My history with clams is about three years before something goes wrong - my new goal is 5 years. I've managed to grow maximas and derasas to about 6 to 8 inches. When they croak, I can usually trace it to a sudden change in ALK or salinity and stupid mistake on my part. Possibly, inadequate lighting.
Here are two maxima clams, one has been in my tank for about one year, the other was at the LFS for 90 days and is now in my tank. I saw my Goldflake angel take a pretty good shot at one of them. Current PAR is just over 200 at 30 inches depth from Ecotech Radions.
I installed a clam enclosure that I made out of an old birdcage, cut down to size and coated with five coats of plasti-dip. I also mounted a Kessel 360 NE right above the clams. All of my fish are too fat to squeeze through the bars.
I'll leave this for a month and slowly crank up the kessel until the PAR is 400-500 (or as high as I can get it) over the clams...then do the following.
1. see if the clams spend more time with open mantels. They are still small and VERY reactive to anything that swims overhead.
2. pull the cage and see if the angel has learned to leave them alone
3. inspect my contraption for corrosion. Hopefully, the plasti-dip will hold up long term.
I am going to break this tank down in about four months - ultimately we shall see if there is a way to keep both the angels and the clams. The kids want to put "easter eggs" in the new tank - funny little scenes here and there. I think a "clam zoo" might be kind of entertaining.
Here are two maxima clams, one has been in my tank for about one year, the other was at the LFS for 90 days and is now in my tank. I saw my Goldflake angel take a pretty good shot at one of them. Current PAR is just over 200 at 30 inches depth from Ecotech Radions.
I installed a clam enclosure that I made out of an old birdcage, cut down to size and coated with five coats of plasti-dip. I also mounted a Kessel 360 NE right above the clams. All of my fish are too fat to squeeze through the bars.
I'll leave this for a month and slowly crank up the kessel until the PAR is 400-500 (or as high as I can get it) over the clams...then do the following.
1. see if the clams spend more time with open mantels. They are still small and VERY reactive to anything that swims overhead.
2. pull the cage and see if the angel has learned to leave them alone
3. inspect my contraption for corrosion. Hopefully, the plasti-dip will hold up long term.
I am going to break this tank down in about four months - ultimately we shall see if there is a way to keep both the angels and the clams. The kids want to put "easter eggs" in the new tank - funny little scenes here and there. I think a "clam zoo" might be kind of entertaining.
