First clam

Maxi · 01/19/2009, 11:41 PM

Woo! I finally waited so long to be able to have a clam. The tank is almost 7 months old, and there hasn't been a single problem with it except a slight rockslide. Fixed now.

So, I discovered a new lfs and they have some nice little clams 50 a pop. I know that they had Maximas, but what clam would you recommend for a first timer?

I have reefgek tek lights (t5's, individual reflectors)
The clams they have are all no bigger than 3".

BradsOcean · 01/19/2009, 11:43 PM

maybe a crocea....you might want to upgrade to halides first....and you'll need to be dosing phyto now

Maxi · 01/19/2009, 11:50 PM

How big do crocea get?

I'm not upgrading to halides.. I spent a while researching t5's and the high quality t5 fixtures can replace halides.

Toddrtrex · 01/20/2009, 12:30 AM

How small is little? Are they under 3 inches?

Wgluther · 01/20/2009, 10:20 AM

Crocea, I believe, stay relatively small compared to Squamus and Maximus. I have 2 Crocea and a Squamus in my 90, all are on the sand bed under T5's and seem to be as happy as Clams

spoofer · 01/20/2009, 10:36 AM

I wouldn't recommend Crocea's they are very 'light' hungry clams, and the T5's from my experience don't provide enough for them. They may survive, but they won't grow well or color up well. Croceas tend to hop around alot more than other clams- there trying to find a direct view of light- hence the reason i think they like the halide style lighting better. This has been my experience in my clam keeping, but maybe it will work for you- i hope it does if you try'm

I would suggest if your going to try a clam a Maxima- be sure to put a small disc or rock under it and try and place it higher in the tank.

Stray32 · 01/20/2009, 12:01 PM

I have two croceas on the sand in my 75, under T5 lighting and they are doing great.

spoofer · 01/20/2009, 06:52 PM

There ya go..proof is in the pudding...... I've seen people have bad experiences with clams and T5's espically with deeper tanks, but obviously it's not always true. Thanks for the insight

noboddi · 01/20/2009, 07:02 PM

T5s are all about the reflectors. Tek has very good reflectors

returnofsid · 01/20/2009, 07:24 PM

Tek5s are excellent for Clams of all species. I have a 6 bulb unit over my 75. I have 2 T. croceas at about mid tank. I also have a T. maxima a little bit lower. All are doing awesome!!

n2aviation · 01/20/2009, 07:31 PM

To just add a little FYI, don't let your sand-sifting goby drop sand all over the clam. Found that out the hard way when poor clam was trying to spit sand out.

Maxi · 01/20/2009, 07:40 PM

Thank you!

I didn't ever think of clams getting drowned in sand either..lol.

loosecannon · 01/20/2009, 08:02 PM

Maxi I have had a T. crocea in a 75 gal. under 4 65 watt pc for years! your light is fine. Tridacna crocea say small under 8" or so. T. maxima get a little bigger.

01/19/2009, 11:41 PM	#1
Maxi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,381	First clam Woo! I finally waited so long to be able to have a clam. The tank is almost 7 months old, and there hasn't been a single problem with it except a slight rockslide. Fixed now. So, I discovered a new lfs and they have some nice little clams 50 a pop. I know that they had Maximas, but what clam would you recommend for a first timer? I have reefgek tek lights (t5's, individual reflectors) The clams they have are all no bigger than 3".

01/19/2009, 11:43 PM	#2
BradsOcean Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The Island Posts: 1,173	maybe a crocea....you might want to upgrade to halides first....and you'll need to be dosing phyto now __________________ the low cost of 3 Ramen meals a day is feeding my zoa addiction Current Tank Info: had a few small reefs in the past, researching for my future 125 :)

01/20/2009, 12:30 AM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	How small is little? Are they under 3 inches? __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

01/20/2009, 10:20 AM	#5
Wgluther Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 106	Crocea, I believe, stay relatively small compared to Squamus and Maximus. I have 2 Crocea and a Squamus in my 90, all are on the sand bed under T5's and seem to be as happy as Clams __________________ Bill Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't. Pete Seeger Current Tank Info: 90gl RR custom 36x24x24, MSX 160 skimmer , 20gl sump/fuge, dual 250 MH with two 65w cf actinics.

01/20/2009, 10:36 AM	#6
spoofer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Uptown-Chicago, IL Posts: 654	I wouldn't recommend Crocea's they are very 'light' hungry clams, and the T5's from my experience don't provide enough for them. They may survive, but they won't grow well or color up well. Croceas tend to hop around alot more than other clams- there trying to find a direct view of light- hence the reason i think they like the halide style lighting better. This has been my experience in my clam keeping, but maybe it will work for you- i hope it does if you try'm I would suggest if your going to try a clam a Maxima- be sure to put a small disc or rock under it and try and place it higher in the tank. __________________ "Nothing good ever happened fast in a Reef Aquarium- there is no quick fix's to Reef tanks!" Current Tank Info: 120g Tech Tank, Vortech MP40, Apex, ATI 8x54, Vertex IN-180, Mag 9.5, Phos & Carb Reactors, Kalk Drip via reefdosingpumps.com sentry model, 40 gallon Breeder DYI Sump

01/19/2009, 11:50 PM	#3
Maxi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,381	How big do crocea get? I'm not upgrading to halides.. I spent a while researching t5's and the high quality t5 fixtures can replace halides.

01/20/2009, 12:01 PM	#7
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	I have two croceas on the sand in my 75, under T5 lighting and they are doing great. __________________ Thanks, Jared Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 Gal Frag Tank

01/20/2009, 06:52 PM	#8
spoofer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Uptown-Chicago, IL Posts: 654	There ya go..proof is in the pudding...... I've seen people have bad experiences with clams and T5's espically with deeper tanks, but obviously it's not always true. Thanks for the insight __________________ "Nothing good ever happened fast in a Reef Aquarium- there is no quick fix's to Reef tanks!" Current Tank Info: 120g Tech Tank, Vortech MP40, Apex, ATI 8x54, Vertex IN-180, Mag 9.5, Phos & Carb Reactors, Kalk Drip via reefdosingpumps.com sentry model, 40 gallon Breeder DYI Sump

01/20/2009, 07:02 PM	#9
noboddi Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 813	T5s are all about the reflectors. Tek has very good reflectors __________________ Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem - William of Ockham Current Tank Info: 55 gallon (36x18x20), 40 gallon sump, 25 gallon refugium, TEK 6x39w fixture, Osmolator, Kalk Reactor, Vortech MP20, 2 Koralia 3s on controller, Acropora, Anthelia, Montipora, Starry Blenny, Yellow Watchman, Rainford Goby, Tiger Gobies

01/20/2009, 07:24 PM	#10
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Tek5s are excellent for Clams of all species. I have a 6 bulb unit over my 75. I have 2 T. croceas at about mid tank. I also have a T. maxima a little bit lower. All are doing awesome!!

01/20/2009, 07:31 PM	#11
n2aviation Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Owasso, OK Posts: 41	To just add a little FYI, don't let your sand-sifting goby drop sand all over the clam. Found that out the hard way when poor clam was trying to spit sand out. __________________ -- Serena and/or Mark "It's okay to talk to yourself. It's even okay to answer yourself. It only becomes a problem when you're talking to yourself and you go 'Huh?'" Current Tank Info: 90 gal. SW reef w/20 gal. sump, T5HO's...included in tank are fish & reef! LOL Plus, 29 gal. Peacock Mantis Shrimp SW tank w/LR&LS, & 10 gal. FO freshwater.

01/20/2009, 07:40 PM	#12
Maxi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,381	Thank you! I didn't ever think of clams getting drowned in sand either..lol.

01/20/2009, 08:02 PM	#13
loosecannon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: port kent Posts: 1,292	Maxi I have had a T. crocea in a 75 gal. under 4 65 watt pc for years! your light is fine. Tridacna crocea say small under 8" or so. T. maxima get a little bigger. __________________ I like getting WET! Current Tank Info: 44gal. 40 gal. 75 gal. 30gal. and working on a 75gal. rigt