Store bought Clams
- Thread starter masta man
- Start date
janastasio
Member
I have purchased them before. Just purchase them from the fresh seafood section of the groc. store. I bought 2 kinds when I bought mine, but only the little necks (or are they called longnecks?) survived. So that is the type that I would recommend. I'm not sure how quickly they will lower the nitrates in your tank, but its worth a shot atleast. When you get them, take some water from your tank and put it into a bucket, just enough to submerge the clams. When you see bubbles coming up from the clam, or sometimes they will call it spitting, you can put the clams onto your sandbed. You do this to make sure that they are alive before putting them into your tank. They will usually start to bury themselves almost immed, but not all do. By the next day mine were just about all buried. Not all of mine survived for a long period of time. My last one just died, had it for about 7mos. Not sure what their life span is, but they are alot cheaper than buying them online. Good luck.
reefkprz
Active Member
yes, xenia consume dissolved nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, there is an article called "down the drain nutrient export in marine aquaria" xenia was shown to contain a minor amount of nitrates a moderate amount of nitrites and a moderate amount of ammonia. as we akll know ammonia leds inevitably to nitrates........
little necks (quahogs) are definatly not well suited for reef tanks. the salinity is higher than they like the temperature is higher than they like, and they require a large amount of planktonic foods. they are better for FOWLR tanks run at a lower salinity, with no skimmer than they are for heavily skimmed, high salinity reefs. if yuou dont have a skimmer on your tank, a quahog may help, long established tanks, they may make it, cooler water tanks
, tanks fed Lots of phyto they are good. most new reefs (or smaller reefs) just dotn have the planktobnic content these clams require, they do not photosynthesize, they do not absorb nitrate, they filter particles that may lead to nitrate, and move through the sand bed helping keep it aerobic, nothing more.
little necks (quahogs) are definatly not well suited for reef tanks. the salinity is higher than they like the temperature is higher than they like, and they require a large amount of planktonic foods. they are better for FOWLR tanks run at a lower salinity, with no skimmer than they are for heavily skimmed, high salinity reefs. if yuou dont have a skimmer on your tank, a quahog may help, long established tanks, they may make it, cooler water tanks
coral keeper
Active Member
I got a cleaner clam in my 8 gallon bio cube and its doing good so far. Its in a reef tank. It actually did lower my nitrates.
azfishgal
Active Member
Originally Posted by MIKE22cha
Well I'm going to get some xenia if that's true!
That might explain why my nitrates went down. I was having some issues with it, it was around 40, after doing several water changes and then realizing I needed to clean out my sponges more often (duh!) my nitrates are down to 6!!!
But, at the time I started to do water changes and cleaning the sponges more often I did include three frags of Xenia to my tank. I'm sure it was the combination of everything but it's kind of nice to know the Xenia may have helped out.
I know some people don't like it because it's a "weed" but if you put your Xenia on the highest point on your rock it won't spread as fast, as they like to grow up. It's worked for me. My Xenia has grown larger, but has not spread.
Well I'm going to get some xenia if that's true!
That might explain why my nitrates went down. I was having some issues with it, it was around 40, after doing several water changes and then realizing I needed to clean out my sponges more often (duh!) my nitrates are down to 6!!!
coraldude
Member
Originally Posted by reefkprZ
yes, xenia consume dissolved nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, there is an article called "down the drain nutrient export in marine aquaria" xenia was shown to contain a minor amount of nitrates a moderate amount of nitrites and a moderate amount of ammonia. as we akll know ammonia leds inevitably to nitrates........
Yes, but is the Xenia using the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, or is it just present in Xenia?
yes, xenia consume dissolved nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia, there is an article called "down the drain nutrient export in marine aquaria" xenia was shown to contain a minor amount of nitrates a moderate amount of nitrites and a moderate amount of ammonia. as we akll know ammonia leds inevitably to nitrates........
Yes, but is the Xenia using the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, or is it just present in Xenia?