[NAS]

In February 2008 I started my Clam NANO. After many years of failure and research I had an "event". It donned on me that my normal approach to building tanks both fresh and salt should carry forward with inverts too!

Clams are the main focus of the tank. Every thing else must fall in line to be "back ground". By sticking to this we have moderat success for 7 monts to date.

Currently I have 11 assorted clams ranging from 1 inch to 7 inches. Two modern corals, a challice, Frog spawn ("rescue" lfs), 2 open brains ("rescue" from lfs), 3 coco worms, Acropora, Montipora, tounge coral, button polyups, mushrooms Galore, 2 Flame Scallops, and 4 huge incrusting oystures. For fish (and nitrate source) we have 1 golden Eel, 2 Fire clowns, 3 blue damsels, Scooter blenny, 2 mandrins, 2 cleaner gobies And that's about it!

My nitrates sit at 5ppm, Salinity 1.025, KH 160-170 (however it drops by minimum of 30ppm daily) Calcium 420-480pm (drops to 325 ppm from 460 in a day). Protien skimmin 1/2 the time.

I will post pictures shorly. Camer is broken, and only have old pics...

Im looking to hear about others clam experiences....

[jimw369]

Years of research? Just get the Ca to the clams as suggested months ago and you will be fine. Get a Ca reactor if you are going to stuff small tanks full of these types of animals. That large a drop in Ca everyday will affect other params and will eventually RTN many of your more sensitive acros also.

Just trying to save you some money in the long run.

[NAS]

By years of reasearch, I mean (sarcastically) years of failure (6). I have tried clams off and on to no success (I have lost my share) Lighing, preditaion, ect... to sum it up stupidity.

All of the stonies (Except the tounge, and one Acropora) are save attempts from lfs. It seems at this time every thing I put in the tank does well. Only the Frogspawn is slow to recover. Every thing else seems to be recovering well.

I have however run out of space. The LFS is on it's own now. Until i Get some of the frags back to them...

Until then im crossin my fingers.

[NAS]

I am finding the input helpful, keep it rolling.

[NOSAJ214]

I do agree that a Cal reactor would be recommended for the species that you are keeping,and does sound a bit overstocked.But i dont blame you cause you are trying to save wasting corals at the LFS.But you would probably get much better growth with stable calcium levels.But sometimes you just gotta say if it aint broke dont fix it,unless your not broke,then go crazy and get the reactor.

[NAS]

Im finding the key issue faced is actually the carbonate hardness... The Calcium has balanced out with daily dosage im keeping it relatively stable. And, As a side note the fact it's gettin sucked shows the clams and such are taking the calcium up. they are showing well over 1/2 almost 3/4 of an inch new shell (all white) within the last month and a half.

It's just a question of running the Calcium reactor with out the ph probe/controller for now...

And the nasty KH! lol I have to crank it in to keep op. Very happy critters for now...

[NOSAJ214]

Well if everything is growing well especially the clams the like I said,if t aint broke dont fix it.Unless you arent broke.

[jimw369]

Your clams can handle what you are doing...many of your your acros will not. Running a tank that is not balanced eventually leads to other issues. I wouldnt be putting any bio-load in that tank if you Alk is low. If you are feeding those clams Id do it sparingly. JMO

[NAS]

I knew all along with this load of Clams it would be an issue This builds goal is to be a clam tank nothing else. The acro is just for entertainment sake. The only thing that is pending is the controller. Every thing else is on hand. I simply have been un-able to tie down a controller until now. I know as soon as it gets in the chemistry will settle down.

should i risk running the calcium reactor with out the controller. Or hold off for now. every thing seems ok for now.

[casademurphy]

This may be a dumb question, but if you don't have a Calcium Reactor, is it dumb to even try to have clams in your tank? I've tried three times and I cannot keep one in my tank to save my life. I've pretty much given up on having a clam in my tank (even though I REALLY want one).

[NAS]

Casa...

I was in the same boat for some time. Over a long 6 years I have had quite a few clams. None, have ever survived long.

Im guessing there are several factors that caused this...

1, With out a dought I had preditation. I have always had Angels (Flame, lemon peel, or larger). Tangs, and the odd damsel. Now, I know for a fact (saw them) all the above had picked at one point or another on the mantle of the clams.

2, Lighting, My main display tank is 30" high. I don't think that my lighting was intense enough to hit deep.

3, Water chemistry. What can I say, I neglected on occasion.


Previous to my current clam nano (you can see the pics of the original nano and new build in Clam nano in the making thread) I had go for about 8 months in a 7 gallon mini bow nano. these three original clams I still have.

After some time I got the bug and wanted more. So I built the current tank. It is over stocked. Things just kept gettting adopted.
With jims insight and some decent testing I have managed to keep things on par. Now, it's a little crazy. So, in short you can keep clams with out a calcium reactor. However, It's a real bugger if you clam load is high like mine.

I am gradually getting to a operating calcium reactor, And would faster is some one would give me the insight if you can run a reactor safely with out the freakin controler and ph probe. If so it will be running tomorrow. Other wise it's "twice daily dosing and testing".

For now I have happy clams. The acro, Well that's back ground for now until that poker burns hot.

[NAS]

Clam nano in the making is in the build section

[jimw369]

IMO you need the probe.

[jimw369]

I would be interested to know what your Ph runs at. Using Purple up for all your Ca needs just makes me curious. Some say its knocks the Ph way down. I use Purple up to maintain my magneseum. It must have a decent amount in it. I do use the purple up in 1/2 doses and only sparingly every few weeks so I dont see my Ph doing anything out of the ordinary. In my tank the mag depletes itself very slowly. Of course the PU helps with the Ca also.

[NAS]

It's interesting you say that jim... After you previous PH point. I thought... I don't really know what's goin on with my ph with the doses. So i checked.

I took 4ml distilled water with 1 ml Purple up. Tested ph...7.9!
Then checked Kh (representing buffering capacity) KH was 150ppm (dosed night before with super buffer). dosed 15ml of Purple up into my tank. total capacity of 52 gal. With ph pen suspended in tank monitored ph for over 4 hours. No change in ph, but about 5 ppm change in KH (which is a guess because test changed after about a half drop or reagent).


And, thank you for your opinion. Im not going to chance the reactor until i have the monitor. I Will just keep dosing as I have been.

(Foot note the KH of purple up was a zero result)

[jimw369]

Interesting info...thanks.

Maybe I wasnt clear in the earlier post. Yes you can run a Ca reactor without a probe and controller. BUT, I have never done so. The controller regulates the amount of Co2 allowed to enter the reactor and is necessary in my way of thinking. If I have to keep playing with the reactor ie. the regulator controlling the bubble counter, and the amount of effluent realeased, the reactor isnt worth it. Can it be done, yes.

[NAS]

It all good... I was waffling on to run it or not. I was 50-50 on running with out the probe. I know the reactors are twitchy with out the probe/ controller. it wont be long until I get it. I really dont want to risk the livestock. If things start lookin stressed i will worry about it then.

[NAS]

WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

Ordered my controler for my CO2 reactor today........

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

[NAS]

got camera back today pictures will follow.

[NAS]

Ok, Controler is up and running. Now just awaiting the substrate for the reactor. WOOOHOOO.

[NAS]

It's rolling....
I have the CO2 rolling. Started off at 240 ppm Ca (cause I stopped dosin) Now just workin on getting the reactor feed rate balanced outl.

[NAS]

Here is a few more pics of the clam nano.
Still havin troubles keepin Calcium up... May have to dose over and above the calcium reactor.

[JackedupSOB]

Cool clams some of them look huge how big is the largest one?

[NAS]

The largest is the Squamosa, i guess it weighs it at about 2-3 lbs and is about 11" in length and 5-6" accross when the mantle is fully extended. the shell is a good 9" in lenghth. The big crocea is 7" shell same for the golden maxima