What conditions do I need to have Clams?

sac10918

sac10918

Member
Hi guys
I am just getting back into the game here after a traumatic tank crash last may. My current 24 gallon has been up since early July. I have metal halide lights (70w 14000k). My tank is home to one clownfish, a few snails and hermits, and I am currently trying to get ready to add some coarls. I am not looking to add the clam with haste, I just want to know how I will know when the tank is ready...
My parameters
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates - (Currently at 40, working to bring them down before I add corals or clams)
Calcium 410
Alkalinity 7dkH
pH 8.2
Temperature- fluctuates slight due to my chiller being out for repairs around 81-83 degrees
I have lots of coraline algea on my rocks and my parameters seem stable, even thought they are not perfect.
Thanks for any input
 
miaheatlvr

miaheatlvr

Active Member
Originally Posted by sac10918
Hi guys
I am just getting back into the game here after a traumatic tank crash last may. My current 24 gallon has been up since early July. I have metal halide lights (70w 14000k). My tank is home to one clownfish, a few snails and hermits, and I am currently trying to get ready to add some coarls. I am not looking to add the clam with haste, I just want to know how I will know when the tank is ready...
My parameters
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates - (Currently at 40, working to bring them down before I add corals or clams)
Calcium 410
Alkalinity 7dkH
pH 8.2
Temperature- fluctuates slight due to my chiller being out for repairs around 81-83 degrees
I have lots of coraline algea on my rocks and my parameters seem stable, even thought they are not perfect.
Thanks for any input
Gotta get those trates down for a clam it wont tolerate it at all.. lights are good, keep the salinity up about 1.025 at least,, Tank is really warm as well, once all this is addressed go with the beginner SQUAMOSA..
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
Yes, I am currently trying to get the trates down....
I have been slightly lax on the water changes and I am motivated now to keep up with them and get the trates down. I also bought some cheato yesterday and I am hoping that will help with the trates.
I forgot to mention the salinity is at around 1.026
My tank seems to usually run on the higher side of salinity...
Do you think that the tank is running at too warm of a temperature? As i mentioned, I do have a chiller but it is currently being repaired and I wasnt planning to hook it back up until the weather starts warming up...
Thanks for pointing out that a squamosa is a good beginner clam....Thats good information to know...Is there anything else I should be doing to prepare for the future clam?
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
nitrates should be no more then 0. If you add a clam with any nitrates at all, he's going to die. Once the clam is introduced, the nitrates can build up again.
 
teen

teen

Active Member
only trouble i see is that your tank is rather small, and the good begginer clams like squamosas and derasas grow relatively fast. just make sure you have someone/somewhere to bring them too if they get to big.
 
teen

teen

Active Member
youd be suprised how fast some of them can grow. my squamosa grew from 5" to 7" in about a year. i mean, its only two inches, but the clam grows up and out as well, which takes up a lot of space. i was forced to get rid of that squamosa becasue he was just to big for my 30 gallon. he couldnt even open up fully anymore.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
imo, u r good even for a crocea provided u put him top half of tank. clams r filter feeder. from what i read, clams filter out nutrients out of the water, reducing ammonia and nitrite in the water.
 
sac10918

sac10918

Member
I am hoping to get a clam that I can put on the bottom sandbed....Is that acceptable for a squamosa or does it prefer to be perched on a rock higher up...
 
teen

teen

Active Member
either or. squamys are hard to find small, like less than 4" (at least they are hard to find that small around here). IME ,they're best left on the sand bed.
 
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