A day without light question for clams

[Ancelot]

Hello all,

I wonder what's the longest period of time you have left your clam without light?
I am not a sadist. Just looking into my options for a hot office during Sundays ):

Cheers all,
MJ

 

[Lazylivin]

The go without light in the wild or very low light for days when there are storms

 

[Ancelot]

thanks Lazylivin,
Appreciate your input!

well that's what I felt so too. However, we all do understand that the some percentage of UV rays from the Sun is still able to penetrate through the clouds and into the sea. That's perhaps what we cannot achieve right.

so I wonder if too long a period without UV or light is going to decimate the chances of survival for the clam. Assume all other parameters are stable

marc jacobs

P.S: Hope everyone's having a great weekend!

 

[a4twenty]

clams are photosynthetic, relying on light for growth of the zoox. algae hosted in their mantle. it would be like taking their food away for periods of time, could you go to a shortened lighting schedule??

 

[Lazylivin]

One day a week with no light should be fine if it is getting good intense light on the other 6 days. For example 250w MH on a 20" or less depth or 400w MH on a 30" or less depth would be good light. If you have less lighting then you could raise the clam in the tank or lower your MH.....assuming that is what you have.

 

[Ancelot]

a4twenty:

hey dude, thanks for the input! well yeah, I guess you had a point. Therefore, being a worried owner, I hooked up a 2 x 18 watts PC fixture on Monday morning to give it some light before I get my 150w MH over it.

what you think? will the 2 x 18watts PC hold for now?

Lazylivin:

hello there! well plans for a MH have already gone underway. Looking into hooking up a 150w MH fixture over my 10g. Hopefully it's sufficient light for my clam. Photoperiod, I should be looking into 8 - 10 hours. Hopefully that should keep the inhabitants happy?

marc jacobs

 

[broke1]

I am in no way any sort of clam expert, but all of my clams survived 3 days in the dark why trying to kill off some nuisance algae. I can't say it didn't bother them, it very well may have but they all lived.

 

[jedheuer]

Here is an interesting thread about going lightless for a few days...

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1078532

 

[intenseimage]

They are shipped in darkness ....

 

[TheH]

intenseimage: I think Ancelot is not talking about an isolated incident, but a routine thing.

 

[Genetics]

Ancelot, when coming from the pacific clams undergo 24-48 hrs without light during the shipping process. They should be alright for one day without light. Though, as they are photosynthetic, you run the risk of perturbing them without their major food source. Also, clams are filter feeders and thought that they rely on this avenue of obtaining energy much more so than through light during their infancy. If it is an isolated incident they should be fine for a day but its good effort with the PC lighting.

 

[a4twenty]

the idea that "there are cloudy days on the reef" as justification is a little misleading. can you still see on a cloudy day?? of course you can, because there is still loads of light. this isn't a good comparison to a dark office.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13890164#post13890164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Genetics
when coming from the pacific clams undergo 24-48 hrs without light during the shipping process.

absolutely and the first thing we do upon arrival is re-acclimate them to the light. shipping is very stressful clams.


the clam will likely be fine with 6 days a week light but why if you don't have to.