Spokane Coeur d Alene Reef Society

After the raffle, my girlfriend has been bugging me about how she liked the clams. Whenever she gets interested in something in my tank, I try to jump on it to slowly bring her into the hobby. So that means it’s time for me to start doing my research to see if it’s an option!
I was initially looking at a crocea because they stay fairly small, but have read they are less hardy, and very light intensive compared to other clams. However, I still want something that will stay small, but is also colorful, so my second choice is one of the maximas. Are these that much hardier/less light intensive than the Crocea?
Additionally, I’ve read that keeping a clam over 2 inches is much easier than one smaller. Coral prop’s maximas (atleast, the ones in my price range!) are all at 1.5 inches. Would this still be the hardier choice over a crocea?
I just recently added some SPS, so I’ve started testing my Alk and Ca regularly, so I think I’ve got that aspect covered. Is there anything else I should start to do or be sure of before I pursue a Clam? I saw one clam on CoralProps site mentioned that the clam needed sediment-free water. Is that the same for any of the common species?
Last question (for now atleast!) is around placement. I have a spot that seems to be perfect at the top of my rocks (might get a little too much flow, we’ll have to see). However, this is RIGHT next to where I have a little pulsing xenia garden starting. Would this bother the clam at all if the xenia were growing around it?

Yup, I have t5′s. I plan on keeping the xenia pruned back, but I know that it’ll probably spread quick enough that it’ll be in contact from time to time. They grow like weeds in my tank (is it bad that’s part of the reason I “like” them?!) so I just wanted to be sure before I made the assumption.

Now, for flow, the placement is very close to a koralia powerhead; however the output is currently pointing well overtop of where I plan on placing it. Would the movement from the “sucking” section of the koralia be too much flow do you think?

@zechenia said:
Yup, I have t5′s. I plan on keeping the xenia pruned back, but I know that it’ll probably spread quick enough that it’ll be in contact from time to time. They grow like weeds in my tank (is it bad that’s part of the reason I “like” them?!) so I just wanted to be sure before I made the assumption.

Now, for flow, the placement is very close to a koralia powerhead; however the output is currently pointing well overtop of where I plan on placing it. Would the movement from the “sucking” section of the koralia be too much flow do you think?

I don’t think the powerhead would be an issue – you would just want to test it out and see. The croceas extend them mantle out inches from their shell, so, if its too much flow you will know very easily.. You want the mantle to “flap in the wind like a flag on a nice summer day” – haha – that being said, it takes more flow than one would think to get to that nice summer day level

Do you think (this is just a guess… I know I’ll have to keep up with testing to know for sure) that bi-weekly water changes will be enough to keep up with the Alk + Ca demand? Ideally, I wouldn’t want to dose anything other than maybe kalk in my ATO (btw, anyone know someplace local that sells pickling lime?)

Thanks!

looks happy to me – Im sure it will open up more too as it gets comfy in the tank and really start to stretch out!!

@estanoche said:
walmart usually has mrs wages pickling lime – during canning season – they may still have it You’d find it in the canning aisle….

and you will have to test it out, but it is possible that water changes and kalk will be more than enough to keep up with your demand – every tank is different unfortunately, so you wont know until you try it!!

I have seen the pickling lime in Super 1 foods in post falls, also a few months back I saw it at kevins in post falls.

Dont know if this reply is late….. Kevin at aquatic dreams sells the lime…