Anyone keep clams under higher K MH's

[kevensquint]

I'm starting to think that in my tank, to keep all the corals happy I'm going to need to change to 2 250 MH's but in the bluer. Like 13000k to 20000k, I still have'nt decided. Anyways, If I had 2 250watt MH's at 20k, could for ex. croceas thrive? or is it too blue. My tank is 48"x18"x18"

 

[mbbuna]

the higher K lamps make the corals looks cool but if they dont come from deeper water that these lamps replecate then they dont grow like in nature.clams dont come from deep water . 6500K to 10k is where clams come from.

 

[kevensquint]

mbbuna, whats your light set-up?
True, the 20k make the corals glow, but this is not my concern. Which is why I'm runnin' an Iwasaki, my reason for change is that the 6500k is making some corals grow like crazy and burning others. I like the 10k XM, but this bulb would not fix my problem. I think I should have went with 175 watts on my sized tank. I'm now trying to find 2 higher K bulbs with good PAR and since they will both be 250's I think it might compensate for the higher color temp.

 

[mbbuna]

10k XM 150 HQI

 

[Zoalander]

I have a 42 hex with 150 watt 20k de HQI bulb. Mt crocea is on the bottom and he looks fine. However In a few months I'm going to replace it with a 14k sine 20k might be too blue from what I've read.

 

[zombiereef]

i have a crocea in my 20L with a 150k 20k mh light about a foot off the top of the water and i really dont think my clam is really thriving. i am looking to replace my 20k with a 10 or a 14k. i really like the blue hue to the 20k, but not sure the clam does.

 

[grimmjohn]

My 6" crocea has thrived in my 15G under a 250DE 14K, and now he is happy in my 30G under the same light.

cheers,

grimmjohn

 

[-=DieselDave=-]

I would not go higher that 14k. 20k bulbs about half the lumens of a 10k bulb. So if you look at 10k as 100% light and 14k 90% and 20k 50% .

 

[spoon671]

I am running 150w 14500K HQI Megachrome over my 20L. I have 2 4" Croceas and 1 2" Gold Maxima. They are doing fine.

 

[kevensquint]

I've decided on a compromise, since I have a garden reef, its difficult to please everybody. I've started to build this and it will be running in 4 days: Two 250 watt 20k XM's and my 250watt 6500k Iwasaki in the middle. I plan to run the 20k's in the morning and evening and the 6500 for a few hours in the afternoon. I have an 18" deep tank with a minimum of 250watts and a max of 750 watts. I will watch the response from the corals and adjust the on/off times accordingly.

 

[srb5046th]

I run 20ks and my maxs, gigs, squams and derasas do fine but I cant keep croceas.

 

[zombiereef]

"I run 20ks and my maxs, gigs, squams and derasas do fine but I cant keep croceas"

that is very interesting. i swear this is why my crocea isnt doing very good. i just hear too many stories of croceas not doing well nder 20k's.

 

[srb5046th]

mbunakeith- Do have other clams that are doing fine. All mine are great except croceas.

 

[zombiereef]

the crocea is the only clam i have right now. i plan on getting more in the future.

 

[AJ69]

I have my Crocea under 175/20k for at least 6 month and she's a happy camper.

 

[manderx]

i don't think it's really applicable to say clams do/don't do well under 10k/20k as a blanket statement. it all depends on intensity. while 20K bulbs tend to have less intensity than 10K, all you have to do is makeup the gap with either higher wattage or run them just a bit closer to the water. i have a friend with a 120g running 2x250w 20Ks and he has croceas and maximas scattered all over the tank (high and low) and they are all growing and doing quite well.

 

[zombiereef]

it could just be my crappy coralvue bulb...who knows?

 

[Electrobes]

I have a clam dedicated 40g breeder tank. I started with an XM 10K SE 250 watt bulb, but after going through 4 of those in under a year (they never worked well), I said "screw it" and went for the hamilton 14K. My clams never looked that great and my T5 actinics with the 14K made my tank too blue. I recently purchased an Iwasaki 6.5K bulb in and I can not love it more. Combined with my actinics it looks pretty good (I love a more natural look). My clams look great AND their colors improved. For more info on clams or my tank click on my red house thingie and it will take you to my website. HTH