spafeature
Member
I waited almost a year and today--I bought a clam--great sale at LFS--he's beautiful....If you just set up tank 5wks ago i'd wait....
When is it Safe to Add Clams
- Thread starter euphoria
- Start date
spafeature
Member
BTW---save yourself $$ and see how you do w/a flame scallop---does not need the lights but is a filter-feeder and needs pristine water.
waterpolo
Member
Originally Posted by spafeature
BTW---save yourself $$ and see how you do w/a flame scallop---does not need the lights but is a filter-feeder and needs pristine water.
Flame scallops are cool looking and could be a test to really see if you can handle a photosynthetic clam. Nice idea spafeature.
BTW---save yourself $$ and see how you do w/a flame scallop---does not need the lights but is a filter-feeder and needs pristine water.
Flame scallops are cool looking and could be a test to really see if you can handle a photosynthetic clam. Nice idea spafeature.
euphoria
Active Member
I thought clams don't need pristine water conditions, simply because they are filter feeders.
I don't mind waiting, even if it's a year. I am not in a hurry to add clams and I don't even know which ones to begin w/. When time comes, I'll do research then and figure out which ones to start w/.
I'd say right now the only swings my tank has is magnesium, and I'm working on it to stabilize it. This in turn makes my calcium levels fluctuate. Other than that all other levels are 0, except 0.1 phosphates. Temp varies from 77.5 at its lowest to 80 when all MH's are on.
I don't mind waiting, even if it's a year. I am not in a hurry to add clams and I don't even know which ones to begin w/. When time comes, I'll do research then and figure out which ones to start w/.
I'd say right now the only swings my tank has is magnesium, and I'm working on it to stabilize it. This in turn makes my calcium levels fluctuate. Other than that all other levels are 0, except 0.1 phosphates. Temp varies from 77.5 at its lowest to 80 when all MH's are on.
rhomer
Member
Originally Posted by EUPHORIA
I thought clams don't need pristine water conditions, simply because they are filter feeders.
I don't mind waiting, even if it's a year. I am not in a hurry to add clams and I don't even know which ones to begin w/. When time comes, I'll do research then and figure out which ones to start w/.
I'd say right now the only swings my tank has is magnesium, and I'm working on it to stabilize it. This in turn makes my calcium levels fluctuate. Other than that all other levels are 0, except 0.1 phosphates. Temp varies from 77.5 at its lowest to 80 when all MH's are on.
Here is a good rule of thumb for acros and clams... When you have coralline algea spots showing up on your powerheads, overflow, or glass the size of dime, then your tank is stable enough. Good luck.
Rob
I thought clams don't need pristine water conditions, simply because they are filter feeders.
I don't mind waiting, even if it's a year. I am not in a hurry to add clams and I don't even know which ones to begin w/. When time comes, I'll do research then and figure out which ones to start w/.
I'd say right now the only swings my tank has is magnesium, and I'm working on it to stabilize it. This in turn makes my calcium levels fluctuate. Other than that all other levels are 0, except 0.1 phosphates. Temp varies from 77.5 at its lowest to 80 when all MH's are on.
Here is a good rule of thumb for acros and clams... When you have coralline algea spots showing up on your powerheads, overflow, or glass the size of dime, then your tank is stable enough. Good luck.
Rob
rhomer
Member
Originally Posted by joeMc
just curious, why is that?
In order to get coralline algea growth, your tank needs to have low nutrient levels, stable alk, calc, mag, and strotium levels. In order to get dime sized coralline algea growth you will need to have the above levels stable for about a month. It is a nice visual indicator that your tank is healthy and been that way for some time.
Rob
just curious, why is that?
In order to get coralline algea growth, your tank needs to have low nutrient levels, stable alk, calc, mag, and strotium levels. In order to get dime sized coralline algea growth you will need to have the above levels stable for about a month. It is a nice visual indicator that your tank is healthy and been that way for some time.
Rob
waterpolo
Member
Originally Posted by rhomer
In order to get coralline algea growth, your tank needs to have low nutrient levels, stable alk, calc, mag, and strotium levels. In order to get dime sized coralline algea growth you will need to have the above levels stable for about a month. It is a nice visual indicator that your tank is healthy and been that way for some time.
Rob
Is it good to let the coraline algae take over everything?
In order to get coralline algea growth, your tank needs to have low nutrient levels, stable alk, calc, mag, and strotium levels. In order to get dime sized coralline algea growth you will need to have the above levels stable for about a month. It is a nice visual indicator that your tank is healthy and been that way for some time.
Rob
Is it good to let the coraline algae take over everything?
euphoria
Active Member
hey guys, one thing I wanted to ask.
In the past few weeks my mag/cal/alk levels were always fluctuating, and mag was very low, around 900. Now that I'm getting very close to a mag of 1350 and calcium and alk. are balanced, I'm seeing lots of red stuff on the sandbed. it's not really ON the sandbed. It's on the part where the side profile of the sandbed meets the front glass. I see lots of red colored sand and even some warms between the sand and front glass.
Is this red stuff coraline algae and is its bloom due to the balancing of the mag/cal/alk levels?
In the past few weeks my mag/cal/alk levels were always fluctuating, and mag was very low, around 900. Now that I'm getting very close to a mag of 1350 and calcium and alk. are balanced, I'm seeing lots of red stuff on the sandbed. it's not really ON the sandbed. It's on the part where the side profile of the sandbed meets the front glass. I see lots of red colored sand and even some warms between the sand and front glass.
Is this red stuff coraline algae and is its bloom due to the balancing of the mag/cal/alk levels?