New Clam Question

SaltyGal · Feb 16, 2014

Gosh I wish I found this site before I got my clam - so much information!

I understand that fw dips are stressfull to clams and since I was already running gfo, I have a mesh bag of kent carbon to my overflow after reading the article about pm.

I bought a maxima clam last night that was under led but the lights were dimming, so the clam was not fully open. He is 2 1/2 inches maybe alittle larger - not 3. I could see enough of the mantle that I fell in love with his colors and figured he was in night mode that is why he was not fully open. I acclimated him for over 1 hr and a half and placed him on a small rock on the bottom of my tank while my led's were on evening light.

Today he opened but not all the way. Later in the afternoon he was still not fully open. I had just read the article mentioned above and added the carbon because I have Rowaphos running in a reactor. I want to assume that he needs time to adjust, but I do not want to be wrong if there is a problem.

My question is, how long should I wait with running the carbon before assuming he may have pm (the reason he is not opening fully) and do a fw dip? I am using kent reef carbon which is 1/4 cup to 100gal. I have a 54 corner reef with 14 gal sump. I put just under a 1/4 cup in a mesh bag and have it inside my filter sock where it will get good flow through it.- Do you still suggest changing this type of carbon every two days?

Thanks very much!

Mike J. · Feb 16, 2014

One thing glaring about carbon in a filter sock is you don't want carbon to tumble. It will grind itself up into dust. Probably too much flow in a filter sock. Carbon gets changed about every 2 - 3 weeks.

Did you check the clam very closely for pests like Pyram Snails?

I'd give the clam some time to adjust. If it's always blowing or moving around it's not happy in its location. It it's just sitting there things are probably going just fine.

SaltyGal · Feb 17, 2014

Thanks for the reply. The carbon is in a mesh bag that I wrapped tight so water can flow through but it won't tumble. I'll make sure to change it out as you stated. This carbon is actually pellets. Its alittle expensive, but rinses clean and works pretty good. I just have not used carbon since putting up the reactor with rowa.

I tried to pick up the clam to take him out in a container to recheck him when the moon lights came on, but it seems he is already attaching to the
rock I placed under him so I did not want to force it. I guess I will wait and hope this is a good sign he just needs time to adjust before he opens up all the way and there is nothing wrong. I did take a good look at him before placing in the tank and did not see anything but those snails look very tiny in the pix I have seen, aren't they.:squigglemouth: