General Clam Info

[jipps]

I'd really like to keep a clam at some point and I think it'd be nice to have a thread about the major types of clams - Crocea, Maximus, Squamosa etc - and requirements for each, as well as general rules for sustaining them. This is purely for my education but I figure it'd sound nicer if I disguise it as something for the benefit of everyone .

[davidsreef]

All giant clams (Tridacnid sp.) need light, but maximas and croceas need more light than dersea, squamosa, and gigas. If they are small, say under 3 inches or so they need to be feed (plankton, phyto) since their mantels aren't large enough to produce enough energy from your lights. Its hard to have "rules" for these since there is a lot of gray area and it really depends on each individual situation. I personally would suggest having metal halide for maximas and croceas, and try to palce them in the rocks (mine don't like the rocks for some reason ). Some people have been successful with deresas, squamosas, and gigas undeer PC lighting. Even then you may need to place the clams closer to the lights to make sure they get enough light.
Oh, also you need good water quality, although some people have been albe to keep them with "slightly" high ammonia cause clams do consume ammonia and other nutrients. So not only are clams beautiful they are also good for your system. If your going to have clams, you also need to keep your calcium up since they use a lot of it for growing their shell. I drip kalkwasser to suppliment my calcium (1 tsp. of pickling lime per gallon of RODI water).
Another pointer with clams, make sure you dont' have pyrimid snails, they can harm or kill your clam. Also clams will attach them selfs to rocks or even the glass. If your clam comes unattached and its byssal threads are showing, place in on a small rock so it attaches to the small rock then you can place it where you like (it will probably move around a very small bit before it settles down).
One more thing, they don't seem to like high flow. Some say crocea's can tolerate a little more flow, but as a general rule they don't like high flow.
Remember this is my opinion and other people may differ with opinions and actual results. If you have any questions please ask and good luck!

[jipps]

How would you say they fair under T5 lighting?

[davidsreef]

It depends on which species. Deresa, squamosa, and gigas would probably do better than maximas and croceas. How deep the tank is, size, lighting wattages, and distance from water surface to clam all play a part.
if you search threads on RC -Tridacnid forum you might find people who have successfully kept all species of clams under T5, but my guess is that the maximas and croceas "may" not be as healthy or live for a long time. Again, this is only a guess, I have never kept clams with T5 only MH+PC.

[jipps]

Clams really consume ammonia? I like the sound of that. Is it true? I really like the look of these clams, and were it not for gaining this interest in reefkeeping, I'd still have though that all clams look like what you order in a restaraunt!

[Leverage Lad]

bump

[Casey]

Ammonia no, you should have no ammonia,I think you mean Nitrates.

[Weatherman]

Originally Posted by Casey

Ammonia no...

Actually, it's true. Zooxanthellae in giant clams do take up ammonia (as well as nitrate).

http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/Tr...rochus8-07.htm

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Weatherman

Actually, it's true. Zooxanthellae in giant clams do take up ammonia (as well as nitrate).

http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/Tr...rochus8-07.htm

Im saying he shouldnt have it in an established tank thats all.

[Weatherman]

that's true, too.

[davidsreef]

Yeah, the ammonia should be undectable in an established tank, but the clams can still consume it, cause there is probably a very little there (non-dectable).

[davidsreef]

Ok everyone, I found the link I wanted to show you. A study was done on the nutrient uptake by giant clams, and here was one of the points,

"Giant clams have been shown to uptake ammonia more rapidly than nitrate, but the uptake of nitrate was repressed in the presence of ammonia (Fitt et al. 1993)."

Here is more

"Giant clams, particularly the largest species T. gigas have proven to be excellent natural bio-filters and well suited to living in large aquaria with natural sunlight. T. gigas may be known in future to the marine aquarists as a natural bio-filter which is guaranteed to increase in size and filtering capacity over time, a unique case."

And here is the link to read more
http://www.spc.int/coastfish/News/Tr...rochus8-07.htm

Good luck with your clams!!

[Casey]

Thanks David

[jipps]

Yeah that's really interesting - who needs a filter when you can have a gorgeous freakin clam haha

[davidsreef]

Casey - Thanks!