Clam nutrient uptake.

blufin · Dec 24, 2016

Hey there,

I have an sps only tank that has 2 clams in amongst the stonies. The largest of the 2 is a Derasa that is around 10". All tank inhabitants are healthy, colored up and growing, but I have had trouble getting my n/p to detectable levels no matter how much I feed the fish or the tank. I'm wondering if the Derasa is pulling out enough nutrients to give me a ULNS or at least undetectable levels.
Any thoughts?

mcarroll · Dec 24, 2016

Yes. Feed more (a little at a time...no big adjustments) or do less export, or a combo of both. In advanced cases, you can dose for nitrogen and phosphate, but I wouldn't go there first in most cases.

If you're not already feeding a little bit of something all day long, work toward that somehow.

There are flake and pellet auto-feeders, there are DIY baby brine shrimp feeders – lots of options. And as a background, accompanying feed where portions are small and controlled, flakes and pellets can be fine. Try to feed the best near-live or live food you are able to the rest of the time though, if you go that route.

blufin · Dec 25, 2016

Thanks for your response. My skimmer has been turned off for the past 6 months, I might do a 10% we once a month, no gfo, no carbon. I try to feed a few times a day when I'm home.I guess I'll up the amount to keep them all happy. That is one hungry clam!

mcarroll · Dec 25, 2016

Right on! Don't make any changes too big and give plenty of time afterward (weeks) for observation before making further changes. While you might see a response right away, you might not see anything too different for a couple weeks or even longer.

smh254 · Dec 25, 2016

blufin said:
Hey there,

I have an sps only tank that has 2 clams in amongst the stonies. The largest of the 2 is a Derasa that is around 10". All tank inhabitants are healthy, colored up and growing, but I have had trouble getting my n/p to detectable levels no matter how much I feed the fish or the tank. I'm wondering if the Derasa is pulling out enough nutrients to give me a ULNS or at least undetectable levels.
Any thoughts?

I have a 40b with a 20g sump and have a very similar problem. I had a large Squamosa Clam 12"x7" that I thought was taking up the nutrients and making it hard to keep up with Ca and Alk. I got rid of the clam and my dosing dropped a lot but still undetectable no3/po4. I eventually started dosing flourish nitrogen and got my no3 up to 3 and now I just have to dose every now and again. Still undetectable po4 so started dosing neophos. I now don't have a problem with keeping my nitrates at 3 and phosphates at .02. I wish I would've never got rid of my clam.