phishnet
01/11/2013, 01:31 PM
I have purchased a couple crocea clams that are planed to arrive at the end of the month. They are ultra grade (very metallic blue) so they would require a bit more light then the usual crocea clams. The size of the clams are about 2 inches each.
My lights are 14K 150w MH (9" from the water surface). The clams will be placed on rocks about 8" below the water.
ammonia=0
nitrite=0
nitrate= undetectable (running biopellets)
phosphate= undetectable (running GFO)
Alk=10.1dkh (two part)
Ca=410 (two part)
Magnesium=1390
pH= daily swings from 8.05 to 8.3
Here's the dilemma:
I have my MH on for only 5 hours which is not enough for clams, but at the same time I don't want my coral to bleach and water temp to swing.
The build:
So I'm in the process of building lighting with LEDs just for the clams. Right now I'm using four 6500K 3-watt bulbs with 35degree spread lens. All the LEDS are aimed at one location forming a bright spot that is about 8" diameter. That is a total of 12 watts of LED light focused at an area of 8" diameter.
The execution:
Since the MH are only on for 5 hours I'll be turning on the LEDs for an additional 5 hours after the MH turn off. The plan is to start with just two LED bulbs (that's 6-watts) and after couple days turn on another bulb (totaling 9-watts) until all four are on(totaling 12-watts). The schedule will look something like...
day1 = MH on from 4pm-9pm, 2 LED bulbs on from 9pm-2am
day2 = same as day1
day3 = same as day1
day4 = MH on from 4pm-9pm, 3 LED bulbs on from 9pm-2am
day5 = same as day4
day6 = same as day4
day7 = MH on from 4pm-9pm, 4 LED bulbs on from 9pm-2am
If, in the event 12-watts is not enough or as the clam grows, I can add more LED bulbs to the fixture.
I WAS pretty confident of my plans but as I'm getting closer to the time I receive the clams I'm starting to worry that I may have missed something.
If anyone see a flaw in this please feel free to comment and make suggestions.
My lights are 14K 150w MH (9" from the water surface). The clams will be placed on rocks about 8" below the water.
ammonia=0
nitrite=0
nitrate= undetectable (running biopellets)
phosphate= undetectable (running GFO)
Alk=10.1dkh (two part)
Ca=410 (two part)
Magnesium=1390
pH= daily swings from 8.05 to 8.3
Here's the dilemma:
I have my MH on for only 5 hours which is not enough for clams, but at the same time I don't want my coral to bleach and water temp to swing.
The build:
So I'm in the process of building lighting with LEDs just for the clams. Right now I'm using four 6500K 3-watt bulbs with 35degree spread lens. All the LEDS are aimed at one location forming a bright spot that is about 8" diameter. That is a total of 12 watts of LED light focused at an area of 8" diameter.
The execution:
Since the MH are only on for 5 hours I'll be turning on the LEDs for an additional 5 hours after the MH turn off. The plan is to start with just two LED bulbs (that's 6-watts) and after couple days turn on another bulb (totaling 9-watts) until all four are on(totaling 12-watts). The schedule will look something like...
day1 = MH on from 4pm-9pm, 2 LED bulbs on from 9pm-2am
day2 = same as day1
day3 = same as day1
day4 = MH on from 4pm-9pm, 3 LED bulbs on from 9pm-2am
day5 = same as day4
day6 = same as day4
day7 = MH on from 4pm-9pm, 4 LED bulbs on from 9pm-2am
If, in the event 12-watts is not enough or as the clam grows, I can add more LED bulbs to the fixture.
I WAS pretty confident of my plans but as I'm getting closer to the time I receive the clams I'm starting to worry that I may have missed something.
If anyone see a flaw in this please feel free to comment and make suggestions.