clam keeping under PC?

[Dorado13]

I had always ruled out the idea of ever getting a clam because i only have a 130w power compact, but i am beginning to wonder if it can be done. The reason for my curiousity is that for over a month there has been a beautiful Crocea Clam that seems to be doing very well at the LFS and it is being kept under PC's with less wattage than I have. It is very alert, closing up every time a movement is made and its mantle looks very healthy extending out past the shell. Should I consider getting the clam or should I just forget about it? I think I know what the answer will be, but hey its worth a shot.

 

[Julio]

i have ketp them under pcs with no problems, i have ketp maximas and croceas with 2 96 watt pcs in a 30 gallon, they don't grow as fast as under halides, but they do well.

 

[Peabody]

For an alternative view:

I hate to say it, but I wouldn't, especially with a crocea. Is it impossible?.... no. I've just seen way too many maximas and croceas die in small tanks under PCs. Most I've seen seem to be fine at first, but around the 6 month mark they croak. In fact, for a while they often seem great....really extending the mantle far, but that's an attempt to get more light. There's a chance they would survive, but not much they would thrive, based on what I've seen.

If you're interested in a clam, play the odds and get a hippopus or a derasa. Those would have a MUCH better chance to do well..

Best of luck!

 

[dav1d84]

I hate to say it, but I wouldn't, especially with a crocea. Is it impossible?.... no. I've just seen way too many maximas and croceas die in small tanks under PCs. Most I've seen seem to be fine at first, but around the 6 month mark they croak. In fact, for a while they often seem great....really extending the mantle far, but that's an attempt to get more light. There's a chance they would survive, but not much they would thrive, based on what I've seen.

I have to disagree with you on the pc part. Almost all powercompact failures I see is from the younger kids with 10gallon nanos. In a small tank like that, saility, temp and water quality veries like crazy. You have to dose cal/alk everyday with a 10gallon to keep it up. A lot are run skimmerless. Overpopulated, over feed, wayyyyyyy to much current. I see people running closed loop with mag5's. Plus most of these guys buy the cheap baby max and never feed them.

 

[Peabody]

That is true, a lot of people do that, but not the case with what I saw.

 

[Ti]

I'm in the same boat here.
I got a 175watt PC.
1 10K and 1 actinic.
I'm guessing I can get away with almost any clam if I place it up high enough right?

 

[Scuba Dog]

Yeah you can put them up high but there difficult to see then, especally a year down the road when the corals start to grow out, I prefer mine on a sand bed or shallow rocky area....there are acounts and some people have had sucess like Juilo but he knows his stuff and has the experience to increase his chances and he now uses halides....basicly whenever one atempts to keep maximas and croceas under vho or power compacts its a roll of the dice...but under halides wattage and tank size dependant....if the water quality is good IMO your chances of the clam doing well go up 75% or more....

The lfs keeps its clams under power compacts because they hope not to hold on to the inventory so long....But i think if someone wants maximas and or croceas they are better off not purchasing the clam and saving the cash instead for a specific halide set up for there tank that can suport the clams/corals they want the most...just my 2 cents..

 

[jugger]

iv had my crocea in a 20 gallon under 202 watts of PCs for 14 months now and he is doing great....