lighting/clams question

[justcause]

i have a 30 gallon tank with two t5 ho bulbs 39watts each. Is this enough light for a clam. If not how much light is needed for clams.

 

[Cibo]

Thats 2.6 watts per gal correct me if I wrong that a little low even for a Derasa Clam.

 

[justcause]

thanks cibo but how much watts per gallon is recomended

 

[Killerdrgn]

yeah watts per gallon is a really antiquated way of measuring par or lumens. It's generally not used anymore as 1 watt of lighting from NO lights is not the same as 1 watt of lighting from T5 lights, especially with individual reflectors.
I would ask first what kind of lighting fixture is it? current, tek, retrofitted lights?
Then also where do you plan on placing the clam? On the sand, really high up near the lights, etc.

 

[justcause]

I have a 36" current USA nova extreme 2/35 watt T5 HO 10K/460nm.With German parabolic reflector.I have live rock about half way up the tank.I want to try to place the clam somewhere on the rocks.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Yeah ok so it's 1 10k bulb and 1 actinic bulb, without individual reflectors.
I don't think you'll be able to keep it halfway down the tank. You're going to need better lighting to be able to keep a clam, either a metal halide system or a better T5 fixture that has individual reflectors (like tek or aquactinics).
Also you need to make sure your water parameters are good to be able to keep a clam, lighting isn't the only factor.
Do you keep SPS under that setup?
How old is the tank?
What other tank inhabitents are in there?

 

[justcause]

this tank is just starting only a couple fishes right now.Still deciding my next step.

 

[justcause]

My 20 gallon has a 65 watt 50/50 pc.In there i have a pair of misbar clowns and some xenia corals.

 

[JLAudio]

also, if distance the clam is from the light source is important. FOr example a 100 gallon tank with (4) 100 watt PC bulbs, will give you 4 watts per gallon, as would a 400 watt MH light in same tank, But the MH will penetrate the water deeper and give the clam more adequate lighting.

So keep that in mind especially if the clam is in the sand bed