Anyone keeping Clams?

[iFisch]

If so, what size is your tank, and what lighting are you using?

I ask, because I may decide to upgrade my lighting, and in a few months I'd like to add a 1-2" baby clam. However I would like to see what other users are using to support the light requirements.


Mines a 14g Oceanic. What lighting do you recommend for me?

[ILLiDaN]

22g cadlight t's. Not sure what to recommend but i hear they are pretty hard to keep happy

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14956884#post14956884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ILLiDaN
22g cadlight t's. Not sure what to recommend but i hear they are pretty hard to keep happy

That's 56w of NOT5. I was thinking at least HOT5.

[ILLiDaN]

i have the older model with 6 bulbs and they are HOT5

[Utopia]

I have 4 clams in my 90 gallon right now (Squamosa, two Maximas and a Crocea) and they seem to do very well under my halide lighting.

I would definitely suggest doing a small halide fixture for your tank as long as you can keep the tank cool during the warmer seasons. :)

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14957074#post14957074 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Utopia
I have 4 clams in my 90 gallon right now (Squamosa, two Maximas and a Crocea) and they seem to do very well under my halide lighting.

I would definitely suggest doing a small halide fixture for your tank as long as you can keep the tank cool during the warmer seasons. :)

Thats the problem, as I was thinking of going MH.

I run 77.5-78 no light - 79 with actinics - 80-81 with both bulbs on.



So it either came down to T5 or lots of PC... Its still up in the air. I'd like to hear others opinions as well.

[nanojg]

70 watt halide would work, I would think you would have too much overhang to have any T5 fixture

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14957123#post14957123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
70 watt halide would work, I would think you would have too much overhang to have any T5 fixture


I don't really mind the 2" overhand per side.


How much heat does a 70w MH light produce? Is it a lot more than a couple of T5's or PC's? Or about the same?

[IslandCrow]

In a tank your size, I'd say you would pretty much have to use MH lighting to keep a clam. 150W would be a bare minimum. You might be able get away with one of the deeper water clams (squamosa, gigas or derasa) under less intense lighting, but they'll outgrow your tank very quickly. The only clams that are not going to outgrow your tank are croceas and maximas, which are of course the most light demanding clams. I've never kept a clam in a nano, but if I were to do it, I'd probably lean towards a crocea under 250W MH. You'd of course need a good cooling plan.

[iFisch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14957189#post14957189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IslandCrow
In a tank your size, I'd say you would pretty much have to use MH lighting to keep a clam. 150W would be a bare minimum. You might be able get away with one of the deeper water clams (squamosa, gigas or derasa) under less intense lighting, but they'll outgrow your tank very quickly. The only clams that are not going to outgrow your tank are croceas and maximas, which are of course the most light demanding clams. I've never kept a clam in a nano, but if I were to do it, I'd probably lean towards a crocea under 250W MH. You'd of course need a good cooling plan.


Well, then it looks like clams are out of the equation.

[Utopia]

I wouldn't say they're out of the question, I have seen nice croceas and maximas kept in a tank similar to yours under 70 watts of metal halide (though derasas and squamosas do better under lower light so they may be a safer bet int he beginning.) Just set up a fan to blow along the top of the water when the light is on (like a fan clamped on the side of your aquarium.) 80-81 isn't something that is going to kill your clams, I know my aquarium gets at least that warm in the summer. Just be ready with small bags of ice or something similar if the tank does get a little too warm on extra hot days. :)

Keep the clams towards the top of your tank and you should be fine with 70 watts of MH.

[NaNo-NeWb1983]

i have a clam in my 12gallon aquapod 70W Mh
also have one in my 24gallon nanocube 150WMh

both very happy

[mnml]

2 clams about the 3" in size under 150W MH x 2 - 24W T5 about 12" under the light. both clams are doing great

[Jadams]

I had 4 clams in my 24g nanocube. 1 for over 2 years, and the other 3 for over a year. Plus my tank was fully stocked with SPS and I never had any problems. 1 crocea, 2 maxima's & 1 squamosa. I originally had 150w MH, but then upgraded to 250w MH.

[nanojg]

wow Jadams, can't imagine what your calc and alk demands are in that tank.

[Jadams]

I didnt even have a calcium reactor.. I did however dose Kalkwasser (or how ever you spell it :D) with my ATO

[DSR]

I had a happy clam in my tank with 150w MH lighting and a 1/13 hp chiller. The tank was a 24 gallon Aquapod and he sat midlevel.

[saltygeek]

I have a squam in a 24 nanocube with 150 watt metal halide. I think you could keep any clam in there under 150 watts. My acropora do really well under it, I cant see a maxima or crocea having any problems. My main concern would be keeping up with two part for calc and alk demands. Although its not too bad. I use a sunpod and use a ranco controller to turn on a fan when it gets too hot. Tank runs a 78 normally. If the house gets warm it will get to 80 and the fan comes on. Never saw it get to 81. A fan blowing across the surface can do wonders. Now I dont let the house get any warmer than 79 or so though.