Expert Checkup on Crocea

[ange062]

So, I got my first clam last week. Everything looks well to me so far, but I'm a noob, so thought I would check in on the expert forum and see if the consensus is the same. It's about 4.5", placed at the top of my 105w PC.

I supplement photoplankton, zooplankton, and baby brine to the tank several times a week for the inverts/corals. Also supplement Kent Tech M & Purple Tech plus Sea Chem Iodide halfway between my weekly water changes. All parms are constant at 0/0/0 NH3/NO2/NO3, 1.024 salinity, 8.2pH, and temps at 77 on a chiller.

It tilted itself a little after placement to attach to the LR, but light exposure is still good and mantle extension looks normal to me.

What do yall think?





It's such a beautiful addition, if I can keep it healthy I plan to add an ultra green maxima also. Thanks for the feedback!

[moliken]

nice, pretty. how old is the tank? do you test for all the dosing you do? and why are you adding all the chemicals? i don't see stuff in the inhabitants that need your supplements. just me, though.
photoplankton, zooplankton, and baby brine won't really do anything for the clam

[ange062]

Originally Posted by moliken

nice, pretty. how old is the tank? do you test for all the dosing you do? and why are you adding all the chemicals? i don't see stuff in the inhabitants that need your supplements. just me, though.
photoplankton, zooplankton, and baby brine won't really do anything for the clam

The tank is a little over 2-mo. It's really not much dosing, I am not using large amounts just a capful of each once a week. I test for KH and Ca once a week before water changes, but don't have Mg/Iodide test kits. KH and Ca have been steady at 10/440 respectively.

Mostly just adding the Kent stuff to promote coralline growth, and it's working quite well. Iodide is for the inverts / softies.

[moliken]

basic rule is don't dose what you do not test for. and that takes !!!
i'd also say that 2 months is way too early for a clam. best of luck; tank is beautiful, but too much iodide is an awful mess. if you're using a decent salt and doing w/c's, . be careful and get some other opinions--not the lfs,as they want to see the $$. imo, the dosing is just overkill

[Whisperer]

The clams looks fine. You might want to think twice on that algae at the bottom. The xenia is in good isolation. Watch out for frags that can break off and establish themselves all over. Nice clean tank.

[ange062]

Originally Posted by moliken

basic rule is don't dose what you do not test for. and that takes !!!
i'd also say that 2 months is way too early for a clam. best of luck; tank is beautiful, but too much iodide is an awful mess. if you're using a decent salt and doing w/c's, . be careful and get some other opinions--not the lfs,as they want to see the $$. imo, the dosing is just overkill

Thanks for the feedback. The dosing wasn't per LFS recommendation, I actually have a very legit shop that tries to keep me in check, doesn't oversell me, and gives me my RO/DI salt water for free. They use SeaChem salt and keep that water at 1.023 (which I also test to verify). I think it's a good point on checking, I'll start testing Mg/Iodide at the LFS and see if I need to step back. On Ca the dosing schedule seems to be working well.

Hopefully the clam pulls through, I'd hate to lose my favorite part of my tank, will keep posted on updates.

The clams looks fine. You might want to think twice on that algae at the bottom. The xenia is in good isolation. Watch out for frags that can break off and establish themselves all over. Nice clean tank.

Thanks for the tips and feedback on the tank. Xenia has been growing like mad and I have been keeping an eye on it, the GSP also. What's wrong with the caulerpa? Id grows fast but I just pick out the excess when needed and haven't run into issues with it popping up in random places. Helps keeps phosphates down also.

How can you tell if the clams mantle is "overextended" due to inadequate lighting? That's my main concern at this point with the 105w PC even if it's at the top.

[moliken]

mantle isn't overextended. looks normal, but the PAR on pc's is never enough for that clam. it may be ok for now, but it cannot survive long term w/those. another issue seems to me to be 1.023. i'd bet that very few reefers keep their tanks that low. mine is 1.025-1.026. typically lfs do this, but critters don't stay there long.

[DanEnglish]

I would also be concerned about the lighting. I have seen squamosas and derasas do well under PC lighting, but a lot more than 105W and croceas need more light. If you can, borrow or buy a PAR meter and check the level where the clam is. Post the reading and you will get many responses.

Feeding clams is always a testy issue...some people do and some people don't. My opinion is that if you can do it without affecting water quality it is worth it (I feed phyto almost daily). I don't think that is the most popular opinion around here though. There are many good books and journal articles which discuss this if you want to read more, I don't want to turn your thread into an argument about this.

[mscarpena]

I agree that PC lighting is inadequate for that clam. Also with the phyto, zoo, and baby brine all you are doing is polluting your tank. Adding Iodine is touchy. I add 1 cap ful to a 75 gallon reef tank once per week and it is stocked to the hills. I would not add any to a tank as young and low stocked as yours is. Also the calerpa algae will cause you issues at some point I promise you that. I did the same and spent 2-3 years tearing it out. Also smothered some of my corals. Id remove it while you can. I also agree with the salt levels at 1.025-1.026.

[moliken]

listen to those who know.

[bwidner]

Any new pics of the clam?

[ange062]

3-mo checkin on my crocea. Have had mantle growth and all is looking well. I did have to significantly change dosing over time, now on a twice daily 2-part regimen + Mg. Per moliken's advice months ago I have been testing all levels regularly and have everything level. I tested daily for a couple of weeks to get my dosing regimen right and now just do once a week.

[moliken]

beautiful colors! nice going

[ange062]

Double post

[ange062]

6-mo checkup on clam, still doing good and growing quickly under PC lights:

[moliken]

the tank, sps, and the clam look great! could you detail your light and the on/off please.

[ange062]

Originally Posted by moliken

the tank, sps, and the clam look great! could you detail your light and the on/off please.

Thanks moliken! It's the stock 105w PC that comes with the JBJ NanoCube 28. I run the lights 3p-12a every day. I skim and feed pretty aggressively, dose daily, and water change every week.

I've had pretty good success with high-light livestock, I find the key is placement in the tank.

[pleasants9]

that ricordia rock is insane

[muffe]

WOW just jaw dropping gorgeous setup.

[ange062]

Originally Posted by pleasants9

that ricordia rock is insane

Thanks, I love my ric rock!!

Originally Posted by muffe

WOW just jaw dropping gorgeous setup.

Appreciate the comment!!!

[asid61]

Tanks like these make me want a reef, but I'm afraid I won't aquascape properly.

[ange062]

Originally Posted by asid61

Tanks like these make me want a reef, but I'm afraid I won't aquascape properly.

Thanks so much!! Aquascape is always a work in progress, you will get the hang of it eventually Practice makes perfect afterall...

[psyrob]

Love the color on the birds nest...are you dosing any food (phyto, etc)?

[ange062]

Originally Posted by psyrob

Love the color on the birds nest...are you dosing any food (phyto, etc)?

Thanks! Which one though? I have an ORA Green and an ORA hyacinth.

I do dose phyto, zoo, or frozen baby brine once or twice a week which I spot feed to the SPS (and everything else eats afterwards).

[psyrob]

The hyacinth (is that the red one off to the right?) has great color: I had a "screaming green" birds nest from the LFS that bleached after a month and then slowly wasted away: big bummer: I think moved up high too soon under my T5s