Suppliment feeding.

Barry N. · 03-07-2003, 12:33 PM

How many of you suppliment feed your tank (clams) ?

If so would be interest in knowning your thought on it.

Size of tank

How long it has been set up.

how long have you kept clams

Your seccess with keeping clams.

If you had any clams die, if so how long were they in your tank?

Thanks for any information you can provide.

dougchambers · 03-07-2003, 02:27 PM

Hello Barry,

I'll start off;

Size of Tank: 75RR w/ 20g Sump

Born On: March 12, 2002 (Birthday coming...)

Time w/Clams: ~6 years

Success: We have never lost a clam once established in the tank.

Lost Clams: Two Maxima. One was lost within 2 hours of receipt, the other was lost within 6 hours of receipt.

Lighting: 6ea. 110W URI VHO

Supplement: DT's

Regrets: Need a bigger tank!

Barry N. · 03-07-2003, 06:06 PM

Thanks Doug for the reply.

Where are you Gene, Bret and others

dagnir · 03-07-2003, 06:13 PM

26 gallon soon to be moving to a 120 or 180 rr
250w 10K MH

Born: 08/2002

Keeped clams in this tank past 4 months, delt with clams past 2 years

Never lost a clam in tank.

Current Inhabitants: A T. crocea 3", T. maxima 1.5", T. Squamosa 2.5"

Supplimenting: DT's (seems to work), Marine Snow (Dont know about this one no problems so I keep dosing). DT's twice a week, MS once a week.

Growth: Very noticable growth on T. crocea of about a cm. in past 4 months sense put in tank. T. squamosa and T. maxima very little growth.

Problems: None in Crocea or Squamosa both very healthy, but some mantle pinching in Maxima that I am trying to pinpoint. Any help on probable causes would be very nice. Water quality excellent, calcium and alkalinity good, no phosphate or silica all is clear just seems to be pinching a great deal in the last month.

nvert · 03-08-2003, 01:38 PM

i have a 6" derasa in a 40b, 8mos. i feed three capfulls of dt's every other day. i've lost two croceas, one maxima, and a squamosa to the pinching disease. growth on the derasa is incredible. more than doubled in size in 8mos.

***zhenya*** · 03-09-2003, 12:55 AM

At present time a have 4 clams but did have 9 just a short time ago. I have lost my share of clams

,you know it more then anybody,Barry. Latest were to pinching(3 clams). I feed my tanks every other day with DT's and Koralvit-F. I also been trying with some aminoacids and vitamins for the corals.I could actualy see polyps extending during daytime on corals that I never seen do it before, so I switched to night time

Clams that I do have: 9" derasa, two 5 and 6" Gigas and a 4" crocea. I had to give up a maxima that Barry send me because the gigas I ordered for my friend got damaged by my fish

I think I got the better end of the deal.I'm sure Barry will find me another beauty when I have a new tank(I hope).

SueT · 03-09-2003, 08:57 PM

180g ecosystem with 65g sump.

Set-up Dec.6, 2000

Clams have been in this system for right at 1.5 years.

I have now 14 clams in this system. They range from a squamosa, to a derasa, to 2 crocea's and the rest are maxima's. All but 2 have come from Barry. I have not lost one clam in this system. We won't talk about the 120g.

I feed KoralVitF 2-3 times weekly and if I feel necessary I add some DT's too. I don't mix much anymore as the KoralVitF has made my clams a happy bunch. I think this must be more than enough for them. I have new shell growth on all the clams and all of the growth seems about equal, not one species growing more than another. This has been the healthiest bunch of clams I have ever had and they are doing awesome. I supplement calcium with Tropic Marin's Bio-Calcium and the results are amazing.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

eduardo cavalcanti · 03-10-2003, 05:32 AM

zuet,
don´t you have a calcium reactor? i have a 30g nano and suplement calcium with bio calcium but i spend a lot of it. in a 180g system with 14 clams, i can´t even imagine how much you use

SueT · 03-10-2003, 11:27 AM

Eduardo, no I don't have a calcium reactor and from the horror stories I've heard about them I don't have any plans on getting one. This 180g since I found the Bio-Calcium has become rock steady stable. I drip kalk. 24/7 and before adding the calcium I use Salifert test kits for testing. I have now found the amount of Bio-Calcium it takes this system to go on. I add 4tsp. every 4-5 days. The calcium stays right on 430-450ppm and the alk. is 11.2dKh. I tried so many different things to keep the calcium but the levels were all over the place. This Bio-Calcium is great. It is simple as can be. Plus besides the clams the tank is full of sps corals from frags to grown out colonies.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

eduardo cavalcanti · 03-10-2003, 02:28 PM

i must been doing something wrong so. i add 1 teaspoon of bc per day. my alk is 10dKh and my calcium 500 mEq/l. i only have one clam and one or 2 frags of sps. i don´t dose kalk though.

SueT · 03-10-2003, 08:09 PM

Eduardo, are you testing the calcium before adding it or just adding it?? If you have 1 clam and a couple of sps frags your calcium uptake is not going to be that much to add daily. You might be able to get by with only dosing every other day or every 2 days. Compare my amount of 4-5 TSP every 4-5 days per 180g to 1TSP per day per 30g. I imagine your calcium would be that high although that is not that bad.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

ochretoe · 03-11-2003, 04:09 PM

I have a 65gal, mixed reef with a 18 gal sump. A 250wt mh and 110wts pc, a prizm skimmer. I dose with b-ionic everyother day and drip kalk. Ca stays about 440ppm.

I feed DT's about 2 times a week.

I have two clams one 3"maxima and a 5"squamosa. Both have been in the tank for about 4 months and growing. I hope to add a derasa and a hippopus in the future if anyone ever gets any derasas in stock.

I had a 4" crocea that was killed by a maroon clown while I was on vacation.( my only clam death).

The tank has been up for 3 years with a 400 mile move last Aug.

Barry N. · 03-11-2003, 06:24 PM

I want to thanks everyone that has replied to this post. We are gathering some information for testing purposes.

Appears that most are supplimenting feeding. Has anyone that is keeping Tridacnid clams that at one time did not feed and now feeding? If so I would be interested in finding out if you since feeding your tank are you better able to keep clams where in the past maybe had a problem.

Thanks

Barry

SueT · 03-11-2003, 08:10 PM

Barry, funny you should ask that. When I had clams in my 120 I did not feed and if I did I didn't do it on a regular schedule. I most probably didn't even use DT's back then either. At that time I was feeding baby brine shrimp so I don't know if the clams would of had any benefit at all. None were baby clams either. I don't know if this fits in anywhere or not.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

Barry N. · 03-11-2003, 08:19 PM

Sue,

Are you saying that you are better able to keep baby clams now better than before? If so do you think it is the suppliment feeding or more nutrients in your tank now? I know that is a hard question but is would help.

Barry

SueT · 03-11-2003, 08:30 PM

Barry, oh yeah, I think so. The baby clam I got from you awhile back is doing awesome. I am doing the additional feeding in it's container though. It gets that plus the regular tank feedings. The other clams that were in the 120 some might have been as small as this baby was but I don't think so.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

Peabody · 03-20-2003, 05:31 PM

Tank: 15 gallon with 15 gallon sump. 175 watt 10k Ushio, 55w actinic,` nano reactor, bakpak2r, Mag 5 return into Sea Swirl

Set up 9 months

Have had 3 inch squamosa for 6 months, 2 2-inch maximas for 5 months

No losses. Infact clams are growing by 1cm a month!!!!

I bowl feed the babies Instant Algae Coral and clam diet, DTs, and drop of selcon. The same 3 get fed into my tank. The only thing that goes into my tank is top off kalk, and what the reactor puts out.

ADS · 04-04-2003, 05:45 PM

Multiple reef systems >500g
Setup since 1999
Keep various Tridacna species
Recent losses from serotonin injection to induce spawning for breeding
Feed every 3 days using live Tahitian Isocrysis

**charlie** · 11-18-2005, 09:17 AM

400 gallon system, I have been set up for 23 months. I have never fed my clams. I ahve 2 maximas, 4 croceas, a squamosa and a deresa. Luckily, I haven't lost any yet, knock on wood.
All clams were purchased at at least 4".
Check my gallery for clam pics, I know there's a few in there.

View Poll Results: Feeding
Yes	18	64.29%
No	2	7.14%
Sometimes	6	21.43%
Never	2	7.14%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

03-07-2003, 12:33 PM	#1
Barry N. Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,034	Suppliment feeding. How many of you suppliment feed your tank (clams) ? If so would be interest in knowning your thought on it. Size of tank How long it has been set up. how long have you kept clams Your seccess with keeping clams. If you had any clams die, if so how long were they in your tank? Thanks for any information you can provide. __________________ Barry ClamsDirect.Com

03-07-2003, 02:27 PM	#2
dougchambers Citizen Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Idaho Posts: 119	Hello Barry, I'll start off; Size of Tank: 75RR w/ 20g Sump Born On: March 12, 2002 (Birthday coming...) Time w/Clams: ~6 years Success: We have never lost a clam once established in the tank. Lost Clams: Two Maxima. One was lost within 2 hours of receipt, the other was lost within 6 hours of receipt. Lighting: 6ea. 110W URI VHO Supplement: DT's Regrets: Need a bigger tank! __________________ Chambers' Reef Page

03-07-2003, 06:06 PM	#3
Barry N. Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,034	Thanks Doug for the reply. Where are you Gene, Bret and others __________________ Barry ClamsDirect.Com

03-08-2003, 01:38 PM	#5
nvert Citizen Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 107	i have a 6" derasa in a 40b, 8mos. i feed three capfulls of dt's every other day. i've lost two croceas, one maxima, and a squamosa to the pinching disease. growth on the derasa is incredible. more than doubled in size in 8mos. __________________ "knowledge is second only to imagination" a.e. 40g breeder; 1-175 10k mh & 2-95w actinics; cpr bakpak2; 2 rio600s & 1 maxijet900 controlled by a wavemaster pro; 2 gal refugium; 75lbs lr; 50lbs (@2.5") ls; sumpless

03-07-2003, 06:13 PM	#4
dagnir Just Moved In Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 38	26 gallon soon to be moving to a 120 or 180 rr 250w 10K MH Born: 08/2002 Keeped clams in this tank past 4 months, delt with clams past 2 years Never lost a clam in tank. Current Inhabitants: A T. crocea 3", T. maxima 1.5", T. Squamosa 2.5" Supplimenting: DT's (seems to work), Marine Snow (Dont know about this one no problems so I keep dosing). DT's twice a week, MS once a week. Growth: Very noticable growth on T. crocea of about a cm. in past 4 months sense put in tank. T. squamosa and T. maxima very little growth. Problems: None in Crocea or Squamosa both very healthy, but some mantle pinching in Maxima that I am trying to pinpoint. Any help on probable causes would be very nice. Water quality excellent, calcium and alkalinity good, no phosphate or silica all is clear just seems to be pinching a great deal in the last month.

03-09-2003, 12:55 AM	#6
*zhenya* Owner Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: new jersey,usa Posts: 7,872	At present time a have 4 clams but did have 9 just a short time ago. I have lost my share of clams ,you know it more then anybody,Barry. Latest were to pinching(3 clams). I feed my tanks every other day with DT's and Koralvit-F. I also been trying with some aminoacids and vitamins for the corals.I could actualy see polyps extending during daytime on corals that I never seen do it before, so I switched to night time Clams that I do have: 9" derasa, two 5 and 6" Gigas and a 4" crocea. I had to give up a maxima that Barry send me because the gigas I ordered for my friend got damaged by my fish I think I got the better end of the deal.I'm sure Barry will find me another beauty when I have a new tank(I hope). __________________ Kind regards, Gene.

03-09-2003, 08:57 PM	#7
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	180g ecosystem with 65g sump. Set-up Dec.6, 2000 Clams have been in this system for right at 1.5 years. I have now 14 clams in this system. They range from a squamosa, to a derasa, to 2 crocea's and the rest are maxima's. All but 2 have come from Barry. I have not lost one clam in this system. We won't talk about the 120g. I feed KoralVitF 2-3 times weekly and if I feel necessary I add some DT's too. I don't mix much anymore as the KoralVitF has made my clams a happy bunch. I think this must be more than enough for them. I have new shell growth on all the clams and all of the growth seems about equal, not one species growing more than another. This has been the healthiest bunch of clams I have ever had and they are doing awesome. I supplement calcium with Tropic Marin's Bio-Calcium and the results are amazing. my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 ecosystem sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

03-10-2003, 05:32 AM	#8
eduardo cavalcanti Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Brazil Posts: 22	zuet, don´t you have a calcium reactor? i have a 30g nano and suplement calcium with bio calcium but i spend a lot of it. in a 180g system with 14 clams, i can´t even imagine how much you use __________________ The more natural it looks, the better it is

03-10-2003, 11:27 AM	#9
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	Eduardo, no I don't have a calcium reactor and from the horror stories I've heard about them I don't have any plans on getting one. This 180g since I found the Bio-Calcium has become rock steady stable. I drip kalk. 24/7 and before adding the calcium I use Salifert test kits for testing. I have now found the amount of Bio-Calcium it takes this system to go on. I add 4tsp. every 4-5 days. The calcium stays right on 430-450ppm and the alk. is 11.2dKh. I tried so many different things to keep the calcium but the levels were all over the place. This Bio-Calcium is great. It is simple as can be. Plus besides the clams the tank is full of sps corals from frags to grown out colonies. my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 ecosystem sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

03-10-2003, 02:28 PM	#10
eduardo cavalcanti Just Moved In Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Brazil Posts: 22	i must been doing something wrong so. i add 1 teaspoon of bc per day. my alk is 10dKh and my calcium 500 mEq/l. i only have one clam and one or 2 frags of sps. i don´t dose kalk though. __________________ The more natural it looks, the better it is

03-10-2003, 08:09 PM	#11
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	Eduardo, are you testing the calcium before adding it or just adding it?? If you have 1 clam and a couple of sps frags your calcium uptake is not going to be that much to add daily. You might be able to get by with only dosing every other day or every 2 days. Compare my amount of 4-5 TSP every 4-5 days per 180g to 1TSP per day per 30g. I imagine your calcium would be that high although that is not that bad. my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 ecosystem sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

03-11-2003, 04:09 PM	#12
ochretoe Just Moved In Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Memphis, Tn. Posts: 24	I have a 65gal, mixed reef with a 18 gal sump. A 250wt mh and 110wts pc, a prizm skimmer. I dose with b-ionic everyother day and drip kalk. Ca stays about 440ppm. I feed DT's about 2 times a week. I have two clams one 3"maxima and a 5"squamosa. Both have been in the tank for about 4 months and growing. I hope to add a derasa and a hippopus in the future if anyone ever gets any derasas in stock. I had a 4" crocea that was killed by a maroon clown while I was on vacation.( my only clam death). The tank has been up for 3 years with a 400 mile move last Aug. __________________ " Honey, there is water on the floor....Again!"

03-11-2003, 06:24 PM	#13
Barry N. Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,034	I want to thanks everyone that has replied to this post. We are gathering some information for testing purposes. Appears that most are supplimenting feeding. Has anyone that is keeping Tridacnid clams that at one time did not feed and now feeding? If so I would be interested in finding out if you since feeding your tank are you better able to keep clams where in the past maybe had a problem. Thanks Barry __________________ Barry ClamsDirect.Com

03-11-2003, 08:10 PM	#14
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	Barry, funny you should ask that. When I had clams in my 120 I did not feed and if I did I didn't do it on a regular schedule. I most probably didn't even use DT's back then either. At that time I was feeding baby brine shrimp so I don't know if the clams would of had any benefit at all. None were baby clams either. I don't know if this fits in anywhere or not. my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 ecosystem sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

03-11-2003, 08:19 PM	#15
Barry N. Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,034	Sue, Are you saying that you are better able to keep baby clams now better than before? If so do you think it is the suppliment feeding or more nutrients in your tank now? I know that is a hard question but is would help. Barry __________________ Barry ClamsDirect.Com

03-11-2003, 08:30 PM	#16
SueT Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston,Tex. USA Posts: 544	Barry, oh yeah, I think so. The baby clam I got from you awhile back is doing awesome. I am doing the additional feeding in it's container though. It gets that plus the regular tank feedings. The other clams that were in the 120 some might have been as small as this baby was but I don't think so. my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank: http://berlinmethod.com/suet/ my 120 ecosystem sps tank: http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

03-20-2003, 05:31 PM	#17
Peabody Just Moved In Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Baltimore Posts: 13	Tank: 15 gallon with 15 gallon sump. 175 watt 10k Ushio, 55w actinic,` nano reactor, bakpak2r, Mag 5 return into Sea Swirl Set up 9 months Have had 3 inch squamosa for 6 months, 2 2-inch maximas for 5 months No losses. Infact clams are growing by 1cm a month!!!! I bowl feed the babies Instant Algae Coral and clam diet, DTs, and drop of selcon. The same 3 get fed into my tank. The only thing that goes into my tank is top off kalk, and what the reactor puts out.

04-04-2003, 05:45 PM	#18
ADS Hudson Valley Reefer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kingston,NY Posts: 46	Multiple reef systems >500g Setup since 1999 Keep various Tridacna species Recent losses from serotonin injection to induce spawning for breeding Feed every 3 days using live Tahitian Isocrysis __________________ A.Soyer Tridacna Reef Farmwww.Tridacnareef.com

11-18-2005, 09:17 AM	#19
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 6,334	400 gallon system, I have been set up for 23 months. I have never fed my clams. I ahve 2 maximas, 4 croceas, a squamosa and a deresa. Luckily, I haven't lost any yet, knock on wood. All clams were purchased at at least 4". Check my gallery for clam pics, I know there's a few in there. __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

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