you have a large bristle worm population they may go for the byussus opening where it attaches usually. you can put a plastic container hidden under the sand with the clam in it protecting it, somewhat.

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 01:30 PM

they are called boreing clams,they bore a hole in live or dead coral heads or in solid limestone substrates. usually that is where they are found in the wild.

IslandCrow · 08/11/2007, 01:39 PM

I wouldn't dose limewater without checking PH. Unless you're very familiar with dosing kalk, you could very well end up driving your PH too high, even with only moderate dosing.

BCreefmaker · 08/11/2007, 01:43 PM

so ph, calc, and alk test probbably a good idea?

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 01:52 PM

Yep, mabe a little phytoplankton see how the clam reacts .

IslandCrow · 08/11/2007, 05:34 PM

According to James Fatheree, an expert on clams, phytoplankton should not be necessary, especially in an established tank with fish. Although kalk will mostly just maintain your calcium and alkalinity levels and shouldn't raise them excessively, testing for Ca and Alk is certainly a good idea. Your clam will need proper levels of calcium (400-450 ppm) and alkalinity (3.0-3.5 meq/L), so you'll want to make sure your tank is able to meet those demands. If your levels are running low, you'll probably want to think about investing in a calcium reactor or starting to use a balanced two-part additive like ESV A&B.

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 08:03 PM

James Fatheree pg 52 Giant clams in the sea and aquarium "do they eat anyway? well of course they do, and filter feeding can potentially increase growth rates and or survival rates"

IslandCrow · 08/11/2007, 09:37 PM

That's a good quote, ocd, but I recently heard him speak at a convention, and what he pointed out was that there was plenty of food for the clam in the average aquarium, so supplemental feeding was not necessary. Of course, a little phyto certainly won't hurt. There are other things in the aquarium besides the clam that will make use of it. My only point is that it's not necessary to add phytoplankton for the clam to thrive.

o.c.d. · 08/11/2007, 11:23 PM

Interesting, so I guess if the compitition for nutrient uptake isn't to great, and you can see growth along the valve margins after a few weeks then no extra food is needed. Assuming theirs sufficent light and perameters are stable.

BCreefmaker · 08/11/2007, 11:50 PM

.... really? a 20G with a 150/w MH can produce enough phyto to keep a clam happy? and ar you guys talking about dosing phyto to the tank, or a phyto bath?

BCreefmaker · 08/12/2007, 12:10 AM

hes my cell phone pics as promised. the first picture is of where he was the first day, the lights off. the others are of him tonight, still opening nicely, but hard to sneak up on to get a picture with the light on, hes got good eyes.

o.c.d. · 08/12/2007, 12:20 AM

To feed or not to feed? I would untill you see growth then cut back on food and moniter for growth change. The're are a lot of varieables to consider. Tridacnids need a stable system, water quality should be the big concern. I find clams in a challenging category. Clams in small tanks ? thats open for discussion.
As for if you choose to feed no bath,You'll just **** the clam off.In tank, other filter feeders will use to. I feed every other night spariengly

BCreefmaker · 08/12/2007, 12:23 AM

is his placement ok? or could it be better? i had him deeperin the sand, but it looked like he was having a hard time opening fully.

o.c.d. · 08/12/2007, 12:44 AM

The way the muscle inside them works they have to flex to close their shell. They are very strong. If you test different positions sometimes they jump off higher positions on rock. If you do move it and it attaches don't touch it. I prefer it on rock naturaly attached. If it dosen't like it's position it will usually jump.

romunov · 08/12/2007, 12:47 AM

To know how the clam is doing, you would have to sacrifice it and check the size of the gonads (and other organs and tissues). Certainly not what one would want to do.

Feeding phytoplankton is always a good idea.

BCreefmaker · 08/12/2007, 01:13 AM

can calms be stung by corals? and so would it be best for this clam to live on the rocks or the sand? i just want to do whats best, i dont care about the looks. as far as im concerned hes gunna look nice wherever he winds up.

demonsp · 08/12/2007, 01:25 AM

Yes they can . But your sand bed doesnt look a year old. Clams are in the diffecult level and perfer high light and established well maintained tanks with regular water changes and perimeter checks like ph, amonia , nitrate , nitrite , calcium , ect.. . Sorry if i come off strong dont mean to.

mbbuna · 08/12/2007, 01:27 AM

you crocea looks very brown. IMO you need to slowly move it up closer to the lights.

demonsp · 08/12/2007, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mbbuna
you crocea looks very brown. IMO you need to slowly move it up closer to the lights.

He said this was a pic from his phone so i didnt take to much stock in the colors. hehe

mbbuna · 08/12/2007, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by o.c.d.
James Fatheree pg 52 Giant clams in the sea and aquarium "do they eat anyway? well of course they do, and filter feeding can potentially increase growth rates and or survival rates"

its funny how you pull this one sentence out of a book you obviously read but dont mention that there is a full chapter (chapter 2) that discusses how clams get there nutrition and the conclusion from the chapter is that clams can sustain and thrive on just dissolved nutrients from the water and light

08/11/2007, 11:05 AM	#1
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	Happy Clam? how can you tell if your clam is doing well other then if its open? its looks like its mantle is extending over the shell, but not reaching towards the light. sometimes if i got near it or fish or shrimp gets too close it will close up for a second but open back up in a bit. i will try and get some pics, but all i have is my cell phone. it is a Crocea clam. and andother question. I'm pretty sure i know the answer but im gunna ask anyways. i do not test. my methods so far and from the very beginning have been "aux natural", just water changes every week. is it safe to dose kalkwasser without PH/ALK/Calcium tests? as long as im super carefull im under dosing my topoff? __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe. Last edited by BCreefmaker; 08/11/2007 at 11:21 AM.

08/11/2007, 01:01 PM	#3
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	you mean the mantle covers the top part and the inside of the shell right? not the entire outside? __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/11/2007, 01:18 PM	#5
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	do they require such a substrate? or will they be find on the bottom of my tank nestled in the sand? __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/11/2007, 01:39 PM	#8
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	I wouldn't dose limewater without checking PH. Unless you're very familiar with dosing kalk, you could very well end up driving your PH too high, even with only moderate dosing. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

08/11/2007, 01:43 PM	#9
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	so ph, calc, and alk test probbably a good idea? __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/11/2007, 12:08 PM	#2
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	Crocea tend to need strong illumination, Don't wait to long on bulb changes,the clam will be the first to pay. They are very sensitive to changes in specific gravity.Croceas typically extend their mantles well beyond the upper margin of the shell,so much that the shell almost completely hidden. Test kits are important, mineral uptake changes with more additons of corals, At least get your water tested at the LFS.

08/11/2007, 01:16 PM	#4
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	When looking from the front and above its extended almost completely over the shell witch usually burrows into hard substrate

08/11/2007, 01:23 PM	#6
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	If you have a large bristle worm population they may go for the byussus opening where it attaches usually. you can put a plastic container hidden under the sand with the clam in it protecting it, somewhat.

08/11/2007, 01:30 PM	#7
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	they are called boreing clams,they bore a hole in live or dead coral heads or in solid limestone substrates. usually that is where they are found in the wild.

08/11/2007, 01:52 PM	#10
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	Yep, mabe a little phytoplankton see how the clam reacts .

08/11/2007, 05:34 PM	#11
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	According to James Fatheree, an expert on clams, phytoplankton should not be necessary, especially in an established tank with fish. Although kalk will mostly just maintain your calcium and alkalinity levels and shouldn't raise them excessively, testing for Ca and Alk is certainly a good idea. Your clam will need proper levels of calcium (400-450 ppm) and alkalinity (3.0-3.5 meq/L), so you'll want to make sure your tank is able to meet those demands. If your levels are running low, you'll probably want to think about investing in a calcium reactor or starting to use a balanced two-part additive like ESV A&B. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

08/11/2007, 08:03 PM	#12
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	James Fatheree pg 52 Giant clams in the sea and aquarium "do they eat anyway? well of course they do, and filter feeding can potentially increase growth rates and or survival rates"

08/11/2007, 09:37 PM	#13
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	That's a good quote, ocd, but I recently heard him speak at a convention, and what he pointed out was that there was plenty of food for the clam in the average aquarium, so supplemental feeding was not necessary. Of course, a little phyto certainly won't hurt. There are other things in the aquarium besides the clam that will make use of it. My only point is that it's not necessary to add phytoplankton for the clam to thrive. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

08/11/2007, 11:23 PM	#14
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	Interesting, so I guess if the compitition for nutrient uptake isn't to great, and you can see growth along the valve margins after a few weeks then no extra food is needed. Assuming theirs sufficent light and perameters are stable.

08/11/2007, 11:50 PM	#15
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	.... really? a 20G with a 150/w MH can produce enough phyto to keep a clam happy? and ar you guys talking about dosing phyto to the tank, or a phyto bath? __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/12/2007, 12:10 AM	#16
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	hes my cell phone pics as promised. the first picture is of where he was the first day, the lights off. the others are of him tonight, still opening nicely, but hard to sneak up on to get a picture with the light on, hes got good eyes. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/12/2007, 12:20 AM	#17
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	To feed or not to feed? I would untill you see growth then cut back on food and moniter for growth change. The're are a lot of varieables to consider. Tridacnids need a stable system, water quality should be the big concern. I find clams in a challenging category. Clams in small tanks ? thats open for discussion. As for if you choose to feed no bath,You'll just **** the clam off.In tank, other filter feeders will use to. I feed every other night spariengly

08/12/2007, 12:23 AM	#18
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	is his placement ok? or could it be better? i had him deeperin the sand, but it looked like he was having a hard time opening fully. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/12/2007, 12:44 AM	#19
o.c.d. Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 739	The way the muscle inside them works they have to flex to close their shell. They are very strong. If you test different positions sometimes they jump off higher positions on rock. If you do move it and it attaches don't touch it. I prefer it on rock naturaly attached. If it dosen't like it's position it will usually jump.

08/12/2007, 12:47 AM	#20
romunov Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,453	To know how the clam is doing, you would have to sacrifice it and check the size of the gonads (and other organs and tissues). Certainly not what one would want to do. Feeding phytoplankton is always a good idea. __________________ Life is too short to learn everything from experience. "And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free."

08/12/2007, 01:13 AM	#21
BCreefmaker Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,129	can calms be stung by corals? and so would it be best for this clam to live on the rocks or the sand? i just want to do whats best, i dont care about the looks. as far as im concerned hes gunna look nice wherever he winds up. __________________ To make apple pie from scratch, You must first create the universe.

08/12/2007, 01:25 AM	#22
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Yes they can . But your sand bed doesnt look a year old. Clams are in the diffecult level and perfer high light and established well maintained tanks with regular water changes and perimeter checks like ph, amonia , nitrate , nitrite , calcium , ect.. . Sorry if i come off strong dont mean to.

08/12/2007, 01:27 AM	#23
mbbuna Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,847	you crocea looks very brown. IMO you need to slowly move it up closer to the lights.