too Many Clams

[david]

I am starting a 120 gal reef tank. I bought 120 Lbs of Aqualtured carribean
Live rock which came with a healthy number of clams (13 of them, each 2-3
inches in length. I have noticed that they release a lot of waste and that
a green dust (not all that attractive) seems to have settled on some of the
live rock with clams. Aside from being unattractive, tehse rocks seem to
have much less coraline. Is there some creature that will clean up the
waste or do I need to get rid of the clams?

[skozzy]

In my experiance, I use hermit crabs for any rock work clean up. Even if
they don't eat what I need they do move a lot of stuff around.

Another thing you can try is increasing the water flow around that area
where the green dust settles.


"david" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> I am starting a 120 gal reef tank. I bought 120 Lbs of Aqualtured
carribean
> Live rock which came with a healthy number of clams (13 of them, each 2-3
> inches in length. I have noticed that they release a lot of waste and
that
> a green dust (not all that attractive) seems to have settled on some of
the
> live rock with clams. Aside from being unattractive, tehse rocks seem to
> have much less coraline. Is there some creature that will clean up the
> waste or do I need to get rid of the clams?
>
>

[Greyness]

I thought clams were filter feeders? If anything, they are helping clean
up the water. I would imagine what you are seeing is simply remnants of your
new live rock curing. ( Even if the live rock was purchased as cured, it
will still have to cure again, though less so, after moving it to your tank)

As far as keeping the waste from collecting on the live rock, a good
combination of hermits and snails do the job quite well. Adequate
circulation wouldn't hurt either..........



"david" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> I am starting a 120 gal reef tank. I bought 120 Lbs of Aqualtured
carribean
> Live rock which came with a healthy number of clams (13 of them, each 2-3
> inches in length. I have noticed that they release a lot of waste and
that
> a green dust (not all that attractive) seems to have settled on some of
the
> live rock with clams. Aside from being unattractive, tehse rocks seem to
> have much less coraline. Is there some creature that will clean up the
> waste or do I need to get rid of the clams?
>
>

[Toni]

"david" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> I am starting a 120 gal reef tank. I bought 120 Lbs of Aqualtured
carribean
> Live rock which came with a healthy number of clams (13 of them, each 2-3
> inches in length. I have noticed that they release a lot of waste and
that
> a green dust (not all that attractive) seems to have settled on some of
the
> live rock with clams. Aside from being unattractive, tehse rocks seem to
> have much less coraline. Is there some creature that will clean up the
> waste or do I need to get rid of the clams?
>
>

I got rid of the largest bivalves (mostly turkey wings) that came on my
rock- they are very strong and their opening and closing could conceivably
cause a rock slide. They pop off fairly easily with a strong screwdriver. I
left several of the smaller ones that were located in safer areas of the
rock. I can't imagine that the green dust is harmful- a bi-weekly blow with
a powerhead or turkey baster can disperse it easily enough.


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm