Flame scallop

Deavenw · 05/25/2012, 07:13 PM

I have been considering getting a flame scallop but a lot of people have told me they only survive like 3 months. Anyone have any experience with them??

EllieSuz · 05/25/2012, 07:17 PM

A lot of people gave you good advice. You'd be lucky to keep one three months.

Deavenw · 05/25/2012, 07:27 PM

Thats too bad they look so nice too...

Reef Noob · 05/26/2012, 10:52 PM

I have some that have been in my tank for ten months and they are happy as...umm... clams.

You can't buy food that is small enough. Big money was put into their research and even the smallest of the prepared foods were rejected by the clams. They require bacterioplankton, and you will have to grow your own. Actually it is easier than you think. I do not buy any prepared foods and I do not do any supplemental feeding. On top of it all, I have feather dusters breeding in my tank. I started with 18 and now have hundreds in my sump.

You will need a sump/refugium with an ATO system if you don't have one. You will also have to come to terms with the removal of your skimmer. It isn't that big of a deal though; you just replace it with an algae turf scrubber.

If you are still interested, let me know and I'll give you my secrets. (I have been flamed over my tanks because they are too "radical".)

Deavenw · 05/26/2012, 11:03 PM

Actually I would like to hear more. I don't have an ATO I do however have about a 30g refugium. On top of that I hadn't fully decided what to do with it anyway. Parting with the skimmer is no problem considering my recirculation pump went out so i'm not using it. I'm going to look into the turf scrubber not real sure what that is. This is the thread on my tank to give you an idea of what i've got. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2174229

Reef Noob · 05/26/2012, 11:23 PM

Caribean Feather Dusters in my sump

Hawaiian & Philippean feather dusters (feather star above)

Feather star and cocoa worms

One of five flame scallops (they like dark places and work their way into the rocks)

Deavenw · 05/26/2012, 11:27 PM

Wow! That is a lot of feather dusters. About how big do the scallops grow to? And do you have any problems with them knocking anything down?

Reef Noob · 05/26/2012, 11:54 PM

I like your rock work.

Your sump is nice and big too. That's good because you'll be able to grow lots of pods there. Be on the look out for some base rock or dead coral to fill it. The pods like lots of rock and will breed incessantly in it.

There isn't much room in your stand for an ATO reservoir, but you can put one next to the stand. You can also make a custom sized reservoir to go over or in your sump. The ATO is important because that is where you grow your food. You add vinegar to your top off water in a ratio of one quart vinegar to seven gallons of water. When you see the first sign of snot like strands in your display tank, dilute the remaining vinegar by half. From that point on, use one pint of vinegar to seven gallons. (My reservoir is seven gallons but you can probably get the same results with a five gallon bucket.) *you need to build up a healthy micro fauna before buying your flame scallops*

The algae scrubber might be able to fit over your sump or you can get one to go over your tank. (But it won't be all that pretty.) A link to the site with the scrubber info can't be posted here but I'll see if I can pm it to you. If not, you can do a google search for 'algae turf scrubber'. There is also a running thread here in the DIY or filtration section.

Reef Noob · 05/26/2012, 11:55 PM

They don't knock stuff over but they have a pretty powerful jet propulsion system, so I can see how they could.

I forgot to add that the vinegar grows freshwater bacteria in the ATO water. The bacteria is food for your filter feeders. Any remaining vinegar feeds your saltwater bacteria, which also feeds the filter feeders. The copepods and amphipods also feed on the bacteria that grows on the rocks and glass. Any snot build up (slime bacteria) will be consumed within a day or two of reducing your vinegar concentration.

The baby pods also are a food source for your filter feeders. Your corals also consume the baby pods and bacterioplankton.

Deavenw · 05/27/2012, 08:24 AM

So the ATO is super necessary and essentially what your doing is dosing for the "pods" and all of that correct? And what role does the algae turf scrubber play? Im sure all of this will have to be a little further down the line considering my tank is still quite young.

Reef Noob · 05/27/2012, 12:42 PM

Yep, the ATO is the heart of it. But it is super simple when you really think about it. It feeds and grows both types of bacteria that feeds the filter feeders, corals, and pods. The pods eat the slime bacteria and keep things clean. They are also a food source for everything else. Fish in the display tank will eat them, so they need the refugium to keep their numbers up.

The algae turf scrubber replaces the skimmer. On the natural reef, there is an abundance of food in the form of micro fauna. There is also a near absence of nutrients in the form of nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrites, & nitrates) and phosphates. In the reef aquarium, the opposite occurs in that there is a near absence of micro fauna (by comparison) and an abundance of undesirable nutrients. This is because skimmers strip the water of biological compounds (the micro fauna) but leave the nutrients. An algae turf scrubber uses algae growth to remove the nutrients but does not remove the micro fauna. Pods actually grow in the algae and drop into the tank on a continual basis.

Reef Noob · 05/27/2012, 02:04 PM

By the way, do a google search for - algae scrubber

The first link should be a (dot) net site. Click on that for all the information on algae turf scrubbers.

Deavenw · 05/27/2012, 07:57 PM

Awesome thanks im going to need to read more into this.

Vanquishxxxx · 05/29/2012, 01:39 PM

Wen u buy flame scallops get them small. They dont live for year and year. Had 4 in a 35 g tank for about a year. Awesome things. There pulsing light is amazing to watch. Just fed normally. Phyto, shrimp,oyster feast, reef chili. Nothig special. No fuge. Maybe i was just lucky

Reef Noob · 06/03/2012, 01:43 PM

pics or it didn't happen, lol. I posted mine.

About the pulsing light, we are probably not talking about the same thing. The food and environment are all wrong, so we are definitely talking about something different. Find a picture and compare it to the one I posted. I'm interested in what you had.

mtcoins123 · 06/03/2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef Noob

They don't knock stuff over but they have a pretty powerful jet propulsion system, so I can see how they could.

I forgot to add that the vinegar grows freshwater bacteria in the ATO water. The bacteria is food for your filter feeders. Any remaining vinegar feeds your saltwater bacteria, which also feeds the filter feeders. The copepods and amphipods also feed on the bacteria that grows on the rocks and glass. Any snot build up (slime bacteria) will be consumed within a day or two of reducing your vinegar concentration.

The baby pods also are a food source for your filter feeders. Your corals also consume the baby pods and bacterioplankton.

i have a few i keep in my fuge and a few in my dt they seem to like flitting around till they find a little space between rocks to hide out i very seldom see them anymore i just see little red whips pulsing in my rockwork

05/25/2012, 07:13 PM	#1
Deavenw Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 58	Flame scallop I have been considering getting a flame scallop but a lot of people have told me they only survive like 3 months. Anyone have any experience with them??

05/25/2012, 07:17 PM	#2
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,624	A lot of people gave you good advice. You'd be lucky to keep one three months. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: 60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

05/26/2012, 11:23 PM	#6
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	Pics or it didn't happen Caribean Feather Dusters in my sump Hawaiian & Philippean feather dusters (feather star above) Feather star and cocoa worms One of five flame scallops (they like dark places and work their way into the rocks)

05/26/2012, 11:54 PM	#8
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	I like your rock work. Your sump is nice and big too. That's good because you'll be able to grow lots of pods there. Be on the look out for some base rock or dead coral to fill it. The pods like lots of rock and will breed incessantly in it. There isn't much room in your stand for an ATO reservoir, but you can put one next to the stand. You can also make a custom sized reservoir to go over or in your sump. The ATO is important because that is where you grow your food. You add vinegar to your top off water in a ratio of one quart vinegar to seven gallons of water. When you see the first sign of snot like strands in your display tank, dilute the remaining vinegar by half. From that point on, use one pint of vinegar to seven gallons. (My reservoir is seven gallons but you can probably get the same results with a five gallon bucket.) you need to build up a healthy micro fauna before buying your flame scallops The algae scrubber might be able to fit over your sump or you can get one to go over your tank. (But it won't be all that pretty.) A link to the site with the scrubber info can't be posted here but I'll see if I can pm it to you. If not, you can do a google search for 'algae turf scrubber'. There is also a running thread here in the DIY or filtration section. Last edited by Reef Noob; 05/27/2012 at 12:01 AM.

05/26/2012, 11:55 PM	#9
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	They don't knock stuff over but they have a pretty powerful jet propulsion system, so I can see how they could. I forgot to add that the vinegar grows freshwater bacteria in the ATO water. The bacteria is food for your filter feeders. Any remaining vinegar feeds your saltwater bacteria, which also feeds the filter feeders. The copepods and amphipods also feed on the bacteria that grows on the rocks and glass. Any snot build up (slime bacteria) will be consumed within a day or two of reducing your vinegar concentration. The baby pods also are a food source for your filter feeders. Your corals also consume the baby pods and bacterioplankton. Last edited by Reef Noob; 05/27/2012 at 12:07 AM.

05/25/2012, 07:27 PM	#3
Deavenw Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 58	Thats too bad they look so nice too...

05/26/2012, 10:52 PM	#4
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	I have some that have been in my tank for ten months and they are happy as...umm... clams. You can't buy food that is small enough. Big money was put into their research and even the smallest of the prepared foods were rejected by the clams. They require bacterioplankton, and you will have to grow your own. Actually it is easier than you think. I do not buy any prepared foods and I do not do any supplemental feeding. On top of it all, I have feather dusters breeding in my tank. I started with 18 and now have hundreds in my sump. You will need a sump/refugium with an ATO system if you don't have one. You will also have to come to terms with the removal of your skimmer. It isn't that big of a deal though; you just replace it with an algae turf scrubber. If you are still interested, let me know and I'll give you my secrets. (I have been flamed over my tanks because they are too "radical".)

05/26/2012, 11:03 PM	#5
Deavenw Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 58	Actually I would like to hear more. I don't have an ATO I do however have about a 30g refugium. On top of that I hadn't fully decided what to do with it anyway. Parting with the skimmer is no problem considering my recirculation pump went out so i'm not using it. I'm going to look into the turf scrubber not real sure what that is. This is the thread on my tank to give you an idea of what i've got. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2174229

05/26/2012, 11:27 PM	#7
Deavenw Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 58	Wow! That is a lot of feather dusters. About how big do the scallops grow to? And do you have any problems with them knocking anything down?

05/27/2012, 08:24 AM	#10
Deavenw Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 58	So the ATO is super necessary and essentially what your doing is dosing for the "pods" and all of that correct? And what role does the algae turf scrubber play? Im sure all of this will have to be a little further down the line considering my tank is still quite young.

05/27/2012, 12:42 PM	#11
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	Yep, the ATO is the heart of it. But it is super simple when you really think about it. It feeds and grows both types of bacteria that feeds the filter feeders, corals, and pods. The pods eat the slime bacteria and keep things clean. They are also a food source for everything else. Fish in the display tank will eat them, so they need the refugium to keep their numbers up. The algae turf scrubber replaces the skimmer. On the natural reef, there is an abundance of food in the form of micro fauna. There is also a near absence of nutrients in the form of nitrogen compounds (ammonia, nitrites, & nitrates) and phosphates. In the reef aquarium, the opposite occurs in that there is a near absence of micro fauna (by comparison) and an abundance of undesirable nutrients. This is because skimmers strip the water of biological compounds (the micro fauna) but leave the nutrients. An algae turf scrubber uses algae growth to remove the nutrients but does not remove the micro fauna. Pods actually grow in the algae and drop into the tank on a continual basis.

05/27/2012, 02:04 PM	#12
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	By the way, do a google search for - algae scrubber The first link should be a (dot) net site. Click on that for all the information on algae turf scrubbers.

05/27/2012, 07:57 PM	#13
Deavenw Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sherman, TX Posts: 58	Awesome thanks im going to need to read more into this.

05/29/2012, 01:39 PM	#14
Vanquishxxxx Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 958	Wen u buy flame scallops get them small. They dont live for year and year. Had 4 in a 35 g tank for about a year. Awesome things. There pulsing light is amazing to watch. Just fed normally. Phyto, shrimp,oyster feast, reef chili. Nothig special. No fuge. Maybe i was just lucky

06/03/2012, 01:43 PM	#15
Reef Noob Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 109	pics or it didn't happen, lol. I posted mine. About the pulsing light, we are probably not talking about the same thing. The food and environment are all wrong, so we are definitely talking about something different. Find a picture and compare it to the one I posted. I'm interested in what you had.