First attempt at Keeping a Clam

tfrad · Nov 13, 2017

Hello all, Just purchased my first clam at a LFS tank is almost 5 months old. I believe its a Maxima clam? I've got a few SPS and LPS Corals seem to have been making excellent growth from my lake of experience and nothing to compare it to.

Clam was at the LFS for a few weeks before I brought it to my tank which it's been in for 3 days now. I would guess the clam is about 6" I have it on a little piece of rock rubble which is on my sand bed. Kessil 160w light currently peaking to 45% and the light is probably 15" from the top of the clam. I plan on slowly raising this to 100% over a few weeks. As I feel my light may be a little under powered. The shop keeper said I should have no problem with a Kessil 160w and to feed it little bit of phyto twice a week

I keep my parameters at:
Temp - 78f
Salinity - 1.024-1.025
Alkalinity - 10.4
Calcium - 410
Nitrate - 0

Any comments, suggestions, concerns are greatly appreciated! These are ancient creatures and I want to keep what I have healthy and thriving!

Js.Aqua.Project · Nov 13, 2017

Looks like a Maxima to me, but I don't claim to be a clam expert by any means. This may help confirm your ID: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-07/jf/feature/

As far as lighting and feeding, I believe your light - with the estimated depth - should be sufficient. Here is another article that talks about photosynthesis and feeding the tridacna clams: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/7/inverts

Yuki Rihwa · Nov 13, 2017

Nice looking clam.
At that size 6" it doesn't need to feed but some extra food still better than nothing, all it need is a strong good lighting.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 13, 2017

The 160 is not sufficent for that clam.

You'll want to increase the intensity a bit quicker than you planned and likely increase the length of the photo period.

Maximas require more light than the other clams.

For those who may doubt this , please provide par numbers on that light. The second smallest light kessil offers. A80 is the smallest.

150-200 min for a maxima at 8-10 hrs.

Yuki Rihwa · Nov 13, 2017

I checked back in other thread that show 360W PAR measure (page 3).
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/done-trying-clams.331799/page-3
By look at the 360W PAR numbers I have to agreed with @saltyfilmfolks that your light and your clam at 15" deep, it won't get enough light even at 100% intensity. It could work short term if you move your clam higher place in your tank, again I based off the given numbers from other thread and I do not own 160w, I'm using 2x A360WE for my clams.

DSC reef · Nov 13, 2017

Nice maxima clam and congrats on your first one, there my favorite reef animal. I agree with the others, need a bit more light for it to thrive. Not sure on the par numbers at different depths but once it attaches to that rock you can move it up for the time being.

tfrad · Nov 13, 2017

Here's another photo my roommate sent me midday.

The clam also is getting some natural ambient lighting from the sun, not sure if this helps up the tanks overall PAR. When I bought the light from BRS a few months ago they said that I should definitely be able to keep a clam. Maybe return it back to the shop before I kill it? I'll get the exact length from light to clam and photoperiod & intensity times tonight when I get home.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 13, 2017

See if you can find a review or specs on the light at BRS.

I personally nlly disagree with them.
A clam , yes maybe. This clam. No.

A bit misleading on thier part

Yuki Rihwa · Nov 13, 2017

tfrad said:
Here's another photo my roommate sent me midday.

The clam also is getting some natural ambient lighting from the sun, not sure if this helps up the tanks overall PAR. When I bought the light from BRS a few months ago they said that I should definitely be able to keep a clam. Maybe return it back to the shop before I kill it? I'll get the exact length from light to clam and photoperiod & intensity times tonight when I get home.

I have to say again, nice looking clam though.

By any change can you upgrade your light?
I'm not sure how your LFS return policy, they might not refund your money and only accept refund for store credit only, also never trust any LFS, they are there just want to sell stuff so they won't give you a honest opinion that might drive customer away to buy their goods. If you like clams a lot then I would suggest upgrade your light, you can get some Chinese LED black box for cheap and keep your clam.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 13, 2017

Yuki Rihwa said:
I have to say again, nice looking clam though.
By any change can you upgrade your light?
I'm not sure how your LFS return policy, they might not refund your money and only accept refund for store credit only, also never trust any LFS, they are there just want to sell stuff so they won't give you a honest opinion that might drive customer away to buy their goods. If you like clams a lot then I would suggest upgrade your light, you can get some Chinese LED black box for cheap and keep your clam.

Yep. And most folks don't really know how much par a light actually gives.

Yuki Rihwa · Nov 13, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yep. And most folks don't really know how much par a light actually gives.

It was me few months ago before I switched to reef world, I was thought light is light and every light is same as long it light up my tank lol. I'm very noob right? While it's ok when I have fish only tank since they do not need light to stay alive. My reef world pretty much turn up side down once I started dig through a bunch of researches and reading about lighting in home marine aquarium...At least I'm on a right track now

tfrad · Nov 13, 2017

Thanks for the help everyone btw.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kessil-a160we-tuna-blue-led-light.html

In the reviews someone posted that they have had 2 Maximas under the Kessil 160WE for over a year. Not sure If he's been supplimenting with T5 lighting or not though. Upgrading to the 360 sounds like the way to go with these Clams which is the bummer because I was thinking of doing that before I bought the 160 but thought that the 360 would be a huge overkill!

Yuki Rihwa · Nov 13, 2017

tfrad said:
Thanks for the help everyone btw.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kessil-a160we-tuna-blue-led-light.html

In the reviews someone posted that they have had 2 Maximas under the Kessil 160WE for over a year. Not sure If he's been supplimenting with T5 lighting or not though. Upgrading to the 360 sounds like the way to go with these Clams which is the bummer because I was thinking of doing that before I bought the 160 but thought that the 360 would be a huge overkill!

The Kessil WE light version has 15% power more than regular W light version. Those folks might have very shallow tank and their clams are small enough to keep very up high in tank like less than 6 inches below water line, your clam too big to keep it up that high because it can shoot water from your tank up to your room ceiling if keep too close to the water surface lol My maxima shoot water 6 feets up in the air while acclimating in a 5 gallons bucket.....

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 13, 2017

tfrad said:
Thanks for the help everyone btw.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/kessil-a160we-tuna-blue-led-light.html

In the reviews someone posted that they have had 2 Maximas under the Kessil 160WE for over a year.

Yea. Hmmmm.

My biggest beef w kessil. No par specs.

tfrad · Nov 14, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yea. Hmmmm.

My biggest beef w kessil. No par specs.

Yeah its a pretty big bummer. I could be wrong, but at this point I feel like Kessil purposely doesn't release those PAR specs in hopes to sell to inexperienced refers like myself as a "high quality affordable light". I do have the Kessil 160WE light I bumped it up 5% across the board last night and measured the light to be about 13" from the bottom to the top of the Clam's mantle.

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 14, 2017

tfrad said:
Yeah its a pretty big bummer. I could be wrong, but at this point I feel like Kessil purposely doesn't release those PAR specs in hopes to sell to inexperienced refers like myself as a "high quality affordable light". I do have the Kessil 160WE light I bumped it up 5% across the board last night and measured the light to be about 13" from the bottom to the top of the Clam's mantle.

Keep going slow and stready. You can I will say go a bit faster in this case on the intensity.
Don't quite me and maybe look around a bit. But the difference in 50% and 100% I don't belive is that much.

hyprc · Nov 14, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
Yea. Hmmmm.

My biggest beef w kessil. No par specs.

None from Kessil at least....

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...-tuna-blue-the-best-led-light-for-reef-tanks/

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 14, 2017

hyprc said:
None from Kessil at least....

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...-tuna-blue-the-best-led-light-for-reef-tanks/

Yup.

I want to buy that new car. What's the horse power?
We don't belive in rating a cars power based on that accepted standard.

tfrad · Nov 14, 2017

What do you guys think about buying another Kessil 160WE? Would that up my PAR?

Yuki Rihwa · Nov 15, 2017

tfrad said:
What do you guys think about buying another Kessil 160WE? Would that up my PAR?

From other thread I linked in previous post, there is a member keep Maxima under Kessil 2x 160W BUT he does run a pair of T5 along with those 160, he did post his FTS picture so you can take a look or PM him for more details (his Maxi is like half size of your Maxi) have fun and good luck!