YHSublime April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 So took the plunge with Dr. Macs clam sale. Ever since their post on Maximas from the French Polynesian islands, I had it in my mind it was the next addition. So I'll have one here tomorrow, and would like some advice on acclimating it to my tank. Same drip method that I use for fish and inverts? What about lighting. I've got a great spot up top right under my 250 MH, but don't want to shock it, should I start low, and slowly turn up, if so, how many hours or days? I think I do water changes frequently enough to keep my calcium right where it needs to be, but adding a clam that size, I am prepared to have to start dosing. I don't have any big SPS pieces anyways, and I'm thinking about taking them out. Any help or comments would be greatly appreciated!
John April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 You should know how to acclimate items before you purchase...They have an acclimation guide on their website and if I remember correctly they send an acclimation guide in the box...You can always call them too. The clam and anemone/s should have been an addition a year from now, once you have started dosing and know how to react to your tank demands...good luck
YHSublime April 29, 2013 Author April 29, 2013 You should know how to acclimate items before you purchase...They have an acclimation guide on their website and if I remember correctly they send an acclimation guide in the box...You can always call them too. The clam and anemone/s should have been an addition a year from now, once you have started dosing and know how to react to your tank demands...good luck I know about "burping" them, and keeping them out of the air. I also read about their high light requirements because they were photosynthetic. In reading about the clam (before the purchase) I based it off my anemones, who are doing spectacular. Like everything, that may change. I am confident that the spot I have laid out for it will be an ideal area. Thanks for the direction, I read about their clam care, but maybe I need to look under their acclimation to see if there is something specific in there. My only concern is shocking it with the light. Thanks for the well wishes!
MBVette April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 You cant really shock a clam with light like SPS or other corals. At least that is my understanding and I put my newest clam right on the top of the rockwork and it has been open since pretty much day one
YHSublime April 29, 2013 Author April 29, 2013 You cant really shock a clam with light like SPS or other corals. At least that is my understanding and I put my newest clam right on the top of the rockwork and it has been open since pretty much day one Thanks for sharing this! My spot is front and center, medium flow, top of the rocks, best light in house. I plan to just do a long drip acclimation and then a halfday at 150, and then up to 250 before I just run the blues. Maybe not needed, but I'll feel better about it.
Coral Hind April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 You cant really shock a clam with light like SPS or other corals. I agree, they will just close up the mantle if they are getting too much light. Too much light can cause the colors of the clam to shift and lighten up some. I wouldn't worry too much about burping them as they can force out that air if it is trapped. I've seen clams on the reef at low tide completely out of the water for hours and when the tide comes in nobody goes out to burp them. You should be fine on calcium since you have a low SPS depand now. Just test it for a few months after you get it and it settles in and starts growing. Post some pictures when you get it.
sachabballi reef April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 I wouldn't worry too much about burping them as they can force out that air if it is trapped. I've seen clams on the reef at low tide completely out of the water for hours and when the tide comes in nobody goes out to burp them. i would SO volunteer for this job!
smallreef April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 Yeah...as long as they don't get turned upside down out of water they are normally fine... As far as acclimation....I did a 15 minute drip on mine and then set him in...still doing great though he moves around when he wants to, lol but usually ends up back in the same normal spot...
Der ABT April 29, 2013 April 29, 2013 oh its not gonna make it, just give it to me and ill frag it later for you hehe 250w will be plenty, i have my oldest clam at the bottom of my 90g shaded below all the corals under a 250w and a 54w t5 (i think its 27 deep) best part is they clean the water even more. word of advice is to watch the shell, OFTEN if not every clam ive seen from Dr. Macs comes with a freebie known as aiptasia...pluck them off with some pointy tweezers and just get all of the their base, one or two may pop up after a week or two and do the same, but be careful of the spitting clam, its amazing how far they can shoot water.
YHSublime April 29, 2013 Author April 29, 2013 Thanks for the words folks! I agree, they will just close up the mantle if they are getting too much light. Too much light can cause the colors of the clam to shift and lighten up some. I wouldn't worry too much about burping them as they can force out that air if it is trapped. I've seen clams on the reef at low tide completely out of the water for hours and when the tide comes in nobody goes out to burp them. You should be fine on calcium since you have a low SPS depand now. Just test it for a few months after you get it and it settles in and starts growing. Post some pictures when you get it. There will be pictures! Sometimes I feel that I document a TOO much. I will see if I can get it to stick to a big piece of rubble, just in case I need to move it down! It seems like acclimation will be easier than I thought! i would SO volunteer for this job! That job would get SO old. Yeah...as long as they don't get turned upside down out of water they are normally fine... As far as acclimation....I did a 15 minute drip on mine and then set him in...still doing great though he moves around when he wants to, lol but usually ends up back in the same normal spot... I'm 3 for 3 with things staying right where I put them, shooting for 4/4! oh its not gonna make it, just give it to me and ill frag it later for you hehe 250w will be plenty, i have my oldest clam at the bottom of my 90g shaded below all the corals under a 250w and a 54w t5 (i think its 27 deep) best part is they clean the water even more. word of advice is to watch the shell, OFTEN if not every clam ive seen from Dr. Macs comes with a freebie known as aiptasia...pluck them off with some pointy tweezers and just get all of the their base, one or two may pop up after a week or two and do the same, but be careful of the spitting clam, its amazing how far they can shoot water. Should have gotten in! I was looking for some other folks to see if they wanted to bring the shipping charges down! I could have picked up and setup a holding tank. I threw in 10 turbos as well, my algae cleaning crew will have doubled this week. Now I'm thinking that front center underneath my 250 will be overkill. Like I mentioned above, hopefully I'll have it attach to a mid size rock, so I can move it if need be. Thanks for the heads up on cleaning the shell! I will give it a double check. Let me as this, a revive dip is a no-no, right? What if I gave the shell a rub down with some vinegar and a towel? Not needed? Overkill? Harmful?
YHSublime April 29, 2013 Author April 29, 2013 Now I want a clam. Dr. Mac's has had me want a clam since this. Cant beat the deal,
Marc Weaver April 30, 2013 April 30, 2013 (edited) I hope you are not disappointed, they only look like they do in the pictures from directly above for some reason. I'm not talking about Dr Mac's only, they are all like that. Edited April 30, 2013 by Marc Weaver
sachabballi reef April 30, 2013 April 30, 2013 that part is true....lol...you will spend a lot of time trying to see its best angle...which usually involves a step ladder or tippy toes ...I wish they just looked like that no matter which angle.
MBVette April 30, 2013 April 30, 2013 I hope you are not disappointed, they only look like they do in the pictures from directly above for some reason. I'm not talking about Dr Mac's only, they are all like that. While this is true clams look amazing from above. They still look stunning from normal viewing angles. I just ordered another maxima from them and they are nothing short of gorgeous.
YHSublime April 30, 2013 Author April 30, 2013 that part is true....lol...you will spend a lot of time trying to see its best angle...which usually involves a step ladder or tippy toes ...I wish they just looked like that no matter which angle. My tank sits lower, should be ok!, maybe see if I can get it to grab at a slight forward angle. Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
Coral Hind April 30, 2013 April 30, 2013 The lower you place it in the tank the better the viewing angle will be to see the best colors. With your lights you shouldn't have a problem putting it lower.
YHSublime April 30, 2013 Author April 30, 2013 Sorry about the dirty glass on the side, I have placed it on the bottom to really figure out where I wanted to put it. It is bigger than I thought, but I think it would look nice in the sand bed, is that an issue with the foot? It was attached to a small peice of rubble already, I may take it off the "pedestal" I made.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now