Clams

[rdnelson]

I have a 45 gal tank running a canister filter and a 6 lamp 4' T5HO 54W fixture. Being an idiot, I did not listen when the lfs recomended I drill the tank and go with a sump/refuge when I converted from FW back in July. So far, parameters have been extreamly stable and right on the money which I have been very happy about. I have a pair of Clowns, 3 Blue/Green Chromis, a 6 Line Wrasse a Kole Yellow Eye Tang and a Fire Shrimp. Tomorrow I plan on adding my last fish which will be a Diamond Watchman Goby. For corals, I have 4 frags. A Daisy Polyp, a 3 head Candy Cane, a Zoa and a small Hammer.

Now for the question. At some point, I will have a clam. I love the things. I have not seen one yet that I didn't love. Tell me why I am stupid to try clams at this point. I know there is a very good reason but I need you to tell me why I shouldn't waste that kind of money and kill such a beutiful creater. I know nothing about the care other than they sit on the sand bed and you better have good lighting.

Educate me please.

Edit: Ok, I just re-read my post and I know that the Grammer Police are going to nail me. Thank God my wife won't read this. As a graduate of the School of Journalism she would rip my spelling apart.

 

[dakota9]

your system needs to age more before you consider a clam.

Stability is what they require

A sump isn't the beat-all-end-all, but it helps with the stability factor

 

[rdnelson]

Thanks Dakota. So what you are saying, is that even though for the 3 months I have had it up and running the parameters have been spot on, it is only a matter of time before I am going to run into something? On a side note, I have a couple of sponges that have popped up and on another forum I was told that it is a sign of a very healthy and stable ecosystem. Is there any truth to that? Not trying to justy but just trying to understand.

 

[ripped tide]

Clams do need a stable environment, and they tend to pull calcium and magnesium out of the water faster than corals. I would start with an easy one; a Derasa clam. They can survive under multiple types of lighting and can endure many different water conditions.

I would recommend checking your ca, mg, and alk frequently before adding the clam and frequently after adding it. This will give you an idea of how stable the tank was, and if the clam has made a big impact.

A hang on protein skimmer would be a great addition to the tank as well.

As for the sponges, they grow in just about every system that I have owned. They may be an indicator that everything is good and healthy, but I wouldn't bet the farm based on sponge growth. The little white sponges that pop up everywhere are primarily filter feeders. I would assume that if they are growing fast, that would mean that you have a high nutrient system. Clams do like higher nutrients, but again, sometimes it is best to wait until the tank is 6months old.

 

[dakota9]

Sounds like you are off to a great start with a thriving system!


Don't get caught up in a rush to get everything you want "NOW" (been there, done that!)

Give it six more months, following the advise above from Ripped Tide, and patience, it seems like you'll be fine!

 

[rdnelson]

Thanks Ripped Tide. Great info. It always helps me to know "Why". I will deffinately refer back to this thread in the future and yes, I will wait. I have been thinking hard about the HOB skimmer. The main thing that has stopped me is that I am considering going to a HOB overflow and a sump with fuge. If I do that, I would want to go with a skimmer in the sump. From what I have learned so far, it would help but is not critical with my tank size. But, if I do it right, it will be ready when I upgrade my tank which I am already wanting to do. LOL

The sponges I have seen are not prevelent. As a matter of fact, I saw one a month ago and then again last night. Might be the same one. I get a small amount of algee on the tank walls after 4 or 5 days without running the mag float but it is hardly noticable. I have used that as my guide to the feeding and length of light cycle. I assume that if that is all I am getting, my feeding and light cycle are about right.

Edit:

Dakota9;693639 wrote: Sounds like you are off to a great start with a thriving system!


Don't get caught up in a rush to get everything you want "NOW" (been there, done that!)

Give it six more months, following the advise above from Ripped Tide, and patience, it seems like you'll be fine!

Yes, avoiding the rush is the hardest part of this "Sport". LOL Fortunately, I have been able to resist most impulses and lack of cash has really helped with that. LOL Poeple like you guys have helped alot too. I learned almost immediately that the people on forums like this one care because they care, not because they want to sell you something.

 

[ripped tide]

rdnelson99;693642 wrote: Thanks Ripped Tide. Great info. It always helps me to know "Why". I will deffinately refer back to this thread in the future and yes, I will wait. I have been thinking hard about the HOB skimmer. The main thing that has stopped me is that I am considering going to a HOB overflow and a sump with fuge. If I do that, I would want to go with a skimmer in the sump. From what I have learned so far, it would help but is not critical with my tank size. But, if I do it right, it will be ready when I upgrade my tank which I am already wanting to do. LOL

The sponges I have seen are not prevelent. As a matter of fact, I saw one a month ago and then again last night. Might be the same one. I get a small amount of algee on the tank walls after 4 or 5 days without running the mag float but it is hardly noticable. I have used that as my guide to the feeding and length of light cycle. I assume that if that is all I am getting, my feeding and light cycle are about right.

Edit:

Yes, avoiding the rush is the hardest part of this "Sport". LOL Fortunately, I have been able to resist most impulses and lack of cash has really helped with that. LOL Poeple like you guys have helped alot too. I learned almost immediately that the people on forums like this one care because they care, not because they want to sell you something.

Glad to help! Out of curiosity, how long are you running your lights? Are you feeding your corals as well as your fish? Or are you just feeding the fish and allowing their waste to feed the coral?

 

[irahmatulla]

I love sponges! I was reading a very technical article about sponges, and their behavior. Sponges will not tell you indefinitely that your system is a healthy, (parameter appropriate) but they will show you changes. (if you do not test religiously) I actually want to start a small 10g sponge, gorgonian, and other low light coral system. Anyone got a thread on one of those?

 

[ripped tide]

IRahmatulla;693670 wrote: I love sponges! I was reading a very technical article about sponges, and their behavior. Sponges will not tell you indefinitely that your system is a healthy, (parameter appropriate) but they will show you changes. (if you do not test religiously) I actually want to start a small 10g sponge, gorgonian, and other low light coral system. Anyone got a thread on one of those?

Not yet, but you should start one!

 

[justindville1987]

IRahmatulla;693670 wrote: I love sponges! I was reading a very technical article about sponges, and their behavior. Sponges will not tell you indefinitely that your system is a healthy, (parameter appropriate) but they will show you changes. (if you do not test religiously) I actually want to start a small 10g sponge, gorgonian, and other low light coral system. Anyone got a thread on one of those?

I seem to grow yellow, white, and a little bit blue spong naturally in my tank. When I last moved I lost a lot of the spong growth, if they hit air they may die. Good idea

 

[irahmatulla]

I have a white ball, a white (encrusting?) a purple mat, a yellow mat, and a bright yellow/green webbed one. From what I read the cells do not really die, they will flatten, and seem dead. Like most animals in the reef, when it feels threatened it will try its hardest to procreate, and the cells that flatten go dormant until the time/parameters are correct. Mainly they need flow and nutrients. So, a low light/moderate flow with heavy feedings would make ideal a filter feeder paradise. I think I will do that, devote a 10g to tube worms and sponges. Would some PC flouresents that I can screw into a 10g lid be too much for something like a sun coral or a chili? Carnation? I know I could keep most softies like mushrooms and GSP. Would it be overkill for something like what I wanna do?

 

[rdnelson]

Ripped Tide;693645 wrote: Glad to help! Out of curiosity, how long are you running your lights? Are you feeding your corals as well as your fish? Or are you just feeding the fish and allowing their waste to feed the coral?

Up until last weekend, I ran my 2 T5HO lamps for 12 hours (11:00 to 11:00). Last weekend I hung my DIY 6 Lamp fixture and now have it set up where the 2 blues run from 11:00 to 11:00 and the remaining (2 white, 2 purple) run from 12:00 to 9:00. As I mentioned, no algee problems as of yet.

I feed the tank New Life Spectrum Marine Formula every other day. Other than that I don't feed the corals. I have asked several LFS and they all say that this food gives a very good variety of foods for the fish and that the few frags I have are filter feeders and don't need spot feeding.

After adding the lighting, I have been trying to find the right spots for the frags I have. The Zoa, Candy Cane and Daisy Polyp seem to be doing very well in there new homes. I still have not found the best spot for the small hammer.