Clam lighting... ...again.

[sjburkett]

I have a 65 gal. reef that I'm thinking of putting MH's on (PC's currently). The dimensions are 36" long x 18" wide x 24" tall. I'm thinking of putting 2 x 175 watt supplemented with 2 x 55 watt actinic 03's. I had originally planned on 250 watt bulbs, but heat problems are swaying me. I'm assuming the 175's will run a bit cooler than the 250's.

My question is... ...will the 175's penetrate well enough to the bottom to support any clams other than derasa's? I kept a derasa under 4 x 55 watt PC's, so I know they will do well. How about crocea's or maxima's?

Thanks all,


Stephen

 

[Will]

You'll need more actinic if you want a really nice color. I've got two 75w super actinics in with my 175w MH and it's still not quite as blue as I would like it to be.
-Will

 

[quantim0]

i just started a 65 gal that will be mostly a clam tank. i have one German 10k 400 watt Metal halide as the main lighting. then to do dusk and dawn i have 2 6500k and 2 actinic 55 watt power compact lights. from what i've read and been told this is enough to grow pretty much anything i want to including all clam species.

to keep heating down keep the lights at least 12" above the tank top and run a fan over the top of the tank to aide in cooling.

 

[Peabody]

I will still go 250. Your corals and clams will thank you, and heat can be dealt with without using a chiller. My MH pendant has an acrylic shield, so all the heat goes upward. My actinic PC generate much, MUCH more heat! Look into a dual 250 watt pendant or something similar.

You could do 175, but Maximas and the laik would be OK on the sandbed, especially considering your tank is 24" tall.

 

[GarSrtn]

I'd like to piggy-back this thread and ask about my lighting. I have a 65gal (36x18x24) with 1 6500k 175W MH, and 2 95W actanics. How will T. maximas do under this?

TIA

 

[kevendowell@ev1.net]

Would 2 250W MH at 12,000K w/ no actinic be ok for a maxima on my 135. Also will a fighting conch bother it?

 

[Steve C.S.]

I have the same 65gal. tank. I run one 250wt MH and two 55wt PC's with little or no heat problems. My temp goes up about 1deg. in the winter and about 2 or 3 deg. in the summer. My hood is open in the back but in an enclosed hood two fans should do a good job venting. I keep or have kept Croceas, Maximas and Squamosas in my tank. IMO 175wt is just not enough light for the depth of the tank. Hope this helps.
Steve