Too many clams?

dough · Dec 30, 2019

We have all seen tanks slap full of SPS and tanks full of zoas, but I've only seen one or two clams in most tanks. But I was wondering if there is such a thing as too many clams in a tank or why more reefers don't keep more clams. I've always liked clams and have 2 in my tank now and about to add some more.

Lonely reefer's · Dec 30, 2019

I have 5 in my 75g all maxima
2 ~3"
3 ~ 6"

S2G · Dec 30, 2019

dough said:
We have all seen tanks slap full of SPS and tanks full of zoas, but I've only seen one or two clams in most tanks. But I was wondering if there is such a thing as too many clams in a tank or why more reefers don't keep more clams. I've always liked clams and have 2 in my tank now and about to add some more.

Clams are awesome but they use up a lot of elements. I think most would love clams but don't want to further dig themselves into a dosing hole.

DSC reef · Dec 30, 2019

Can't have to many clams! The most at once we had going was 6. Never noticed much of a difference in dosing with or without tridacna, even with a large squamosa.

BMW540 · Dec 30, 2019

I had seven at one point. The largest one (derasa) was about 12-13”

S2G · Dec 30, 2019

DSC reef said:
Can't have to many clams! The most at once we had going was 6. Never noticed much of a difference in dosing with or without tridacna, even with a large squamosa.

No dosing interference with stony coral and a big clam? My buddy use to complain about how much his big clam used up. We're taking taking up 1/3 or better of a 125 though size.

DSC reef · Dec 30, 2019

S2G said:
No dosing interference with stony coral and a big clam? My buddy use to complain about how much his big clam used up. We're taking taking up 1/3 or better of a 125 though size.

Not at all, even after the clams were gone I didn't notice much of a difference in how much was dosed. The squamosa was large too

S2G · Dec 30, 2019

DSC reef said:
Not at all, even after the clams were gone I didn't notice much of a difference in how much was dosed. The squamosa was large too

That's a gorgeous clam and good to know. I guess it's just more dogma. I always heard stories and got intimidated by that.

DSC reef · Dec 30, 2019

S2G said:
That's a gorgeous clam and good to know. I guess it's just more dogma. I always heard stories and got intimidated by that.

Thank you, don't be intimidated. It takes a while before a clam gets that big. Dosing was involved but never noticed anything major, SPS sucked up a lot of alkalinity and calcium.

dough · Dec 30, 2019

One large clam in a display tank would certainly be the center of the tank's display. I can't imagine having such a large clam in a tank. I don't think my wife would let me upgrade my tank because of such a large specimen.

Softhammer · Dec 30, 2019

My best was 14 at a time. Currently have 3 but one weighs easily 10-15 lbs.

S2G · Dec 30, 2019

Softhammer said:
My best was 14 at a time. Currently have 3 but one weighs easily 10-15 lbs.

Let's see a pic

Daniel@R2R · Dec 31, 2019

Love clams!!

Softhammer · Dec 31, 2019

I’m out of town so unable to get a current picture. This one is at most a few months old though. The scale is deceiving. That’s a 180 gallon and the derasa in the center is at least 14” not including the open mantle. Had it for 8 1/2 years. Started as a 2” ORA.

Softhammer · Dec 31, 2019

Also had 2 Squamosa and another derasa, similar size that died within the last year. the shells were easily 10 lbs for the pair.

hart24601 · Dec 31, 2019

I had a different experience than DSC with impacts. I notice a drastic difference with a large clam in 2 part levels.

As for why people don't keep tanks of them.... well I tried, then a single diseased clam killed 40 others... (so go for it but QT each shipment for a long time!!!)

JordanS01 · Dec 31, 2019

There is never a limit on how many clams! I used to have 3, now have two and looking for one more. They were all in a 30 long. Just depends how much you want to dose

reef lover · Dec 31, 2019

I agree here with hart...my 2 squammys and one maxima used 50 ml a day of 2 part....one large spawning event did them all in..

now the tank only uses 20 ml a day opposed to 70...

S2G · Dec 31, 2019

Well I guess it's not dogma then lol

DSC reef · Dec 31, 2019

I don't want my advice to be mistaken so I should've worded it differently. I'm not saying a vast amount of clams or even one clam won't have an impact on your tanks big 3 levels, of course it will. My experience has been that it wasn't drastically different if at all with or without clams. That said I believe it also comes down to what else you have in the tank, salt being used, target numbers and product dosed. I've always had a large number of corals so I'm sure that played a role. Also, adding a clam does not mean you need to stock up on dosing supplies either as their wont be an instant uptick in dosing.