70w MH Ok for a Clam?

[Rubicon06]

Hi,

I have a Nano, 5.5g, with a 70w 14k pendant.

Right now it is mounted higher (5"s off the surface) due to acclimating my corals to it (Lps/Shrooms/Zoas), but I plan on lowering it soon.

Now with my sandbed the distance to the surface is about 10"s.

Is that enough light for a clam?

If so, what clam would you recommend?

Thanks!

 

[skinz78]

It has been done with 70w but I highly don't recommend it. Besides a 5.5g tank is too small to keep the water params stable enough for a clam.

Why not put the clam in your 20g?

 

[Rubicon06]

Cause I tore it down about a year ago

Going to have a custom nano built but it will still be under 15 gallons (I live in an apartment, easier to move a nano).

I plan on using the same light, while it is only a 70w I can set it near the top of the tank if need be and then it would only be ~10"s from the surface to the sand.

A 150w is kind of overkill, I'd have to mount it higher off the tank.

It's not imperative to add the clam, but I like odd critters.

 

[Rubicon06]

Looks like I'm getting a 12g Aquapod, still plan on using the 70w for now at least.

So would a maxima be good in it?

 

[skinz78]

no I wouldn't chance it.

 

[skinz78]

Maxima and crocea are the most light demanding clams. you should be ok if you add some supplimental t5 lighting or just go with all t5 instead of the mh.

 

[HookedOnReefing]

I am of a different opinion. I think you can safely add the clam. You would have to be on top of water quality issues, but I'm sure you already knew that.

But as far as the light is concerned, in my opinion it should be fine.

 

[marc nichols]

By now you've done whatever you decided. FWIW, I have kept a 1.75" Maxima in my 12 gal nano under 64W PC for over a year. She has done fine, perhaps growing slower than she could but otherwise, healthy and colorful.

That said, the system was over 3 years old when she went in and highly stable with auto top off, strict temp control and generally stable parameters. It can be done, but I wouldn't do it in a young tank.

Just moved Max to our 75 and MH lighting. I expect she will be happy with the improvement.

 

[Jon in SW Ohio]

I kept a 4" crocea in my 12g AquaPod with a 70w MH for about a year until I got sick of it "jumping" from the rocks onto the sandbed and smothering frags. It got traded for coral from a local place.

My advice, CHECK YOUR CALCIUM AND ALKALINITY AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK!! Can't stress that enough! That clam sucked up those as fast as I could dose them. Now my 12g is mostly SPS and LPS under a 150w and I hardly have to dose at all.