Lighting for a Derasa

[Aynesa]

So, I have a Derasa clam, but I've come over this awesome deal on a Maxima, so I'm thinking to upgrade. I have a 120 gallon tank throwing 729 watts of light from an Outer Orbit Pro fixture, including T5s. I'm sure I could keep a Maxima no problem. I have no problem having 2 clams, but I have a friend (Yes, really, a friend ) I'm mentoring into the hobby, and she could use a clam (She has a sumpless tank, no refugium, and no way to GET a refugium). She has a 40 hex tank with a Coralife fixture that puts out 130 watts of light during the day. Now she's asking me if that's enough to support a small Derasa clam. I don't know!!! She seems to have alot of light in the tank, but I'm semi new to clams myself. AS soon as I put my Derasa clam in my tank, I saw the nitrates drop like a stone. It'd do her tank good since she can't do chaeto, but could her light support it now? I know Halies would be better, but that's likely in the future (Unless someone has a 20 inch 150w fixture they want to sell cheap.)

 

[marc price]

no

 

[pwoller]

What kind of light? How close to the light can the clam be?

 

[Aynesa]

She could get the clam up in the tank as far as she needs to. She has LR, and not a whole lot of coral right now. I'd say she could pretty easily get it within 6-8 inches. The tank isn't all that deep to begin with. Maybe 24 inches depth total... The good part about not having much coral though is she can put things in however she wants

 

[marc price]

they really grow to fast for that, also the lux/lumen output of two 65w pc's isn't high enough, especially if the pc's kelvin are above a daylight spectrum.