Tridacna Clams: I want to breed them.

[mushroomss]

I do have a reef tank.Im just saying dont go around telling people to use additives then leave out the part about testing for them.Not everyone knows that

 

[coral keeper]

I do not dose cal or iod.

 

[mushroomss]

I would recommend getting a test that uses litmuss paper or electronics.From what i have seen the tests where you use a glass tube and put in water from your tank and then drops form a tube isent very accurate.LEts just put it this way....the more money you spend,the more accurate.This is the same as most things in life.You pay for what you get

 

[flcandy]

Yeah I would need to as I am just moving to reef from fish only. By the time your clams would be ready all would be well though.
LOL Testing is a given though. IMO
Got your point though.

 

[coral keeper]

Is there any good tests for Iodine and Calcium?

 

[mushroomss]

well coral keeper it is better to not dose then dose without testing.Water changes can very easily replenish these levals its just most people dont change out enough water for it to make a significant difference.Think of it like this.DO people go out into the reefs and dump 50 gallon buckets of iodine and calcium and everything else?no the water replenishes this.And the ancient sea salts.

 

[coral keeper]

What kind of electronics are there for testing Iodine and Calcium?

 

[coral keeper]

I use natural sea water from the ocean.

 

[mushroomss]

i owuld have to refer to online sites and magazines to explain them.Just go check them out for yourself.There are TONS of online places that sell these types of items.If you havin trouble pm me

 

[mushroomss]

Might i ask where you get the water from?i know you said the ocean but please be more specific

 

[coral keeper]

Originally Posted by mushroomss
i owuld have to refer to online sites and magazines to explain them.Just go check them out for yourself.There are TONS of online places that sell these types of items.If you havin trouble pm me

Will do.

 

[coral keeper]

I do NOT get the water from san francisco. I get it from bodega bay, i don't get it from the bay but i get the water from the beach thats kinda close to bodega bay. Have you ever heard of bodega bay?

 

[mushroomss]

lol no.But one thing i can say is you shouldent be using water that is that close to the shore.It is without a double polluted in some way.If you have to use natural seawater,I recommend going at least 2-3 miles offshore.This will give you a way better chance of actually harvesting decent water.

 

[coral keeper]

Why would the shore be polluted? I go to a beach where a little bit of people go to.

 

[mushroomss]

because There is so much natural runoff from where we live.The immediate area around the sand (from where u swim to 2-3 miles out) is polluted.Think of everytime it rains and the strrets become slick with oil.The oil goes down the citys drainage system and right to the ocean.You would honestly be better off buying your own r/o system and making water yourself.

 

[flcandy]

Or getting premixed water.
LFS should sell by the gallon or check online for places locally that sell it.

 

[flcandy]

Must put this to
Remember to test the pre mix before using it! LOL

 

[chris&barb]

clams dont need iodine. besides that NSW levels of iodine are around 6 PPB. thats like nothing, if you counted and categorized every molecule of sea water, when you got to 1 billion you would have found 6 molecules iodine (iodide actually).
hobby test kits CANT detect iodine. a few years back i took a water sample to a local lab to have it tested for metals ect.. i also had them test for all major and trace elements. the chemist had to send out a separate sample to another lab out of state to test for iodide, the iodide test alone was $200 (ICP test) i asked the chemist about hobby test kits, he got a good chuckle out of that. dont waste your money on these test kits or dosing iodine.

 

[thirty5]

The most important thing for a CLAM is light. If you have MH then you are pretty good to put them anywhere in the tank. Other than MH you need to put them near the top of the tank. They technically dont eat like other things do. They convert the light to what they need. Calcium is a necessity. I will be putting a calcium reactor on my system to make sure that they are getting enough calcium. Even other than clams, if you have snails you need to have calcium so that they will grow their shells. Low calcium the snails will not grow....
I cant wait to attempt to grow them. Hopefully i am sucessful so i can share with all of you!