light for clams

I may be wrong, but I don't think that would be enough light for a Maxima. You might want to try a Squamosa or Derasa, if you have an itch for clams.
 
96w it's actually strong enough for a maxima... That's plenty light over such a small tank!

A squamosa would get too big for that tank, as well as a derasa.. Go with a 3 inch maxima, place it a little higher in the tank, you'll be set.

How old is the tank? Clams aren't easy to take care of... You should atleast have a tank 6 months old ( mature and stable ) to start keeping clams IMO.. Unless you have very good experience in this hobby...

Clams love light, planktonic foods, and most importantly calcium.. You'll need to have good water quality.. And need some source of calcium for the clam(s) to grow.. What are you planning on using as a calcium reactor?
 
96w will do a maxima just fine, you might make sure you feed it DT to suppliment. My maxima colors started to fade under my 64w so I had to move him to another tank.
 
I have a 72gal bow tank with 260watt pc lights and interested in getting a clam or 2 for my tank. Is the lighting I have sufficent and could someone suggest a type of clam to start with??
 
I've been told the only reliable way to make sure clams will do fine is by using MHs. I would start with a deresa and move up from there. Croceas will take the most liking followed by maximas.
 
Genetics: I'm a little confused by your posts. In your reply to the original question, you say that 96w pc is just fine for a Maxima. In your last post, you say that 260w pc is not enough and the only reliable lights for clams are MH. I agree with the latter statement, but it seems to contradict what you said earlier. Would you mind clarifying?

Thanks!
 
It seems that way, but what I was saying is that 96w pc on 10g should be able to support a maxima, I just feel more confident if you put a MH over the tank.
 
i have had my clams for months now and my derasa was under 65w pc for like a month i had it right at the top of the tank and it did fine,although i did not notice any growth until i got mh, now it grows new shell rings like every couple weeks, i'm surprised at this but it makes me happy to see it is doing so good, my croacea does'nt seem to grow new shell but it opens up real big for the light it is happy too, but i have these 2 clams in a 2.5 gallon nano with 150w 20k hqi on it. the zooanthelle glow awesome under the 20k it is also packed with sps which also like the light, so i'd say that you can keep things with vho and pc but i think mh replicates natural sunlight better imo. i have seen very nice tanks without mh too i think water quality has alot to do with it. also a stable tank is always a key factor too. i let my tank sit for like 3 months with no fish clams or corals except some poloyps and zoos that were on the rock then i ordered a bunch of critters and pods from ispf and let them sit in there for like 2 months then i put the clams and corals. the pods eggs and stuff are good food for filter feeders.
 
i just have to be the *** here because wheni read that
"i got a 10gal i am going to put them in maximas."
i said to my self a 10 gal tank won't fit in a maxima /;0
 
I don't think the ratio of light to the size of the tank matters. You can always put clams on top of the rockwork in deeper tanks. What's important is the distance from the light to the clam, and the PAR of the light source. IMO, 96w pc is insufficient PAR for Maximas and Croceas, regardless of tank size. I'm sure some reefers have kept them under these conditions, but you're gambling with the clam's life. The other choices, Derasa and Squamosa, are better suited for 96w pc lights. Yes, they will eventually outgrow a 10gal, as will any Tridacnid clam. At that point, you will have to upgrade the tank size, or trade them.
 
I am wondering - Is there anyone out there who has kept a Crocea or Maxima for more than 12 months with PC lighting. Every thread I have ever read from people who have kept clams with PC's not one has said they have kept the clam for at least a year. For Croceas and Maximas - use MHs and feed DT's (no matter what the size.) This will at least give it a chance for long term survival.
 
joe123987 said:
I am wondering - Is there anyone out there who has kept a Crocea or Maxima for more than 12 months with PC lighting. Every thread I have ever read from people who have kept clams with PC's not one has said they have kept the clam for at least a year. For Croceas and Maximas - use MHs and feed DT's (no matter what the size.) This will at least give it a chance for long term survival.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
Amen. I wouldn't do it. Get a used MH pendant. I wanted a maxima for my 15, and I didn't think 2x65 PCs was enough. Ironically, my MH was cheaper than what I paid for the PCs.
 
joe123987 said:
I am wondering - Is there anyone out there who has kept a Crocea or Maxima for more than 12 months with PC lighting. Every thread I have ever read from people who have kept clams with PC's not one has said they have kept the clam for at least a year. For Croceas and Maximas - use MHs and feed DT's (no matter what the size.) This will at least give it a chance for long term survival.
Click to expand...

While I duno PCs, I know of several reefers who have kept maximas and croceas long term under VHO in relatively shallow tanks (standard 75s and the like). I personally have kept my 20 or so maximas and croceas growing under T5s, but I generally do not push my luck and keep them in the rockwork not on the sandbed---not universally true of my clams, but just a general trend.
 
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