Maxima/Giant clam question?
- Thread starter Nano0424
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Crystal03JC
Active Member
Maxima clams like high lighting, which usually means metal halides or a good T5 fixture. If one is under 3 inches, don't buy it. Maxima clams that are smaller than 3" have a very low survival rate in the home aquarium. They also need stable and good/high calcium levels and stable alkalinity and pH. Ideally, calcium should be 400ppm or more. They do best in established tanks with steady parameters. They're a rock dwelling clam, and although many can be found in the sand, they do better attached to a rock. The rock can be buried in the sand, but it really needs to have the rock to attach it's foot to.
I have a DIY LED fixture. I have 3 white and 2 blue. They're 10W each but dilated to 50%. My tank is 5 weeks old. I've been on top of PWC. My parameters haven't fluctuated so far. My calcium has been 440 and above. I was planning to put my clam in the sand all the way to the left.
Otter_rs
Well-Known Member
I would say no on a maxima for sure at this point. 5 weeks is very new. I generally tell people two years. On average, I would say it takes three years for any given reef aquarium to become mature. Having the proper stable colonies of microscopic flora and fauna takes a long time. As for water parameters, adding the clam to a new system will throw that out of balance quickly.
I'm not saying by any means that it can't be done, but a mature system is stable in ways that you can't see or can't test. And if you are he'll bent on having a clam, get a derasa, they are much easier and they prefer the sand bed.
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I'm not saying by any means that it can't be done, but a mature system is stable in ways that you can't see or can't test. And if you are he'll bent on having a clam, get a derasa, they are much easier and they prefer the sand bed.
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lofty78
Active Member
I agree that 5 weeks is too early and it needs to be more established... That said, Mine went into my tank at about 8 months and although I thought my tank was established enough, I may be wrong. I am happy to say that mine is doing very well. Mine is on the sand bed but has attached itself to the bottom of the tank. I have 2x250w MH and 2x54w T5ho. I don't know much about LEDs so I can't tell you if what you have is enough....but it seems that you would probably want more...I would want to see what it compares to in wattage to t5s or MH before I made any decision.
I also have a refugium with tons of copopods, macro algea and I feed phyto, roti and oyster feast every other day. I broadcast feed and when I do, the clam sucks in several times and then seems to "relax" and it's lips are out nice and flowing. I bought mine between 5-6 inches. You may want to consider against adding one based on the size of your tank and that fact that fluctuations in parameters are more volatile in smaller systems. I know that people have clams in small systems, but IMO it takes an expert to do so.
I would start with fish and maybe some soft corals, before I get crazy with the light loving stuff... you may still have a cycle once you add some livestock.
Good Luck and keep us Updated!!
I also have a refugium with tons of copopods, macro algea and I feed phyto, roti and oyster feast every other day. I broadcast feed and when I do, the clam sucks in several times and then seems to "relax" and it's lips are out nice and flowing. I bought mine between 5-6 inches. You may want to consider against adding one based on the size of your tank and that fact that fluctuations in parameters are more volatile in smaller systems. I know that people have clams in small systems, but IMO it takes an expert to do so.
I would start with fish and maybe some soft corals, before I get crazy with the light loving stuff... you may still have a cycle once you add some livestock.
Good Luck and keep us Updated!!
Thank you Lofty78. I'm getting star polyps, zoas and a cauliflower this weekend. Later on I will be getting frogspawns and torches. Oh I forget in a couple of months I will be getting the Gold watchmen goby and pistol shrimp pair!
jedimasterben
Bubble coral sting good
Do you really think a tank can sustain a population of microscopic flora and fauna, especially in the water column? You must not run a skimmer, or it would be wiped out completely in 24 hours.
lofty78
Active Member
All I have to say (based on humble experience) Take it slow....especially with a nano....space out your adds for fish as long as possible, corals are less likely to spike parameters and cause a min cycle (algae bloom) but every add to your bio load should be carefully considered and timed. I would probably add the fish first though and watch for a cycle...testing every other day or so... look for signs like brown diatom on sand or rocks... substantial increase in green algae on glass and do frequent water changes during this process. Was your Rock cured?
lofty78
Active Member
I know that you are looking to pair the pistols with the gobies.... I would consider either getting the gobies 1st, or getting another fish like a couple BG chromis before trying to pair the Gobies and Pistols. This will start the bacteria cycle in your tank.... you should probably be hanging out in the beginner's forum. There is a lot of good info for those who are new to saltwater/reef aquariums.
FlyinBryan
Well-Known Member
I agree with all of the above. I added a clam shortly after 150 tank start and it died in 2 months..I tried 2 again about 8 mo later and same results. I'm not touching clams for another year. I had to beef up my sump with miracle mud cheato and clourpa along with improved skimmer and kalk.
Me z
Active Member
Maximas are tough even in an established tank, I have buddies who have more than 15years experienced with 12 year old reef tanks that still struggle to keep maximas long term(over 2 years). If you do decide to try clams I really recomend like a derasa to start with, much more forgiving than a maxima. When you do get a maxima just make sure to bake it light. As they said a place in the rock work really is best for maximas. It is way too easy to underlight these guys and very difficult to overlight them. Good luck! Nice tank!
Otter_rs
Well-Known Member
There are microscopic flora and fauna all over your aquarium in an established system. They are mostly on surfaces of sand, rock and equipment and help to break down waste and feed one another. They breed constantly allowing for there to be replenished plankton within the water column which then feeds corals, clams, and sponges. Not everything gets taken out with a protein skimmer. Although sometimes a skimmer can make it difficult for some things to take hold and create a stable population. Every system is different. Think of it like a new aquarium starting out like a plowed field. Over time, it will grow grasses, then bushes then pine trees then deciduous trees until you have a stable self sustaining system.
Brent \><{{{{*>
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skinz78
10K Club member
I recommend waiting at least 6 months before adding a clam. From the looks of your lighting I would say that you don't have strong enough lights to support a clam.
Some misinformation here. Clams don't need fed, all they need is ammonia "fish waste" and plenty of light. Also Nano's tank is way too small to house a Derasa clam, they grow at a very quick pace and one would outgrow this tank in no time flat. Plus the cal, alk, and mag demand would be a tough one to keep up with in such a small system.
skinz78
10K Club member
When your clam sucks in several times what it is doing is trying to clear it's gills because the food you are feeding is too big in size for it to take in. The nutrients a clam consumes from the water column are so much smaller than what you are feeding. I forget the numbers on the size but I can remember that they are microscopic, almost invisible to the human eye.
Otter_rs
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure where you read that I ever said anything about a clam needing fed. I was only stating that a mature meiofauna is necessary for a stable system. And as for a clam eating ammonia? Are you sure about that? Because last time I checked, there really is no readable traces of ammonia on a coral reef and as I recall, we strive to have zero in our reef aquariums. And yes, a derasa clam will get too big, and yes, it will suffer in a small aquarium, but it will do far better than a maxima. And a clam will get a portion of its food from filter feeding, just very small plankton that we cannot easily provide artificially. I think they get around 90% of its nutrition from light.
Brent \><{{{{*>
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