Keeping clams?

[msmith619]

I have some questions about keeping clams.
I have a standard 75 gallon tank with a 4 bulb T5 light fixture. 2 65 watt 10,000 and 2 65 watt actinic (almost 4 watts per gallon). 100 pounds of sand and 75+ pounds of live rock. Several LPS corals and a few soft corals as well as a half dozen fish.
I saw some cool looking clams yesterday and was told some people keep clams with T5's. I resisted until I learn a little more. I don't want to buy them and then kill them with ignorance.
Educate me please!
I am interested in trying a couple. The tank is 20 inches tall with a 3 inch sand bed placing the clams about 18 inches below the light fixture if placed in the sand bed.
Is this enough lighting?
Are there special feeding requirements besides what I do for my soft corals and LPS? Which basically is light and the 'milk' from the frozen foods I feed and weekly 15% water changes.
Mike

[wesheltonj]

What kind of Clam? Derasa, more then enough, I have kept them under PC lights, Crocea & Maxima you might be pushing it @ 18". You need to make sure that you have Clam safe fish. Calcium 400+. I add DT's.

And try to buy a good size one, the small ones generally do not to well.

[cbianco]

I have some questions about keeping clams.
I have a standard 75 gallon tank with a 4 bulb T5 light fixture. 2 65 watt 10,000 and 2 65 watt actinic...

Just to clarify, are you sure that you have T5 lighting?

65 watt bulbs are typically power compact. If this is so, PC lighting is not particularly appropriate to keep clams.


...(almost 4 watts per gallon)...

This is a very outdated way to measure the effectiveness of lighting. PAR is much more important. In a nut shell, PAR is the spectrum of light, that a source produces, that photosynthetic organisms can use. PC's give off very little PAR whereas T5 and MH give off much more PAR.

Also, just because a light is bright does not mean that the PAR is higher (kind of tricky here).


...The tank is 20 inches tall with a 3 inch sand bed placing the clams about 18 inches below the light fixture if placed in the sand bed.

Is this enough lighting?...

You would be pushing it if you placed the clam on the sand bed. You may consider raising the clam off of the sand bed and trying that.


...Are there special feeding requirements besides what I do for my soft corals and LPS? Which basically is light and the 'milk' from the frozen foods I feed and weekly 15% water changes.
Mike

Clams use light to make food within their tissue and eat phytoplankton.

Great questions Mike. I hope I provided some food for thought. Maybe someone could dig up some links for you to visit and read more about clams.

Christopher

[msmith619]

Just to clarify, are you sure that you have T5 lighting?

65 watt bulbs are typically power compact. If this is so, PC lighting is not particularly appropriate to keep clams.

The light fixture is made by Current and is called "Sundial T-5HO, 48' 216 Watt T-5 lighting system- ideal lighting for reef,saltwater & freshwater aquaria".



You would be pushing it if you placed the clam on the sand bed. You may consider raising the clam off of the sand bed and trying that.

Do clams need to be on the sand? Or can they be placed on the rocks?

Clams use light to make food within their tissue and eat phytoplankton.

Great questions Mike. I hope I provided some food for thought. Maybe someone could dig up some links for you to visit and read more about clams.

Christopher

The types of clams are described as Maxima, they are about 3 inches across and quite brightly colored.
What is an average price for 'grade 1' Maxima Clams. These were $25 each.
Mike

[cbianco]

Sounds like you made a good choice on lighting fixtures, definitely a bargain for the price!

When you make the decision to change bulbs, post a thread, we (I) can help. Different bulbs can change the way your tank and corals look, amazing differences.

Anyways, sorry for the OT...


The types of clams are described as Maxima, they are about 3 inches across and quite brightly colored.
What is an average price for 'grade 1' Maxima Clams. These were $25 each.
Mike

Here is a website that explains basic needs. http://www.aquacon.com/clams.html

Yes, it is a store but I feel that it provides some good basic info including pricing. BTW $25 is a steal for Maximas of that size.

Some other info...
-Remember, when placing your clams, you want to be able to see the mantle. Make sure you can see the top of your clam when viewing and the top of the clam see the light above.
-Clams should not be put in a new tank. The tank must be seasoned a bit. Most people say about 6 months.
-Clams need use a high amount of calcium as they grow. The larger they get, the more calcium they use. Plan for this ahead of time.

Here is WWM tridacnid page. After reading, there are links (bottom of page) to additional questions and answers. I consider WWM to be an invaluable resource for marine info.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I3/Tridacna/artGotTridacna.htm

Christopher

[wesheltonj]

I agree that $25 is a steal. Suggest that you look at Barry's web site www.clamsdirect.com.

You can place a Maxima in your rock work. I would suggest that, that first you let it attach to a common sea shell before you place it on the rock.

[msmith619]

Thanks for the info. I had never really considered getting a clam before I saw these. The tank is only 3 months old so, I think I need to wait a little longer. Going to read some and think about adding a few later. For new bulbs, I thought about going with grimreefer's suggested lighting, only because a lot of people refer to his site, not because I have seen how it looks. Probably would be nice to see the visable colors before plunking down a ton of change for new bulbs.
Mike

[cbianco]

...For new bulbs, I thought about going with grimreefer's suggested lighting, only because a lot of people refer to his site, not because I have seen how it looks...

Grimreefer's RC thread is awesome. Lots of good info there as well as his website. http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/par


...Probably would be nice to see the visable colors before plunking down a ton of change for new bulbs.
Mike

Give me a heads up and I will be happy to let you come over and see my T5 setup.

Christopher :)

[brewercm]

I talked to Barry about clams under T5s as that was my plan and he said they are plenty for clams as long as you have enough. I'm running 5 T5s on a 20" deep tank and he said that was fine. You can email him and get a really good answer from him.

[jc]

I've grown a small maxima on the sand with 6 t5s. My tank is 24" deep.

[camaroracer214]

i have had maxima, crocea, derasa, and squamosa all under t5ho for long term with great success. my tank is 24" tall and i had a crocea all the way down in the sand and it grew like a weed.

[OrionN]

Clams are easy to keep. Just make sure that they don't have parasitic snails. If you have these snails, they will kill you clams after a few months.

[g-ray]

I have had maximas,derasas, and croceas under my 6 bulb t5 set up with no problems remember though not all fixtures are the same bulbs and reflectors and bal. Have alot to do with it. Saying I have t5's is a little general.

My tank is also a 75 gal.

[Troutmasters02]

When you finally do select a clam, there is a little test I've been told about. Take your hand and make a shadow over the clam. If the clam does not pinch its shell as a reaction to the shadow, more chances than not. it won't survive.