Getting first clam in a week!!!

[nw2salt08]

I can't wait. My lfs has crocea clams on special for 39.99 and they're brilliantly colored!!

I will definitely be grabbing one of those up. When I do I'll have to post a pic. Is there anything special I need to do? My calcium is good and my water is pristine. Any input would be great. Want to do the very best for all of my underwater creatures.

 

[nycbob]

good luck. the only thing i'd do is inspect the bottom of the clam for any snails, and the mantle for any bleaching. also try waving ur hand over the clam to see whether its mantle would retract. last but not least, make sure u hv proper lighting and water parameters for the clam.

 

[coastie81]

you need pretty strong lighting, sorry PC light's will not cut it, if you have them I would consider not getting the clam. just my .02

 

[fallensynner]

make sure ur lights are strong and its healthy ooo and make sure ur tanks been up at least 8 months.

 

[nw2salt08]

Gotcha!

My lights are high strength and I also have a 420 actinic on it. My water parameters are pristine and my tanks has been up for over 8 months....should be good to go then huh??

 

[spanko]

Depends what you mean by "My lights are high strength...".
The other thing I would say is do not get a small one as they actually require some food and are harder IMO to get going. If you have the room get one 3" minimum.
JMO

 

[nw2salt08]

These are at least three inches...there are a few smaller but I'm more interested in the bigger because they have the coloring that I like. My lights were set up by my lfs and I told them I would be having corals and eventually a clam or two in there so they hooked me up with the light system. The only reason why I even know what the actinic 420 light bulb is because it needed to be replaced. lol I'm still very new at this whole lighting system thing because my husband usually handles all that type of maintenance on the tank. But he's in the military and gone so I had to change it. lol I'm mainly the water guru.

 

[spiderwoman]

What does the text on the lights say? You really need to know what lights you have for many reasons.

 

[nycbob]

without proper lighting, the clam wont thrive. it might even perished.

 

[nw2salt08]

Don't worry...I've decided against it. Thanks any way

 

[privatejoker]

Why have you decide against it? Clams are a nice addition to a tank.
If I were you I'd find out what type of lighting you have. You may need to get replacement bulbs, and it would help to know what you need.

 

[nw2salt08]

My light bulbs have VHO on it...and I have a 420 actinic bulb on there too...is that good enough?? I don't really know wht the VHO means but I know the actinic bulbs are good for the clams coloring...they take a lot of light and I know this as well. People just seem so against me getting it. And I don't want to kill anything... I'm still new at this. I know they need a good calcium source as well. I'd hate to pass up a really good deal on these beautiful clams but I don't want to kill it just because I thought I just had to have it and didn't have the right parameters for it either.

 

[spiderwoman]

Actinics are not enough for clams, no matter what anybody says. Actinics are the blue colored lights (can be other colors too) and that isn't powerful enough. VHO's is not enough either. You need metal halide's or at least T5's on individual reflectors.

 

[nw2salt08]

I never said actinics were....no one ever suggested it. I already said...I don't plan on getting one. I don't have the light setup for it OBVIOUSLY. And I can't afford to replace it just for a clam right now. I have 4 kids to think of as well.

 

[nacl freak]

VHO stands for very high output. It sounds to me you have a good start on your tankt ^, Knowing exactly what type of lighting and wattage you have will affect what species you can sucessfully keep. I have had a crocea for over two years under VHO T5's. You may actually have plenty of light already. Ask your retailer exactly what type and wattage you purchased. A rule of thumb is generally 4 watts per gal. As to calcium, your weekly water changes should keep it optimum. Don't get discouraged.

 

[nw2salt08]

I feel like I'm being ganged up on and I'm getting a lot of mixed info....slightly confusing.... I was told that the setup I have is exactly what I would need for clams and my reefs. I'm also in the process of working on trading all my 3 bigger tanks for one large tank. That's the one that's going to cost the big bucks to install and setup. I'm waiting on my husband to get back.

 

[subielover]

I think people were only trying to help

In a reef tank you really should know how many (exactly) how many watts you have as well as how deep your tank is. It just makes figuring out what you can keep much easier

 

[nw2salt08]

Well, I go back to my lfs on Friday so I'll ask them to make certain that it's exactly what I need.They should know for sure since they set it up....I've been going to them since I started and they're good, honest people. So we'll see what happens. Like I said, I won't buy one if I don't feel like I can keep it happy and healthy. I just don't do that. If it's a matter of changing out light bulbs or something that simple then forward we go with getting a clam. If it's going to cost me big bucks and I'm not ready then it's a no go captain.

 

[nacl freak]

Originally Posted by Nw2Salt08
http:///forum/post/2782337
Well, I go back to my lfs on Friday so I'll ask them to make certain that it's exactly what I need.They should know for sure since they set it up....I've been going to them since I started and they're good, honest people. So we'll see what happens. Like I said, I won't buy one if I don't feel like I can keep it happy and healthy. I just don't do that. If it's a matter of changing out light bulbs or something that simple then forward we go with getting a clam. If it's going to cost me big bucks and I'm not ready then it's a no go captain.
I"VE walked in your shoes. Something that has helped me is keeping a notebook. You can write down exactly what type and brand of equipment you have. It is a quick reference. Often you can buy replacement parts, bulbs etc. online at a better price. Putting down dates, also helps remind me to when to replace bulbs. Another piece of advice Lfs are in the business of making money even the most reliable can often lead you astray.Do your homework ask , lots of questions, then write it down.

 

[nw2salt08]

That is a good idea. Especially since I have a lot to still learn and it'd help me with some of the technical stuff. It's just hard when my husband is gone all the time. He's in the Army and explaining a lot of the stuff was like hearing a foreign language you don't speak. lol As far as the water goes...I'm used to that. I used to be a water analyst.

As for my lfs, they won't lead me astray. I know the owner of the pool company that cleans their pools and sells their chemicals ( see where I'm going with the water analyst part) so they wouldn't want to

[hr]
me over. It would be bad for them. They take very good care of me. That's why I went there.