Clam Only Tank

[hart24601]

Hey all, the clam forum doesn't get much traffic, so I wanted to talk about a project I want to do! I love clams, and while not ready to make a clam only system yet, I do want to think about it!

Glass cages has a 50 square rimless tank. I know some questionable quality, but the tank is 30x30x12h, so the seams wouldn't be under much pressure with only about 10" of water. I want to have a sump for equipment of course. RR with stand is 900 plus shipping.

I would do a strong LED pendent with narrow optics to hang high and not obstruct top down viewing. Don't need to worry about self shading with clams. Orphek has some nice pendants, I like blue light, but with clams they don't fluoresce like coral, so I would run white more than a reef, 10k.

Shouldn't really need a skimmer or fancy export methods with just clams. Get a 3 head doser - ca, alk and the 3rd I am thinking ammonia or nitrate. Gotta feed them something. I like the idea of small dosing ammonia (very small amount, just detectable). Clam farms direct feed ammonia, but too much makes them out pace their shells and get thin. A Ca reactor might be better for the demand, but too much complexity for me right now.

So what am I missing? The return pump should be enough flow for them, 2 part and feeding with 3rd head, light, heater, probably some purigen for good measure. Thoughts?

 

[mila sheehan]

I've never thought of keeping clams

 

[hart24601]

Many people keep them only as afterthoughts, but they have always been my favorite. Couple of pics of when I had some.

 

[Squishie89]

I would talk to Pacific East Aquaculture as they are big in the clam market (maybe ORA as well). I personally do not know much about ammonia dosing as clam food, but I have been dosing this and I think my clam likes it (I dose a bunch of other things too so no idea) and I know my sponges like it. There are a few clam/sponge/super filter feeder foods on the market that might be worth a look at.

 

[hart24601]

That is a good point. I forgot to say that I would probably dose some sort of carbon. I have used sponge power before and it sure has some acetic acid (vinegar) in it! I'm sure it has more than just that too.

2 of those clams in the pic dr Mac from pacific east picked out from me few years ago, that's a good idea to talk with him again. The ammonia dosing comes from a book I have of giant clams - but I do worry about the shell getting too thin.

Last I knew Ora and pea are maricultured clams, started in raceways and then left in the ocean for a couple of years. But maybe that has changed.

 

[rockskimmerflow]

I have found clams to not show exceptionally well under LEDs. For whatever reason their pigments look the most impressive to my eye under 10k -20k metal halide. I'm sure you could definitely meet the par demands with a high power led system though. I've also thought about a clam lagoon with a few soft corals or solitary lps thrown in the mix, but with clams as the main focus. If I was to do it I'd definitely use a light that shows them in their most impressive form. For me that would be a metal halide system with some leds or T5s thrown in to supplement the color temperature to my liking.

Your idea for the dosing system sounds solid. They will use a lot of 2 part, especially if you pump them up with an ammonia boost. You'll see excellent growth without doubt given the proper light intensity.

That would be a sweet system for sure. Hope you end up going through with it at some point. I'm sure a local tank builder could do you a better job than glasscages for less money depending on if you have someone nearby. Cheers!

 

[hart24601]

That is interesting, I have had clams under T5 and LED and didn't really think there was much difference. I have only used full spectrum LEDs with reds, near UV and violets, but I liked them. That is unless you are running a windex blue tank, without fluorescence very blue doesn't look good imo, but 12k or so I like alright. Really the LED is mostly for easy top-down viewing and not having a bulky fixture obstruct it. Below are old pics from a system I don't have anymore, LED clams, blue squammy, teardrop and maxima (with a derasa hiding) - not the best pictures, back before I could take decent pics! I will have to look into a slick MH though, I don't like a lot of light spill, but will look into it!

Sadly we don't even have any nice LFS here, let alone any tank builders, but that would be awesome if we did!!

 

[cpschult]

I'd really like to do this as well. Was hoping my Gen 2 xr30 would be enough light. Was thinking chalices on edge with clams in middle.

Would love to hear more about ammonia dosing!

 

[maroun.c]

I'd definitely add a few fish, mostly grazers to cleanup the algae you'll get from dosing ammonia or phosphates in your tank and maybe experiment with feeding fish to keep nutrients high vs dosing nutrients, again both methods might work...
A clam look down tank would definitely look amazing.

 

[WilRams]

I have actually been thinking about tying in a shallow tank into my system for just clams as well. I go back and forth with doing clams or nems. We'll see which one I go with.

 

[rockskimmerflow]

That is interesting, I have had clams under T5 and LED and didn't really think there was much difference. I have only used full spectrum LEDs with reds, near UV and violets, but I liked them. That is unless you are running a windex blue tank, without fluorescence very blue doesn't look good imo, but 12k or so I like alright. Really the LED is mostly for easy top-down viewing and not having a bulky fixture obstruct it. Below are old pics from a system I don't have anymore, LED clams, blue squammy, teardrop and maxima (with a derasa hiding) - not the best pictures, back before I could take decent pics! I will have to look into a slick MH though, I don't like a lot of

Yeah that makes sense to me. I think clams do look fine under T5 or LED in the 12-14k range. They are gorgeous animals in any situation. It's just been my experience that they look even more impressive under the perfect color blending and intensity of a metal halide system. Conversely, I think corals show best under a hybrid system of led, t5, or halide- A combo of at least 2 of those 3. For clams, though, I'd always start with a halide foundation.

If you're worried about light bleed for top down viewing. A 250w SE or DE, or a 400W SE bulb in one of the more compact reflectors would suit that 50 gallon nicely. They key would be to build a light box around the reflector. Matched to the stand it would look nice and the shroud could extend about 6-8 inches below the bottom of the reflector to give you that pendant spotlighting effect. Then you could hang the light assembly high enough for easy top down viewing without massive light bleed beyond the tank edges. Would make for a very cool effect.

 

[hart24601]

I'd definitely add a few fish, mostly grazers to cleanup the algae you'll get from dosing ammonia or phosphates in your tank and maybe experiment with feeding fish to keep nutrients high vs dosing nutrients, again both methods might work...
A clam look down tank would definitely look amazing.

I am strongly leaning against fish. I think most clam problems are from fish, at least that has been my experience. Over the years I have had a purple tang, kole tang, white tail tang, and maroon clown that all nipped clams. That was over several years of course, but any fish makes me nervous at this point! Plus I don't think they would like ammonia dosing!

 

[hart24601]

I'd really like to do this as well. Was hoping my Gen 2 xr30 would be enough light. Was thinking chalices on edge with clams in middle.

Would love to hear more about ammonia dosing!

I would like to hear more about it too! I have just seen occasional references here and there. The book I have talks about clam farmers peeing in the raceways!

 

[hart24601]

Yeah that makes sense to me. I think clams do look fine under T5 or LED in the 12-14k range. They are gorgeous animals in any situation. It's just been my experience that they look even more impressive under the perfect color blending and intensity of a metal halide system. Conversely, I think corals show best under a hybrid system of led, t5, or halide- A combo of at least 2 of those 3. For clams, though, I'd always start with a halide foundation.

If you're worried about light bleed for top down viewing. A 250w SE or DE, or a 400W SE bulb in one of the more compact reflectors would suit that 50 gallon nicely. They key would be to build a light box around the reflector. Matched to the stand it would look nice and the shroud could extend about 6-8 inches below the bottom of the reflector to give you that pendant spotlighting effect. Then you could hang the light assembly high enough for easy top down viewing without massive light bleed beyond the tank edges. Would make for a very cool effect.

I will sure look into MH. Believe it or not I am not the biggest fan of MH lighting! But I would love to find somewhere that has clams under it and take another look. Only one place local even has clams and those are under LED now. I was on a trip to chicago last year and saw a devil clam at old town aquarium, I had read about that exact clam on reefbuilders and it was crazy to see it in person totally by chance as I just picked a reef store to hit while I was there.

And this system would have to have a hippo clam! I love them and I don't know why. The purple ones are just so cool and while most people don't find them as pretty, the shell and overall look I really like. The savings in equipment with this system is lost with the stocking cost of clams... boy they are expensive.

 

[maroun.c]

If that many relatively clam safe fish have nipped on ur clams ID review your feeding g as it looks like you're underfeeding?

 

[hart24601]

Here was the feed schedule:

Apex autofeeder for 5x/day feedings along with nori everyday and LRS reef frenzy and frozenblackworms. Both tangs were super fat, enough that I was going to cut down on the feedings.



I got rid of them. Bad luck I guess, but expensive and I don't want fish with clams now, lol. I think a lot of clam problems are from fish but it doesn't happen often and people don't catch it.

 

[hart24601]

A new job offer is in the works!! I think every single person that I know would think I'm crazy that raise = clam tank....

Still not 100%, I should save money... But, but, but...

Clams!!

 

[a hill]

Did anything ever happen?
-Andrew

 

[hart24601]

Did anything ever happen?
-Andrew

It did.... a long road, lol.

Went to this deep blue system:

Build Thread - Hart's Nano SPS Reef - Deep blue shallow tank, oxymoron?!?

Because I am insane, I am setting up my dream tank, a predominantly clam tank! I have had ups and downs with clams, having great success then a disease that wiped them all out years ago. This tank just might be a heartbreak tank, clams seem really hit and miss right now. Get a healthy one and...

www.reef2reef.com

Got a sick clam from divers den.... again.... wiped out around 40 clams in that system.

I replaced the deep blue with a waterbox but kept the downstairs sump, after a while added clams again. Now have about 11 consisting of the common species in the hobby, maxima, derasa, squammy, hippo, crocea, noae, gigas.

The sump is for clams only and I dose ammonia and phosphate.

Build Thread - Waterbox 100.3 Orphek Back to SPS Reef Madness

Edit 1st post with some new shots from later in thread. 4/17/21 So I have a deep blue 34g nano build thread, it started off as a clam system, but things kept progressing such as a basement 150g Rubbermaid sump. I really like the 36" length, but the 12" depth is a bit short. It was great for...

www.reef2reef.com