Oh Casey :D

Wiskey · 04-30-2006, 03:56 AM

I did some reading and found tons of articles related to the zoox in giant clam's mantles taking up nitrate, so I took my Derassa out of my 15 and put it in my 50. My 50 has always tested between 5 and 10 nitrate, and undetectable phosphate, I am hoping that the clam can drive that nitrate a little lower. We will see in a few weeks if it worked.

The only down side is how fast this sucker grows, even under the very old PC light in the 15 he has gone from about 1 inch when I got him to over 5 inches in under a year. I bet he is going to take off under the halides. I put him in a spot I think he will like, partly shadowed by a Seio 1500 that is about 6 inches above him, almost completely sheltered from flow by a big rock to his side and between the glass and rock so he can't tip all the way over but can open fully.

Whiskey

Wiskey · 05-07-2006, 07:53 PM

Since nobody seems very interested in this thread, perhaps a couple pics are in order.

The derassa looks a little out of porportion because of the weird angle of the shot.

Whiskey

jipps · 05-07-2006, 11:44 PM

Wow I love clams.

Wiskey · 05-08-2006, 11:22 AM

Thanks Jipps!

Well I tested my nitrate last night, 7 days later, and it went up to 25

.

I don't think the clam raised my nitrate, but that is an all time high for me.

Whiskey

davidsreef · 05-08-2006, 05:31 PM

Oops. I assume your probalby right about the clam not causing the spike. Oh, nice teardrop maxima by the way

Wiskey · 05-09-2006, 11:48 PM

Thanks David! I thought that thing was supposed to be a slow grower, and found out I was wrong.

Whiskey

Twitterbait · 05-10-2006, 02:06 PM

Groovy clam man. I am hoping to get some good growth out of mine soon too.

Casey · 05-10-2006, 02:20 PM

Very nice clam dude,I didnt notice a drop in my Nitrates until I got 3 of them in there,but slowly it came down,he is a beauty you can send him my way when he gets to big for ya

Wiskey · 05-11-2006, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twitterbait

Groovy clam man. I am hoping to get some good growth out of mine soon too.

Thanks! I was really worried when I bought my first clam because it was SOOO small, couple of weeks later my derassa had laid down visable shell and I stoped worrying. Then a couple of months later it had doubled in size (about 2 inches) and I got worried again, I only have a 50G tank. Then I looked up their max size (not mentioned when I was researching care) and I freaked.

Whiskey

Wiskey · 05-11-2006, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey

Very nice clam dude,I didnt notice a drop in my Nitrates until I got 3 of them in there,but slowly it came down,he is a beauty you can send him my way when he gets to big for ya

3 eh? From what I have been reading Gigas take up the most nitrate, or are at least the most studied, but they also get the biggest

Do you know if Crosheas (sp) also do this? They don't grow as fast from what I have read, or get as big.

I might be able to find some more room.

Thanks,
Whiskey

Casey · 05-11-2006, 06:22 AM

Yes they all do it,I dont keep the Gigas cause they get to big other are ok for my tank.

Wiskey · 05-11-2006, 06:48 PM

Do they all take up nitrate to the same degree? Or are some better at it than others?

There are cooler looking clams than Gigas I would like to get

Thanks,
Whiskey

Casey · 05-11-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Do they all take up nitrate to the same degree? Or are some better at it than others?

There are cooler looking clams than Gigas I would like to get

Thanks,
Whiskey

From what I have read they all do it fairly well even the ugly sand ones.

Wiskey · 05-11-2006, 10:21 PM

Cool! I think one of those nice bright blue ones I have always liked is in my future

Although I still like the texture of a nice teardrop Maxima or Derassa, if I could find a Brite colored clam with the really cool patterns that Maxima has it would be in my tank before I could blink.

Whiskey

Casey · 05-11-2006, 10:46 PM

Cool let me know when ya wanna trade clams