Clams/ no sand bed

[bontrager]

Once my new aquarium cycles I would like to add a clam. it has been my undestanding that they do best in sand but I won't have any (bare bottom tank). Can I place it on a piece of live rock? Do I need to glue it to the rock?

 

[Stephanie11]

I wouldn't glue. You can place on live rock and the foot will attach itself. I have a shallow sand bed. One of my clams attached its foot the the bottom glass.

 

[AdamNC]

A lot of people use a wide flat tupperware with sand/crush coral substrate with maybe a small rock or 2. Doesn't look natural but then again neither does a bare bottom tank.

 

[gacolt]

i would also buy a book about clams/inverts before buying one.

 

[NanaReefer]

A lot of people use a wide flat tupperware with sand/crush coral substrate with maybe a small rock or 2. Doesn't look natural but then again neither does a bare bottom tank.

Awesome reply!

 

[bontrager]

A lot of people use a wide flat tupperware with sand/crush coral substrate with maybe a small rock or 2. Doesn't look natural but then again neither does a bare bottom tank.

Thought sand bottoms become nitrate traps and are more maintenance???

Please advise

Thank you

 

[NanaReefer]

With a proper clean up crew, ones that gently sift our substrate. Sand bottoms are not an issue at all. Having proper flow helps also. Some reefers even vacuum theirs during water changes.
I personally use a Strawberry Conch and Nasarrius Snails to keep mine gently stirred

 

[GOSKN5]

Don't let em knock the barebottom idea... best thing I ever did... easy to clean, plenty of flow... no such thing as a natural looking glass box filled with corals from all over the world...

Plus there are ways to make it look better.. I painted my tank bottom white... gives a good illusion of sand..

As for clams, some will attach to the glass... or get a thin shelf rock and use under the clam..

 

[NanaReefer]

Don't let em knock the barebottom idea... best thing I ever did... easy to clean, plenty of flow... no such thing as a natural looking glass box filled with corals from all over the world...

Plus there are ways to make it look better.. I painted my tank bottom white... gives a good illusion of sand..

As for clams, some will attach to the glass... or get a thin shelf rock and use under the clam..

This is not a bare bottom tank [emoji6]

 

[olliefb]

I put mine on top of one of my live rock and it attaches itself to it. It will move around a little till it finds its perfect spot!

 

[GOSKN5]

This is not a bare bottom tank [emoji6]

Yea it is... the glass is painted white... it's bare as a babies bottom haha

 

[glb]

Yea it is... the glass is painted white... it's bare as a babies bottom haha

That's a great illusion.

 

[NanaReefer]

That's a great illusion.

Haha sure is!!

 

[GOSKN5]

Didn't mean to derail the thread haha... but yea no issues with clams in a barebottom... ways around just about anything barebottom related... I also keep two sand sleeping wrasses

 

[Sangheili]

Don't let em knock the barebottom idea... best thing I ever did... easy to clean, plenty of flow... no such thing as a natural looking glass box filled with corals from all over the world...

Plus there are ways to make it look better.. I painted my tank bottom white... gives a good illusion of sand..

As for clams, some will attach to the glass... or get a thin shelf rock and use under the clam..

Fantastic idea with the paint. First bare-bottom tank I haven't hated.

 

[hart24601]

I love switching to BB. I at 1st used Tupperware filled with sand for clams - but now I don't bother. Derasa, maxima, squamosa right on the glass and are great. Local guy has a 12" derasa for 6 years now on bare bottom with diy leds.

I painted the bottom of my old tank with a black speckled paint. Looked great. New tank I had miracles put black on the bottom, I like it.

 

[Arron209]

The Alternative Reef makes clam holders. if you search ebay you'll find them.

 

[Reefhabit]

Clams in general are not found on sand beds in the wild. They are found on the reef. Byssal threads attach to rocks not sand. Croceas and Maximas prefer to be on rocks. Derasa and Squamosa clams will tolerate being on sand beds.

 

[billrob71]

You do not need sand for clams , they will anchor to the glass. Unless your running a deep sand bed sand is more for appearance anyway. My sand bed is about 1/2 inch deep in most of the tank and my big squammy has anchored right to the glass bottom. The other 3 clams are on the rocks and not coming off.

Most of the coral reefs the clams are in rock cracks. DO NOT USE ANY GLUE ON A CLAM BASE!!!!

 

[teuf0311]

Don't let em knock the barebottom idea... best thing I ever did... easy to clean, plenty of flow... no such thing as a natural looking glass box filled with corals from all over the world...

Plus there are ways to make it look better.. I painted my tank bottom white... gives a good illusion of sand..

As for clams, some will attach to the glass... or get a thin shelf rock and use under the clam..

Great look! Thanks for the idea. Is that plain white, or tinted?