keepers of large Tridacna

Gary Majchrzak · 03/29/2005, 01:02 PM

This question is for the folks keeping large Tridacna clams (ie:derasa, squamosa, gigas) on the bottom of their aquarium.
Have you noticed that your clam wants to align itself parallel with the lighting hood/length of the aquarium?
Over the years I keep moving my squamosa so it's perpendicular with my lighthood, but it keeps rotating back.
Clams located on or blocked by rockwork can't really turn, so you might not know what I'm talking about if that's the case with your clam... but if your clam is on the bottom and free to do "the twist", have you noticed what I'm talking about?

inlandreef · 03/29/2005, 02:01 PM

Both Derasa and Squamosa do it all the time. I move them to clean the tank, and the next day they are both parallel to the lights.

4ptbuck · 03/29/2005, 02:55 PM

Yup mine does that all the time. I gave up trying to keep it facing the front, perp to the strips.

calvin415 · 03/29/2005, 04:10 PM

My Squamosa is currently perpendicular (by itself), and my Derasa is currently diagonal (by itself)... Maybe mine are just different???

northbay-reefer · 03/29/2005, 04:22 PM

I think they adjust themselves to the current and not the light

tang_man_montreal · 03/29/2005, 08:35 PM

I'm with northbay-reefer...
I think it has more to do with current than with light.

My blue-rimmed Squamosa (a large 9-10" one) sits diagonal to the lights in the original position that I placed him in on the sand.

Mark · 03/29/2005, 09:41 PM

Not sure if it's current or light, but my large squamosa does it too.

Freed · 03/29/2005, 09:43 PM

My 9"-10" derasa aligns itself parallel with the lighting as well. That's the same direction my water flow is too. Left to right with the lighting so who knows.

lgnd95 · 03/30/2005, 12:39 PM

I'm also with northbay - because of the current.

Barry N. · 03/30/2005, 02:56 PM

Quote:

I think they adjust themselves to the current and not the light

I agree as well

bergzy · 03/31/2005, 02:02 PM

my 8" maxima does this all the time!

he aligns himself the same way every time i adjust him to a more 'aesthetic' position! sheesh! doesnt he know better?

Omar H · 04/01/2005, 06:13 PM

Mine is perpendicular to the light. 6-7 in. T Maxima (teardrop)

Omar

M.Maddox · 04/01/2005, 11:15 PM

Same with my 7" maxima - always aligned itself for more light

Gary Majchrzak · 04/04/2005, 09:00 PM

Water current might be a factor. Thanks for suggesting it, guys.

northbay-reefer · 04/07/2005, 03:24 PM

ok one way to comfirm this is temporarily change the current in your tank and see if your clam will move along with it

Gary Majchrzak · 04/07/2005, 04:37 PM

I thought of trying it, but I have too many other critters that might suffer from a change up.

northbay-reefer · 04/07/2005, 04:47 PM

Gary, I've done it and the clam always move after the change

Gary Majchrzak · 04/07/2005, 07:01 PM

Thanks. You saved me from experimenting.

northbay-reefer · 04/07/2005, 10:01 PM

03/29/2005, 01:02 PM	#1
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 38,713	keepers of large Tridacna This question is for the folks keeping large Tridacna clams (ie:derasa, squamosa, gigas) on the bottom of their aquarium. Have you noticed that your clam wants to align itself parallel with the lighting hood/length of the aquarium? Over the years I keep moving my squamosa so it's perpendicular with my lighthood, but it keeps rotating back. Clams located on or blocked by rockwork can't really turn, so you might not know what I'm talking about if that's the case with your clam... but if your clam is on the bottom and free to do "the twist", have you noticed what I'm talking about? __________________ over 19 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC Current Tank Info: 72x24x30 225 gallon peninsula reef aquarium called Junior's Reef

03/29/2005, 02:01 PM	#2
inlandreef Mike Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lodi, Ca Posts: 1,058	Both Derasa and Squamosa do it all the time. I move them to clean the tank, and the next day they are both parallel to the lights. __________________ I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. - WC. Fields Current Tank Info: 120 with a 50G sump/fuge, Reef Octopus 150 Skimmer, Reef Octopus Reactor, Tek Elite 8x54 T5 fixture

03/29/2005, 04:10 PM	#4
calvin415 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: C. Springs, CO Posts: 4,531	My Squamosa is currently perpendicular (by itself), and my Derasa is currently diagonal (by itself)... Maybe mine are just different??? __________________ -February 2007 nTOTM "The problem with America is stupidity. Why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself" Current Tank Info: ADA 60-P

03/29/2005, 04:22 PM	#5
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,663	I think they adjust themselves to the current and not the light __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

03/29/2005, 08:35 PM	#6
tang_man_montreal Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Montreal, QC, Canada Posts: 1,282	I'm with northbay-reefer... I think it has more to do with current than with light. My blue-rimmed Squamosa (a large 9-10" one) sits diagonal to the lights in the original position that I placed him in on the sand. __________________ Some people are like Slinkies... not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs. Current Tank Info: Currently tankless. New project in the works.

03/29/2005, 02:55 PM	#3
4ptbuck Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond BC, CANADA Posts: 57	Yup mine does that all the time. I gave up trying to keep it facing the front, perp to the strips.

03/29/2005, 09:41 PM	#7
Mark Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 4,485	Not sure if it's current or light, but my large squamosa does it too. __________________ 'Everything in excess is opposed to nature.' Hippocrates Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 70g softie

03/29/2005, 09:43 PM	#8
Freed DammItImmaD Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 0' N 85° 12' W Posts: 7,757	My 9"-10" derasa aligns itself parallel with the lighting as well. That's the same direction my water flow is too. Left to right with the lighting so who knows. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

03/30/2005, 12:39 PM	#9
lgnd95 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: OC Posts: 282	I'm also with northbay - because of the current. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 40 gal reef

03/31/2005, 02:02 PM	#11
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,324	my 8" maxima does this all the time! he aligns himself the same way every time i adjust him to a more 'aesthetic' position! sheesh! doesnt he know better? __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

04/01/2005, 06:13 PM	#12
Omar H Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ciudad Juarez, Chih. Mexico Posts: 366	Mine is perpendicular to the light. 6-7 in. T Maxima (teardrop) Omar __________________ Tank 125g reef lights, 3 X PFO 250w DE HQI w/10k Ushios; Skimmer, AquaC EV 180 w/Iwaki 20RLT, recently changed to Panworld 50-PX (still adjusting), in-line with the tank; MRC CR-2. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon

04/01/2005, 11:15 PM	#13
M.Maddox Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 462	Same with my 7" maxima - always aligned itself for more light

04/04/2005, 09:00 PM	#14
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 38,713	Water current might be a factor. Thanks for suggesting it, guys. __________________ over 19 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC Current Tank Info: 72x24x30 225 gallon peninsula reef aquarium called Junior's Reef

04/07/2005, 03:24 PM	#15
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,663	ok one way to comfirm this is temporarily change the current in your tank and see if your clam will move along with it __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

04/07/2005, 04:37 PM	#16
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 38,713	I thought of trying it, but I have too many other critters that might suffer from a change up. __________________ over 19 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC Current Tank Info: 72x24x30 225 gallon peninsula reef aquarium called Junior's Reef

04/07/2005, 04:47 PM	#17
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,663	Gary, I've done it and the clam always move after the change __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue

04/07/2005, 07:01 PM	#18
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Spencerport, NY Posts: 38,713	Thanks. You saved me from experimenting. __________________ over 19 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC Current Tank Info: 72x24x30 225 gallon peninsula reef aquarium called Junior's Reef

04/07/2005, 10:01 PM	#19
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,663	__________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: 210 gal Reef 3x175 watt Iwasaki 15K halide, two 72" VHO actinics blue