Best Starter Clam?

[menelaus22]

Ok, I'm ready to get a clam. I started reefing just for the purpose of getting a clam but found out quick that it's not a good thing to start off with. Here's a little about my set-up

20g tall with 175w MH and 36w actinics. I have a remora aquac hob skimmer and an auto top off thats been keeping my system running real smooth for the last couple of months.

Other inhabitants: clown goby, tons of zoanthids, frogspawn, montipora (growing like a weed), candycane, couple mushrooms...

So, where should I start?!

[the_colonel]

IMHO, get a Dersea. Easy, not as much light requirement, grows quickly. Just try to get one over four inches, then you should not have to hand feed it.

[Casey]

Keep calcium up at 450ish

[wharyat]

Anything will thrive. Given calc, alk, and light.

[Loverotties]

Dersea bigger then 4-5".

[menelaus22]

Looks like I need to buy a calcium kit!

[HFG]

coloel, The wife wants a clam down the road. Would you extrapolate on the 4" - hand -feeding-rule. I didn't knotice that advice in the book I have and would like to understand how and why

[Justin]

Hippopus Hippopus(spelling?) But was told from Berry of Clams Direct at our meeting that this is a good starter as well as the Derasa. Excellent for sucking up nitrates. Also he added anything from about 3in and under will rely more on feeding than it will from light due to the lower count of zooxanthella in its system(but dont skimp out on lighting!Just wont be able to utilize it well until its older,like 4+in..
In a small system 75g. and under, direct feeding isnt necesary just feed the tank your plankton, and it'll get it. And before you buy check its under attachment(forgot the body parts name sorry) It should be nice and white, and not torn,brown, or hanging out. Also inspect thoroughly for any pyramid snails, as they will be the clams demise and are quite common.They can be as small as the lead on your pencil to give you an idea. Hope that helps.

-Justin

[xtopher]

another good starter clam, because it requires the least amount of lighting because it is a deeper water clam is the Tridacna Squamosa(the large clam in my avatar)

[dartanyon]

Would a large blue squamosa 9-11" be ok as a starter clam? I have halides and vho so lighting is np even though I heard that blue clams require more light. I do not have a clacium or kalk reactor or test kits but have not had a problem keeping sps although growth is a tad slow. Would a kalk drip be sufficient and is it possible to drip too much or is it ok to wait until you see a precipitate and then throttle it back a bit.

[Casey]

What size tank? What lighting do you have wattage? How deep is the tank?

It would be great if you could drip kalk 24/7

[dartanyon]

135g 72x18x25 with a 4-5" dsb 3x250w Aqualine 10/13k Se bulbs about 9" off water and 2x160 actinic vho 6" off the water. Flow is 2 seio 2600's and a maxi 1200 in back bottom to keep rocks clear. Sump is 30g with an Aquac 180 w/mag7 and a mag 7 or 9.5 for a return line at opposite ends of the tank.

[Casey]

Nice set up you should have no problem keeping him go 4 it.

[fishy-fishy-woo-woo]

how much lighting do i need for my 50 gallon tank if i wanna keep clams

[Adam]

well theres nothing like a "how much light" question to start a huge argument...whoops I meant quiet discussion amongst hobbiest. Well for starters it depends on the clam in question (some need more lighting than others) and the size of the tank. Now I know you said 50 gallons but the excat dimensions would be very helpful... Personally I'm a huge fan of DE metal hallides in clam/shallow water set ups, a pair of 150's IMO will suffice for any clam in your tank


some good readong... www.wetwebmedia.com

and check ou the book "Reef Invertebrates" by my two favorite aquarist Mr. Feener and Mr. Calfo