Easy to keep clams?

[Pineapple House]

Hey everyone! Great idea with the new forums!

I wanted to start an SPS and Clam tank. Im planning on letting the tank mature for about a year before i add anything to it. What are some easy to keep clams that are colorful, and easy to keep? Also, what are their spacific needs? I will be keeping them under MH, and PC's. Thanks alot!

PH

[mrok12]

my experience has led me to believe in two absolute truths about clams.

1) Keep the Alkalinity aboce 8 DKH and The CA betterthan 400

2) Iwasakis are the best bulbs for growth of the clam and 10K / 20K are great for color.


MROK12

[scubadude]

Originally posted by Pineapple House
What are some easy to keep clams that are colorful, and easy to keep?

Hi PH

In addittion to what MROK has already said I believe a healthy diet of Live Phyotplankton to your clams is a necessity. as far as ease of care you should start off with a Deresa clam they are generally the hardiest of the clams (not the most colorful though) and then when you have kept your deresa for a few months successfully with growth rates up to par then you can try some maximas (this is where you get into nice colors) then when you feel you have mastered maximas then you can try your hand at croceas (they tend to be the most colorful, but I have seen maximas just as pretty)

[Pineapple House]

Hey

Thanks alot! It helped!

Also, i have looked at some clams(not to buy) and i see some arent as opened as others. Is this normal, or is there something wrong with them? Thanks again!!

PH ;)

[Barry N.]

Hi PH,

You have been given some great advise. Would also add that you might consider getting Daniel Knop's book, "Giant Clams". You will really enjoy the book not to mention the nice pictures and will learn a lot on how to keep clams.

Welcome to the wonderful world of clams.

Barry

[Captain Clam]

Another vote for Derasa. And in my opinion waiting a year is excessive, unless you want to. Look at the pictures on the websites of the sponsers here. There you will see what healthy clams should look like. No gaping, full and even mantle expansion, and responsive to changes in light. Mine will close and reopen in a matter of a few seconds when the lighting is disturbed. ;)

[reefeze]

Deresa, plus, they grow faster!

Clams should do fine in a SPS tank, are you keeping acropora and such?

They really don't need anything special besides some DT's.

Good luck!

Reef-Eze

[reefeze]

oh yeah, BTW, Why wait for a year? Corals will hardly hurt your microfauna at all, if all. Do you mean fish? If so, a year is still excesive.

IMHO

[Pineapple House]

Why wait a year?

For the DSB to "fully" mature. I have decided to wait 6 months, before adding any fish, and a year before adding any corals. golfish was the one that told me to wait a full year for the DSB to fully mature.

[/quote]Clams should do fine in a SPS tank, are you keeping acropora and such?[/quote]
Yes. Acopora, millinora(sp?), hydrnophora, staghorn, and any of those other stoneys.

PH =)