Lighting for clams

[insomniak79]

My 55G (48"x15x"16") reef has been established for about a year now and I'd like to start keeping clams (maxima, corcea) and more exotic corals, since my tank has been pretty stable so far and all my parameters are good. My corals have been thriving so far (torch, green open brain, red mushrooms) under 80W, but I keep them near the top of the tank. I don't think MH is an option, since I have an acrylic tank which is covered on the top and heard that the heat will damage it. I've decided to most likely go with a 3 110W VHO (1 Acintic Blue, 2 White) w/ IceCap 660 retro kit, which would provide 330 watts. Should this be plenty of light or can I cut down to 2 bulbs? -Ben

 

[Ryan7]

VHO lighting is great, however, in my experience I have found that clams prefer the light from halides. especially maxima.

 

[reefNewbie]

Its not recommended for crocera or dersara. If MH is not an option then i would look into some of the lower light requiring clams such as maxima or squamosa.

 

[reefNewbie]

atleast i forget now if these are the low light ones, maybe im wrong. im still in the process of reading "giant clams".

 

[aguaman]

next

 

[Ryan7]

It is suspected that larger clams require less light like gigas. When smaller clams like crocea are in need of more. Giant Clams by Daniel Knop is a great book on tridacnid clams.

 

[sslarison]

I have a 50 gal with 225 watts of PC mixed with RO. I have had a Crocea and a Dersara for about a year and they look great.

 

[eddi]

Derasa are the least light requiring clams; then squamosa, then maximas, then croceas. Gigas are somewhere in the middle.

I kept 2 derasa, one maxima and two croceas in a 125 with 6 96W PC bulbs; 4 10k and 2 7100. They did great. With your setup I would imagine you should be able to keep derasas and squamosas, maximas would be pushing it.

Derasa prefer to be placed on the sand, maximas can go either on the sand or on the rocks, however if you place them on a rock make sure their foot fully touches the rock or it will jump down. Try them for a week or so, if they do not open them fully move them as high as possible in the tank.


Eddi

 

[tetra]

I got MH (2 x 175w)on my tank now...same dimension as yours. I do not cover though. No heating problem.

 

[toptank]

I think eddi is on the money. I think Squamosa is a good choice. As far as a Gigas, they get BIG fast.

Barry