experts: crocea vs maxima - any slight differences

[johns]

I have a 75G tank, about 20" high and only a 1" sand bed. My lighting is 320w T5 Sunlight Supply Tek Light. I have asked in another forum while Reef Central was down and was told by a couple of people that i may be abe to keep even a maxima or crocea with that lighting.

I was thinking about getting 2 clams. A deresa for one, and then either a maxima or a crocea.

My question is, do you find that there is any great difference in the hardiness of maxima vs crocea? Is one slightly more or less light tolerant? Or are they about equal in everything. I ask because it seems croceas are much easier to find nowadays. i like them both though.

 

[pecan2phat]

Experts will tell you that the Croceas are the most light hungry ones of the bunch. They will also tell you that metal halides are a must for Croceas and Maximas not too far from this scale. I've kept Croceas high up off the sandbed close to plain old PC lights but they don't thrive at this level. Having said that, you would think that a Maxima would be a better choice, but I've had a more difficult time with Maximas vs Croceas.

 

[johns]

Yeah. I've know that MH is best, and I've heard that PCs are probably not good enough for maximas and croceas.

I'm not trying to be difficult, but PCs are not T5s. And I've heard one or 2 other 'experts' telling me that T5s are probably good enough. I'm just fishing for more info.

Isn't there anyone out there who has tried and successfully kept maximas or croceas using T5s? And since there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info out there, that is why I am looking for those slight differences in hardiness or light tolerance between the 2 species, to give them a better shot.

 

[jay24k]

I've seen several people keeping clams under T-5's. I think any clam is hardy imo. Just get one that looks good. Over 3" and you are safer.

 

[pecan2phat]

I hear ya johns. I wasn't trying to compare T5's to PCs, just sharing an extreme difference in lighting from PCs to MHs experience on my part.
T5's are probably the next best thing to MH lighting due to the amount of bulbs you can configure vs VHOs.

 

[Barry N.]

No doubt that MH are better as they are more intense as far as penetration into the water and I am not a light expert but been told that T-8 have more penetration than PC.

Tridacna crocea have a finer gill and can clog easier than Tridacna maxima . Not uncommon for a Tridacna crocea to gap from time to time but when a Tridacna maxima gaps, I get real concerned.