Crocea Clam with 250W 20K MH.

[grahxen]

Hey guys, just a quick question. I have a 50 Gallon, 30x18x21 Oceanic Tank. I have a XM 250W MH over it, I also have 2 75 W VHO actinics which I am only currently using for DUSK/DAWN. My question is how well do croceas do under 20K MH lighting. I know out of most clams they require the most intense lighting. I used to have a 10k, and 14k with actinics but I just didnt like the look. All seemed not enough blue to me, so I picked up the 20K XM and love it. Ive had the clam for mabey 2 months now, 1 month under my old 14k hamilton and 1 month under my 20K XM. I used a small flat piece of live rock i had in my sump and placed that on the sandbed and put the clam on top of that. It attached itself very quickly. I am just not sure if i should leave it there, or move it up in my rockwork for it to get more light. Clam still shows great color and opens uo nicely, but just not sure if the lower Par from the 20K will make it degrade. Is it safe to leave it on the bottom, or should i move it up more in the rocks? I was also even thinking about swapping out one of my VHO actinics and sticking in a 50/50 bulb just to make the tank a little brighter. But i dont really think thats going to help the clam so probably not even worth it.

Here are some pics.

 

[mcurl98]

I'd leave it under the 20 and see how it does. If it starts to bleach a bit, just move it up. I've never tried a 20, just 14.

 

[mcurl98]

btw, it's an awesome looking cro

 

[a4twenty]

wow nice clam, can you get a top down pic? my LFS swears by the 20K's. i would just keep and eye on him and like you said, any sign of displeasure just move him up onto the LR.

 

[grahxen]

Yeah I will take a top down pic of it today when the lights come back on. It was one of the nicest looking Croceas I have seen in a long long time. It has silver, green, aqua, teal, you name it in its color.. Very metallic looking.

 

[mahoneyc3]

beautiful specimen
i doubt youll have any problems with a 250 on a 50, its only like 20 deep right?

 

[Sk8r]

I have a crocea in a 52 corner under a 250 Ushio 10000, about 20" down, and it has good color. Dunno about the 20000.

 

[grahxen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8432546#post8432546 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mahoneyc3
beautiful specimen
i doubt youll have any problems with a 250 on a 50, its only like 20 deep right?

Yes tank is 30x18x21... And its sitting on top of a rock on the sandbed. I was just worried about the lesser PAR from the 20k.