Clams and low temp

[tydtran]

Does anyone know whether clams do well in a tank that runs 70-72 degrees?

[DNickell]

Two questions immediately come to mind:
1) How can you have sufficient light for a clam and keep the temp that low?
2) Why would you want to?

[skinz78]

I second the questions and I say no, you need it to be about 78-82 deg

[tydtran]

Thanks for the input. I keep an aquarium in my basement and with lights on 8 hours a day (6X54 watt T5), that's as warm as the tank gets. I asked because I am planning a 30 gallon clam tank in the same basement with 1X250watt MH and don't expect the tank to be much warmer without a heater. It sounds like the concensus is that I need a heater, right?

[skinz78]

Yes you should have a heater. Do you plan on plumbing the two tanks together?

[tydtran]

No, I am keeping them separate. The large tank is in a sitting room in the basement. The clam tank is going into my office so I can enjoy it while doing work.