Beginner question about clams...

MrMongoose · 01/18/2005, 11:25 AM

I'm been mostly centered around SPS but I've been considering a clam for my tank. I'm not really sure what I can have if anything, and would like to do the research instead of buying whats cool and killing it later. Here is my tank information.

65G Display 29G Refugium
Lights
(2) 250MH 14K
(2) 96W PC Actenic

Water
Cal 415
Alk 9.6
Ph 8.2-8.28
No2 0
No3 0
Temp 80.0-81.0
Salinity 1.025
(Weekly 20% water changes w/ RO/DI)
(over 2000GPH ciculation)

Tank Mates
Various Montipora's and Acros
Hammer Coral, Ricordia
Yellow Tang
Red Sea Regal Angelfish
Pair of Neon Gobys
BL & Scarlet Hermits out the Wazoo

My question is what would be a good beginner clam and what is possiable for me to keep? How big does a clam have to be to get most of its food from photosynisis? Please keep in mine that my tank is 18inches deep and the clam will be on the sandbed.

-Nathan

d4a2n0k · 01/18/2005, 11:50 AM

With your lights you can keep any clam you want on your sandbed. A good beginner clam is a Derasa.

At about 2.5 - 3 " is when clams typically get all their needs met by lighting.

d4a2n0k · 01/18/2005, 11:52 AM

In addition, if you can keep SPS then you wont have any problems with clams. Clams are more hardy than people give them credit for. Your tank parameters look good so make the jump!

Peabody · 01/18/2005, 12:11 PM

I agree, but you will probably need to get rid of your angel before getting a clam.

MrMongoose · 01/18/2005, 03:14 PM

Thanks for the information...Maybe I'll PM 'Copps' If I recall I think he had a regal in with some clams. Maybe its a hit and miss sort of thing, at any rate thanks for all the help.
-Nathan

mbbuna · 01/19/2005, 02:46 AM

it is hit or mis but hard to rid when it a mis

dirtyreefer · 01/24/2005, 11:10 AM

I have a red sea regal angel and I just added a crocea a couple weeks ago. He shows no interest in it.

I'm not sure which I would let go though if they weren't compatible, I love my regal!

LisaD · 02/06/2005, 04:56 AM

There is a regal angel thread in the Reef Fishes forum. I don't remember reading that the regals bothered much besides zoanthids.

Scuba Dog · 02/06/2005, 04:45 PM

From what I have been reading the regals really dont mess with the clams..mind you Im just going by reef cental threads on the subject...And hey if you have a regal that eating and dosent mess with acros ! well thats priceless, Im sure you have about a 75 to 80% chance the regal wont mess with the clam, then agen if the regal does mes with the clam, I would take the clam back and start planing a clam tank that could be plumbed into your sps reef...for a clam fuge so to speak....Thats what i did...also it added about 100 gallons more water volume to my 75 gallon sps reef!

01/18/2005, 11:25 AM	#1
MrMongoose Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 370	Beginner question about clams... I'm been mostly centered around SPS but I've been considering a clam for my tank. I'm not really sure what I can have if anything, and would like to do the research instead of buying whats cool and killing it later. Here is my tank information. 65G Display 29G Refugium Lights (2) 250MH 14K (2) 96W PC Actenic Water Cal 415 Alk 9.6 Ph 8.2-8.28 No2 0 No3 0 Temp 80.0-81.0 Salinity 1.025 (Weekly 20% water changes w/ RO/DI) (over 2000GPH ciculation) Tank Mates Various Montipora's and Acros Hammer Coral, Ricordia Yellow Tang Red Sea Regal Angelfish Pair of Neon Gobys BL & Scarlet Hermits out the Wazoo My question is what would be a good beginner clam and what is possiable for me to keep? How big does a clam have to be to get most of its food from photosynisis? Please keep in mine that my tank is 18inches deep and the clam will be on the sandbed. -Nathan __________________ Understand first....Buy later.

01/18/2005, 03:14 PM	#5
MrMongoose Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: West Lafayette, IN Posts: 370	Thanks for the information...Maybe I'll PM 'Copps' If I recall I think he had a regal in with some clams. Maybe its a hit and miss sort of thing, at any rate thanks for all the help. -Nathan __________________ Understand first....Buy later.

02/06/2005, 04:56 AM	#8
LisaD That's not a salmon Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: central North Carolina Posts: 6,986	There is a regal angel thread in the Reef Fishes forum. I don't remember reading that the regals bothered much besides zoanthids. __________________ Keeping saltwater tanks since the late '70s Current Tank Info: tankless at the moment

02/06/2005, 04:45 PM	#9
Scuba Dog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: El Dorado Ar Posts: 5,566	From what I have been reading the regals really dont mess with the clams..mind you Im just going by reef cental threads on the subject...And hey if you have a regal that eating and dosent mess with acros ! well thats priceless, Im sure you have about a 75 to 80% chance the regal wont mess with the clam, then agen if the regal does mes with the clam, I would take the clam back and start planing a clam tank that could be plumbed into your sps reef...for a clam fuge so to speak....Thats what i did...also it added about 100 gallons more water volume to my 75 gallon sps reef! __________________ Got Salt! Current Tank Info: Twin 180's 150 gallon common sump. 6 250 DE Phoenix, HQI ballasts. MRC4 Recirc skimmer. Pacific coast 1/2 horse chiller. Custom calcium reactor. sps reef in tank a mixed reef in tank b in the making.

01/18/2005, 11:50 AM	#2
d4a2n0k Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,485	With your lights you can keep any clam you want on your sandbed. A good beginner clam is a Derasa. At about 2.5 - 3 " is when clams typically get all their needs met by lighting.

01/18/2005, 11:52 AM	#3
d4a2n0k Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,485	In addition, if you can keep SPS then you wont have any problems with clams. Clams are more hardy than people give them credit for. Your tank parameters look good so make the jump!

01/18/2005, 12:11 PM	#4
Peabody Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Orleans Posts: 2,735	I agree, but you will probably need to get rid of your angel before getting a clam.

01/19/2005, 02:46 AM	#6
mbbuna Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,847	it is hit or mis but hard to rid when it a mis

01/24/2005, 11:10 AM	#7
dirtyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 2,221	I have a red sea regal angel and I just added a crocea a couple weeks ago. He shows no interest in it. I'm not sure which I would let go though if they weren't compatible, I love my regal!