20Long with clams and anemone

[Gordonious]

I am trying to set up a 20 long hopefully with clams and anemones. What lighting in that short of a tank would I need? It's 20 gallons, but ignore watts per gallon rules. If I set a clam at the bottom it would be 11" max away from the light. I would probably set it up on LR bringing it to inches away from the top.

Could I manage with VHO or anything else? Or is MH requirement regardless? I am going to be getting the anemone first, but can't afford to upgrade lighting. I need to do it right the first time, but not waist money. Also don't want to cook the water too much if I don't need to.(heat)

(btw this 20L will be sharing water with a large system of over 100 gallons so it will be pretty stable. All I am asking about is lighting for now.)

 

[lessthanlights]

If you wanted to stay away from MH you should consider a 4x24 IceCap T5 Retro.

http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104427.html

 

[Gordonious]

(GULP) A little out of budget there. Thanks for the idea though.

 

[wds21921]

I think cost is the main issue.

 

[alien9168]

well what kind of clam?
alot of people would say otherwise...but imo you dont need mh or VHO t5's to keep lower light demanding clams.

That being said. i have a thread open now b/c i dont know if i can keep a light demanding clam w/o mh.

so basically...i dont know about high light clams but i do know that...i have a gigas under pc's and I had a squamosa under pc's that i sold.

I hope that helps

 

[Gordonious]

Well that's the thing. I am a long way off from buying a clam have a lot more research to do. I would like to do a really colorful clam, but if that requires a $3-400 lighting for 1/4 of my tank and I still have to light the rest then I won't be doing it.
I didn't want to spend the money for the lights for the anemone and find out two months later I wanted a clam that needs lights that would have cost me only $20-30 more.

 

[alien9168]

if you get 1 mh 175w+ on a 20 long...you will be able to keep ANYTHING....in there...

you just have to shell out the money to take that plunge

 

[Gordonious]

Ok, lets say I did it. Would I find that there is a lot of things that the 175W would be too much for and bleach out? What K would be best for clams? I was thinking something with a lower like 10,000 or 15,000K because I will probably use the current actinic florescent trip I have now as well so I can leave it on longer and turn it on earlier.

 

[alien9168]

hmm....i doubt that a 175 would bleach alot of things you would keep with a clam. but i dont know i guess k is preference...? sorry if that doesnt help.

 

[Gordonious]

That's alright appreciate any comments. Is there any lists of things that you wouldn't keep with a clam? I realize there are some fish and some crabs that may bug them, but I am new to keeping corals and other light demanding inverts.

Do the clams require a strong current or is a lower current acceptable?