Clams in "blue" tanks??

isawill · 04/20/2012, 10:41 PM

Hello!

I have a question about keeping clams in reefs with 14K or 20K lighting...
The info I have read on this forum says you have to have a 6500K or 10000K bulb to keep clams, yet I seem to recall seeing some bluer tanks with clams in them...
Can anyone tell me if they have had any success keeping clams under 14 or 20K lighting?

I have a 135G reef lit by 6 T5 on SLR with 5 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus bulb and I would really like to get a clam or two, but I am worried my lighting is inadequate in spectrum...

Thanks for any info/experiences shared.

Isabelle

Shobloth · 04/21/2012, 02:01 AM

my crocea is under 20k and 6500k and absolutely loves it. it was under just 6500 before and didnt like it nearly as much as the combo. Crocea however are the shallowest clam. I think you'd be fine for sure with crocea or maybe maxima because 20K has a lot of the required spectrum but if you're worried get a 6500 led strip over where he lives.

moliken · 04/21/2012, 12:14 PM

as long as you have 453 and 420 nm in your spectrum.

isawill · 04/23/2012, 09:13 AM

How would I find out if I have these in my spectrum?

moliken · 04/23/2012, 06:55 PM

look up the bulbs and brand you have on google see their spectrum or some other internet way, unless you have the packing they came with. there is usu a chart. pure actinic t/5 has 420

I have a 135G reef lit by 6 T5 on SLR with 5 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus bulb and I would really like to get a clam or two, but I am worried my lighting is inadequate in spectrum...

DiscusHeckel · 04/25/2012, 06:24 AM

I use a 39W X 6 ATI Sunpower over my 66 gallon tank. My lights are predominantly blue, i.e. 4 X ATI Blue Plus, 1 X ATI Purple Plus, 1 X 6500K.

All my clams seem fine and are growing. Here are two pictures for you:

The crocea clams at the top of LR get about 500 mmol PAR (plus 10-15% due to Apogee sensor's vulnerability to blue spectrum) and the squamosa clam on the sand bed gets about 290 mmol (plus 10-15% as above).

isawill · 04/25/2012, 08:22 PM

Thanks all for your replies...
Looks like I might need to get a 6500K bulb...I hope it does not make my tank too yellow...

esshoes · 04/25/2012, 09:18 PM

i had a crocea under a 20k metal halide for a year and it did quite well. Not sure if that's the outlier to some rule, though

dtt · 05/03/2012, 05:55 PM

Myself, I have 8 clams running 6 , 5 foot T-5's. 3 true actinic, 2 blue plus and 1 fiji purple and have no problems with my clams for over a year. They seem happy and are growing.

chrisv · 05/10/2012, 09:40 PM

ive run 15K 400w halides on my tank for the six years that my crocea has been in the system...

dixiedog · 05/25/2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isawill

The info I have read on this forum says you have to have a 6500K or 10000K bulb to keep clams ...

Not true. Not for Maximas, anyway. I run only blue+ and one purple+.

robertmi · 05/28/2012, 03:46 AM

I have a 6" maxima under 400wt 20K MH and it loves it.

ShaunMonahan · 06/07/2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moliken

as long as you have 453 and 420 nm in your spectrum.

Curious why you cite this?

I have kept the 5 common species of clams under 5500K and 6500K MH without supplemental 420nm (actinic) for years.

moliken · 06/09/2012, 04:37 PM

shaun, cited through reading of sanjay, the experts here who know more about spectra than i do, knopp has a complex chapter on it, and fatherree pg 158: "12,000k to 14,000 k bulbs are even bluer and can look as good as, or maybe even better than 5,500k or 6,500k bulbs that are being supplemented by actinic flourescent bulbs."

falconut · 06/09/2012, 10:06 PM

I have a Derasa (1-1/2 years) & a blue maxima (2 years) under 14K metal halides. They're both even on the sandbed.

ShaunMonahan · 06/10/2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moliken

shaun, cited through reading of sanjay, the experts here who know more about spectra than i do, knopp has a complex chapter on it, and fatherree pg 158: "12,000k to 14,000 k bulbs are even bluer and can look as good as, or maybe even better than 5,500k or 6,500k bulbs that are being supplemented by actinic flourescent bulbs."

What I am stating is adding 420nm, and 453nm is totally unnecessary if you are using MH lamps of at least 5500K (as they are already contained in the MH lamps stated).

The "look" is not the question being posed, but whether or not 12K-14K will keep clams.

The answer is absolutely yes- these lamps spectrums are proven to keep Tridacnid clams.

ShaunMonahan · 06/10/2012, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaunMonahan

The "look" is not the question being posed, but whether or not 12K-14K will keep clams.

Correction: 14K and 20K

moliken · 06/10/2012, 04:41 PM

shaun, you are correct. supplementing is unnecessary as long as the mh's spectrum peaks at these nm, all is great!

04/20/2012, 10:41 PM	#1
isawill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wyoming Posts: 171	Clams in "blue" tanks?? Hello! I have a question about keeping clams in reefs with 14K or 20K lighting... The info I have read on this forum says you have to have a 6500K or 10000K bulb to keep clams, yet I seem to recall seeing some bluer tanks with clams in them... Can anyone tell me if they have had any success keeping clams under 14 or 20K lighting? I have a 135G reef lit by 6 T5 on SLR with 5 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus bulb and I would really like to get a clam or two, but I am worried my lighting is inadequate in spectrum... Thanks for any info/experiences shared. Isabelle

04/21/2012, 12:14 PM	#3
moliken Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: smyrna Posts: 2,981	as long as you have 453 and 420 nm in your spectrum. __________________ not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's

04/23/2012, 06:55 PM	#5
moliken Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: smyrna Posts: 2,981	look up the bulbs and brand you have on google see their spectrum or some other internet way, unless you have the packing they came with. there is usu a chart. pure actinic t/5 has 420 I have a 135G reef lit by 6 T5 on SLR with 5 Blue Plus and 1 Purple Plus bulb and I would really like to get a clam or two, but I am worried my lighting is inadequate in spectrum... __________________ not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's

06/09/2012, 04:37 PM	#14
moliken Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: smyrna Posts: 2,981	shaun, cited through reading of sanjay, the experts here who know more about spectra than i do, knopp has a complex chapter on it, and fatherree pg 158: "12,000k to 14,000 k bulbs are even bluer and can look as good as, or maybe even better than 5,500k or 6,500k bulbs that are being supplemented by actinic flourescent bulbs." __________________ not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's

06/09/2012, 10:06 PM	#15
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,440	I have a Derasa (1-1/2 years) & a blue maxima (2 years) under 14K metal halides. They're both even on the sandbed. __________________ 90 Gallon Mixed Reef (SPS, LPS, Softies & Clams), 20 Gallon Sump and 20 Gallon Refuge. (2) 250 Watt SE MH with (2) 110 Watt VHO Actinics. Setup since December 2004.

04/21/2012, 02:01 AM	#2
Shobloth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 30	my crocea is under 20k and 6500k and absolutely loves it. it was under just 6500 before and didnt like it nearly as much as the combo. Crocea however are the shallowest clam. I think you'd be fine for sure with crocea or maybe maxima because 20K has a lot of the required spectrum but if you're worried get a 6500 led strip over where he lives.

04/23/2012, 09:13 AM	#4
isawill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wyoming Posts: 171	How would I find out if I have these in my spectrum?

04/25/2012, 06:24 AM	#6
DiscusHeckel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 375	I use a 39W X 6 ATI Sunpower over my 66 gallon tank. My lights are predominantly blue, i.e. 4 X ATI Blue Plus, 1 X ATI Purple Plus, 1 X 6500K. All my clams seem fine and are growing. Here are two pictures for you: The crocea clams at the top of LR get about 500 mmol PAR (plus 10-15% due to Apogee sensor's vulnerability to blue spectrum) and the squamosa clam on the sand bed gets about 290 mmol (plus 10-15% as above).

04/25/2012, 08:22 PM	#7
isawill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wyoming Posts: 171	Thanks all for your replies... Looks like I might need to get a 6500K bulb...I hope it does not make my tank too yellow...

04/25/2012, 09:18 PM	#8
esshoes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North Grosvenordale CT Posts: 492	i had a crocea under a 20k metal halide for a year and it did quite well. Not sure if that's the outlier to some rule, though

05/03/2012, 05:55 PM	#9
dtt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 314	Myself, I have 8 clams running 6 , 5 foot T-5's. 3 true actinic, 2 blue plus and 1 fiji purple and have no problems with my clams for over a year. They seem happy and are growing.

05/10/2012, 09:40 PM	#10
chrisv Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 290	ive run 15K 400w halides on my tank for the six years that my crocea has been in the system...

05/28/2012, 03:46 AM	#12
robertmi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 69	I have a 6" maxima under 400wt 20K MH and it loves it.

06/10/2012, 04:41 PM	#18
moliken Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: smyrna Posts: 2,981	shaun, you are correct. supplementing is unnecessary as long as the mh's spectrum peaks at these nm, all is great! __________________ not obsessse--scuse me gotta check on the tank Current Tank Info: 75 and 65gals plumbed together, clams 12 fish. lps corals/ aquaillumination leds on the 75 and lovin them. t5's