Clams and Nano/mini reef tanks?

[sahin]

I am planning to setup a nano reef tank (due to space restrictions etc). I also love clams and SPS corals and these my tank wll consist of mainly these and a few select fishes.

The problem is that I read in Giant Clams in the Sea and Aquarium by James Fatherree that he doesnt recommend keeping Tridacnid clams in such tanks. His main reasons are temp and salinity swings, as well as low nutrient level in such tanks due to limited fish stocking.

Now, I am a little disappointed at reading this. As part of my planned setup, I will include autotop-up system to deal with salinity issues due to evaporation and a chiller or fans to deal with temp issues. I will also keep a few fishes as well and will do wekly maintenance. I have kept clams before in a larger tank and so have many years of reefing experiance, just not with clams/sps and small tanks. Though I did have a LPS coral nano tank in the past.

The planned tank is the JBJ 28G HQI setup.

How many of you out there have been keeping clams in small tanks successfully for at least a year or more? I'd like to hear about your experiance please.

PS, an pictures of clams in your tank when new and current would be nice to see as well. Many thanks.

[DSR]

I ve got a derasa and a maxima in my Ap24. They are both doing well. I do have to pay attention to the water quality, just as I would with any other coral (sps in particular). They seem to be doing fine. I think you will find many folks keep clams in nanos. Here are some pictures of my clams.
http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq51/CPRimages/IMG_0591.jpg
and an FTS
http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq51/CPRimages/IMG_0543.jpg

[sahin]

Thank you for your reply. How long have you had your clams in this setup? Your maxima clam is beautiful!

[basser1]

I have had my ORA maxima for over a year and a half and it's doing fine. I also have several sps corals. I think as long as you stay on top of your water parameters and keep up with water changes, you should be alright. Here's a couple of pics:

FTS Shot:
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/9140/hpim2621nb5.jpg


And a recent top down shot:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8118/hpim2706.jpg

[iFisch]

Sick tanks, both of you.

As of now, I envy both of you. My tank is just maturing - 5 months old now. A few more months, and a few more SPS pieces before I start adding the 1.5" ultra's.

That's IF the SPS thrive and survive.

[sahin]

basser1: I sent you a pm about your tank. I love your tank so much - its beautiful! I'd love to read your thread or website about your tank.

Tried using the search funtion to find your thread, but it doesnt work.

Thanks.

[cody6766]

I kept a derasa in my 33g cube for over a year before I killed the tank by accidentally introducing copper to the system. It grew like crazy over that year.

The owner of my LFS actually kept one in a stock BC14 for about a year. It didn't grow much, but did some. It was always open and beautiful. He moved it to a different tank because he had new plans for the BC. It is either still at his store or sold. I would say this is an EXCEPTION, not the norm though.

I'll be adding one to my 14g BC in a few months. It has a 70w MH rigged into the hood. Be sure to monitor your Ca++ and Alk. Clams suck Ca++ like nothing else in the tank. Also, I've heard several of people using phosband reactors and killing their clams. They apparently metabolize phosphate and need it at some 'natural' level. Mine always tested 0 on my test kit, but it had to be there to some degree as the clam was happy and growing

[TWallace]

I remember in the past others posting that it's a bad idea to keep them in small tanks due to higher likelihood of water parameter fluctuations. However, I think you'll find croceas at least can easily tolerate quickly fluctuating water conditions (temperature and salinity in particular), as well as lack of water.

http://tom-wallace.com/images/reef/112008/low_tide5.jpg

http://tom-wallace.com/images/reef/112008/low_tide6.jpg

Photos are at low tide on Tioman Island, Malaysia.

[iFisch]

Do clams hate swings in water temps?

I thought reefs varied some-what significantly from night to mid-day. Am I wrong?

[IFbettas]

In general the temperatures on a reef stay pretty constant because the oceans are huge. It's only in tide pools, tidal zones, and really shallow areas where the temperature changes throughout the day. Try to keep temp. as steady as possible even though the clams will tolerate some fluctuations.

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15404707#post15404707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IFbettas
In general the temperatures on a reef stay pretty constant because the oceans are huge. It's only in tide pools, tidal zones, and really shallow areas where the temperature changes throughout the day. Try to keep temp. as steady as possible even though the clams will tolerate some fluctuations.


Well, the cheapest heater I found with a digital controller included (no idea how accurate or how efficient it is) is the Finnex heater with LED controller. $35.

That's fine with me, if it can hold a steady temp. My Hydor keeps getting stuck on me. Although I keep very few corals. I'd like to invest in clams in the future, and am hoping this Finnex heater will help keep my water between 78 and 80.

The cooling in the house will chill the tank no problems. I just need a heater than holds its temp without "freezing" and burning up the tank.

[poidog81]

I keep a happy 2-3" blue maxima in my JBJ HQI tank. You should be fine.

[DSR]

Twallace, those are incredible pictures. Did you take them?

[sahin]

TWallace; thanks for those amazing photos. Very nice. :)

[Western_reefer]

They should be fine. I have a 28 gallon HQI Nano Cube that is SPS/LPS dominated with a Blue Crocea Clam and a Gold Tear Drop Maxima. Was set up for 1.5+ years.

[OrionN]

Clams are very hardy. I have mine (Crocea) in a 20 G high in my son classroom for 1 year without problem. Now the same on is in my 30 g cube nano with a small Maxma. Here are some picture of the tank and the clams

The clams
http://home.grandecom.net/~mnguyen/Clams%202.jpg

The tank several months ago
http://home.grandecom.net/~mnguyen/FTS20090405.01.jpg

[OrionN]

BTW, I have several tanks and move the clams from tank to tank sometime. I did not loose that blue Crocea in the sand there. Both of these clams I had for 4 years. Grew from 1 inches to about 3 inches at this time. The Maxima is about 1.5 inches which I bought only a few months ago

[sahin]

Minh, thanks for posting the pics. Your clams are very nice. I remember looking up your tanks from more than 6 years ago when I had a larger reef tank. Is your big tank still running?

[OrionN]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15456398#post15456398 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sahin
Minh, thanks for posting the pics. Your clams are very nice. I remember looking up your tanks from more than 6 years ago when I had a larger reef tank. Is your big tank still running?
Thanks. No I took that tank down. Not enough room to keep it in good stable condition. That tank doing well on shoestring, anything go wrong and it would crash because I have no margin for error. I hope to start my 240 g Starfire tank in the near future.

[OrionN]

Here is my Black and white Maxima

http://home.grandecom.net/~mnguyen/B&WClam%201.jpg

[saltygeek]

I've had a squamosa in a 24 gal for a couple years now. I have a fan on a ranco controller to keep temp stable and an auto top off.
Only problem now is that he is out growing the tank. Need to upgrade.

[TWallace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15432543#post15432543 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DSR
Twallace, those are incredible pictures. Did you take them?

Yes I did. I vacationed there for 12 days in October 2008.