[skylergirl]

Does anybody have any of the Clam books they can loan me for a spell?

Also, I am planning on designing a sump that will have a clam area.

Here is what I have 40 gallon long 48 x 13 x 16

I am currently using a 20 gallon long as a sump/refugium. Everything is working just fine.

I want to make the 40 gallon long with a compartment so I can house the 4 clams I have.

Over the clam compartment will be a metal halide, probably a 175 watt because the tank is not deep and the light can be hung quite close. My TOTAL water volume will be 75 gallon main tank + 25-35 gallons in the 40 long.

I am hoping to make baffles so that the clam compartment will not get water rushing into it. I will have a small powerhead in there, but this may not be necessary. Do you think this tank is feasible?

I figure I can devote a good 20 gallons or more of tank real estate to the clam compartment area.

I would like to make it so that the clams will have a day and night. During the day, the halide will be on. During the night, the sump light for the algae will be on, so I want to make the panels in the clam compartment using black acrylic to block out the light from the refugium part. Don't know how I'm going to do this though. This is why I'm writing to get suggestions from you folks.

I also thought of just putting the algae with the clams, but then the pH will fluctuate at night without the ability to turn on the lights for the algae. I'm running a reverse photoperiod now with my sump/fuge.

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!