Question on adding a clam while in fallow Period

[bucksfan1976]

I have the oppertunity to add a HUGE (14 inch) clam to my system, my tank is currently in a fallow state due to a marine velvet outbreak. All of my inverts and corals are GREAT. Would I have any issues adding this to my system? The LFS where im getting it from can hold it til friday. Im already pushing 4 weeks of fallow.

any help?

Don

 

[jduck]

I beleive you want to go at least 8 weeks fallow. Adding anything to system resets the clock. But if you are not going to qt everything before you add it to the system, your just asking for trouble. Hate for the clam to be a carrier for something.

 

[JSB]

I am unaware of any parasites or diseases in clams that are communicable to fish. Certainly not Marine Velvet. Yes, clams have their own list of maladies, most notably pyramid snails, so if you have any other clams, that big clam needs to be QT'd. However, if it were me, and this were my only clam, I would likely go ahead and add it. If you have other clams, and still really want the 14" one (and who doesn't), I would at least try to get the chance to view it after lights out and look for the snails. If that turns up negative, still give it the tooth brush scrub all over the shell and base to make sure no eggs are there.

I am by no means an authority on any of this, but based on my reading and my experiences, I would not think the clam would have an impact on the fallow period, which in your case is there to starve out the marine velvet, which is not known (IME) to affect clams. Apologies to the previous poster for the contradiction.

 

[bucksfan1976]

Ok I'm slightly confused no fish are going to be added just a clam

Here is the clam

So I guess the lingering question will I have to reset the fallow period if I add the clam?

You can't really qt a clam of this size the sheer light needed would require a 250 watt halide over a 20 gallon tank