Grocery Store Clams

Fionn_Matt325 · 09-16-2007, 11:15 PM

I've read that clams bought from the grocery store are good nitrate filters for your tank. From what i gather the store sells live clams on ice, and when put in a bowl of water the live ones "burp." which means they're safe to put in the tank, and bury themselves in the sand.
i think it was on the saltwaterfish.com forum, and they had a thread going for a year of people having much success with them.
if you haven't already i say give it a try. they're cheap, and if it doesn't work out your crabs will thank you.

framerguy · 09-16-2007, 11:55 PM

very interesting, I'm gonna check that out.

AQTCJAK · 09-17-2007, 12:08 AM

I would not suggest them they are cold water clams I use tham for food for Large angels & other predator fish

Fionn_Matt325 · 09-17-2007, 12:33 AM

Saltwaterfish.com Message Boards - Cleaner Clam Question??? is the thread i watched on this if you're interested.

wasupdavey · 10-19-2007, 10:10 PM

Oh LittleNeck Clams work. They are "supposedly" cold water clams. Bought mine from a Local Grocery store in the Sea food section. I got two clams brought em' home and quarantined it for about 2 wks then transferred them to my main tank. My tank temp. is 78F. Been well over 2 months now still living and nirates are down!

Oh PS they turn over your sand since they dig around and move around all day long while sticking their cool tubes out of the sand

Saltwater Noob · 10-19-2007, 10:26 PM

Very intresting can someone post a pic of one of the clams i would like to see what they look like am going to try this

wasupdavey · 10-19-2007, 10:49 PM

Heres a picture of my clam. Well you can only see the *Feeding Tubes* as I highlighted for you had them for over 2 months as I said. Don't get too many of these clams as I tried it once all starved to death. 1 Clam is efficient enough for running up to 50gal tank.

Btw these guys always burried in the sand the other one in my tank went under the rocks or somthing I can't even find him anymore D:

Melanie · 10-19-2007, 11:16 PM

Hmmmm interesting.

kathywithbirds · 10-19-2007, 11:19 PM

yeah, interesting!! I like cool sand dwellers and inverts.

BTW davey, what's that scary red legged thing in the pic and avatar?

wasupdavey · 10-19-2007, 11:43 PM

Scarlet leg hermit crabs. The ones from the Avatar are from along time ago. The hermits crabbed tripled their size now. Its amazing how fast they grow. Anyways thats the clam alright =] By the way these clams *Do Not* use lighting.

BigAl07 · 10-20-2007, 12:22 AM

I'm curious to know how LONG they make it in your tank. This is several fold...

#1 Temperature difference could accelerate their metabolism and shorten their life span

#2 Temperature difference could induce some illness/disease they aren't accustomed to

#3 These particular clams normally live in a fairly "nutrient rich" environment with is basically the OPPOSITE of what we are striving for in our reef tanks. We strive for pristine water which means we are stripping the water of the majority of free-nutrients in our systems. Those who HAVE these filter feeders are usually overly tempted to use filter feeder additive and possibly well on their way to "polluting" their tank and causing an algae bloom or Nitrate Explosion. They don't require light because they rely entirely on filtering free nutrients from the water column.

Don't get me wrong .. I have a fire scallop in my tank and have had now for 20 months..... LOVE it!!

Allen

chris&barb · 10-20-2007, 12:39 AM

this topic pops up from time to time. these clams dont reduce nitrates as claimed. listion to what a greenbean has to say about them in these threads

Reef Central Online Community - Cleaner clams

Reef Central Online Community - clams from the grocery store...

wasupdavey · 10-20-2007, 12:56 AM

For me its fine since I only have 2 in my tank. They just picking up any floating algae or micro organisims on my tank. Besides just like any other bivalue living on live rock in a tank doesn't really bother me (Mussels/Oyster/Clams)

09-16-2007, 11:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fionn_Matt325 Star Polyps Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 164 View Gallery Karma Komment	Grocery Store Clams I've read that clams bought from the grocery store are good nitrate filters for your tank. From what i gather the store sells live clams on ice, and when put in a bowl of water the live ones "burp." which means they're safe to put in the tank, and bury themselves in the sand. i think it was on the saltwaterfish.com forum, and they had a thread going for a year of people having much success with them. if you haven't already i say give it a try. they're cheap, and if it doesn't work out your crabs will thank you. __________________ 34 Gallon Red Sea Changed from 10 gal. basic freshwater after a few years. It always comes back to Nemo

09-16-2007, 11:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
framerguy Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 2,920 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Grocery Store Clams very interesting, I'm gonna check that out. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 75g Main, 55g Fuge w/DSB/+-25#LR, 25g Sump, turboflotor skimmer, 2x250w MH(9hrs/d), 4x65w PC(14h/d), 950gph mag drive/seaswirl return, 100# LR, 3" SB chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

09-17-2007, 12:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,231 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Grocery Store Clams I would not suggest them they are cold water clams I use tham for food for Large angels & other predator fish __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

09-17-2007, 12:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Fionn_Matt325 Star Polyps Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 164 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams Saltwaterfish.com Message Boards - Cleaner Clam Question??? is the thread i watched on this if you're interested. __________________ 34 Gallon Red Sea Changed from 10 gal. basic freshwater after a few years. It always comes back to Nemo

10-19-2007, 10:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
wasupdavey Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams Oh LittleNeck Clams work. They are "supposedly" cold water clams. Bought mine from a Local Grocery store in the Sea food section. I got two clams brought em' home and quarantined it for about 2 wks then transferred them to my main tank. My tank temp. is 78F. Been well over 2 months now still living and nirates are down! Oh PS they turn over your sand since they dig around and move around all day long while sticking their cool tubes out of the sand

10-19-2007, 10:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Saltwater Noob I'm Learning Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Port Richey, Fl Posts: 366 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams Very intresting can someone post a pic of one of the clams i would like to see what they look like am going to try this __________________ 65 gal Reef Tank 8 gal sump aquaC remora Skimmer w MJ 1200 pump Hydro #3 for flow MJ1200 for flow Current Extreme Pro 6 Bulb T5 Setup Live Stock Yellow Tang - Six Line - Clown - and about 50 red leg hermits - 25 snails - 2 star fish and 2 cucumbers. Corals zoo's and GSP and shrooms surge return pump

10-19-2007, 10:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
wasupdavey Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams Heres a picture of my clam. Well you can only see the Feeding Tubes as I highlighted for you had them for over 2 months as I said. Don't get too many of these clams as I tried it once all starved to death. 1 Clam is efficient enough for running up to 50gal tank. Btw these guys always burried in the sand the other one in my tank went under the rocks or somthing I can't even find him anymore D:

10-19-2007, 11:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Grocery Store Clams Hmmmm interesting. __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

10-19-2007, 11:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
kathywithbirds You talkin ta ME? Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philly area, NJ Posts: 4,922 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams yeah, interesting!! I like cool sand dwellers and inverts. BTW davey, what's that scary red legged thing in the pic and avatar? __________________ (\__/) (\__/) (@.@) (^.^) (")_(") (< >)

10-19-2007, 11:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
wasupdavey Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams Scarlet leg hermit crabs. The ones from the Avatar are from along time ago. The hermits crabbed tripled their size now. Its amazing how fast they grow. Anyways thats the clam alright =] By the way these clams Do Not use lighting.

10-20-2007, 12:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 8,844 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Grocery Store Clams I'm curious to know how LONG they make it in your tank. This is several fold... #1 Temperature difference could accelerate their metabolism and shorten their life span #2 Temperature difference could induce some illness/disease they aren't accustomed to #3 These particular clams normally live in a fairly "nutrient rich" environment with is basically the OPPOSITE of what we are striving for in our reef tanks. We strive for pristine water which means we are stripping the water of the majority of free-nutrients in our systems. Those who HAVE these filter feeders are usually overly tempted to use filter feeder additive and possibly well on their way to "polluting" their tank and causing an algae bloom or Nitrate Explosion. They don't require light because they rely entirely on filtering free nutrients from the water column. Don't get me wrong .. I have a fire scallop in my tank and have had now for 20 months..... LOVE it!! Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

10-20-2007, 12:39 AM	#12 (permalink)
chris&barb Fire Coral Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 84 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Grocery Store Clams this topic pops up from time to time. these clams dont reduce nitrates as claimed. listion to what a greenbean has to say about them in these threads Reef Central Online Community - Cleaner clams Reef Central Online Community - clams from the grocery store... __________________ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...id=278 941062

10-20-2007, 12:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
wasupdavey Fire Coral Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Grocery Store Clams For me its fine since I only have 2 in my tank. They just picking up any floating algae or micro organisims on my tank. Besides just like any other bivalue living on live rock in a tank doesn't really bother me (Mussels/Oyster/Clams)

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