lighting ? from a clam dummy

[vikingkim]

Hi everyone
I have a 55g standard reef that until today had only 2x40w floros lighting it. I've been really lucky to successfully keep many low light softies and a few hardy LPS. So today I finally got a clue and instead of spending $100's on livestock for it and/or my other tanks, I got a 2x65w 50/50 compact fixture and I am using that in addition to my 40w actinic. So anyway, short story long, one LFS (who I'm kinda dubious about anyway) tells me I can have a clam under that light. I think I need ANOTHER 2x65 at least!! (I guess they only wanted to sell me one fixture? I would've gotten another one on the spot!) I'm REALLY confused on the lighting issue and don't want to "shock" my other inhabitants, but I would really love to keep a clam! Sorry for the dumb "newbie" questions, but I want to keep my little buddies happy. TIA and don't flame me too much please (I'm very sensitve)

 

[Jimbo327]

I propose you buy yourself a 250W metal halide and forget about your old lighting. The power you are currently using is 65+65+40+40=210W. A 250W is much more powerful than your lighting because it is a single point illumination. This way you can keep any clams in your tank, and your softies will get even better with the MH. Trust me, stop fiddling with the floros and PC, and get a MH. You get much more PAR from Metal Halide than floro's and PC with the same wattage. Also, metal halides bulbs last longer and much cheaper to replace than all your lighting now. Think about it.

Good luck.

Jimbo327

 

[Peabody]

Agreed. Gotta love that LFS info

Well, like you said, your light now is great for many soft corals, mushrooms, and zooanthids. Unfortunately, it's not enough for even the most low-light clams. If you are really interested in clams, I suggest reading Daniel Knop's "Giant Clams".

As for lighting, 4x65 would be bare minimum in your tank for a squamosa clam. Even then it's really on the low side, and I personally wouldn't put one under that light. To keep all clams including maximas and croceas, metal halide lights would be needed. A 2x250 watt setup would be ideal. Your soft corals could still be acclimated to the lights, and you could keep LPS and SPS too If you put a single 250 over the center of your tank (provided there's no brace) you could keep clams directly under it, as stated above. The problem is that the tank will then look unbalanced light-wise.

If you really want clams, I suggest looking for a dual MH setup used here on RC. I spent more on my stupid PC lights than when I finally ditched them and went metal halide. (I went MH just for clams )

 

[vikingkim]

I appreciate the info guys, even though it isn't what I want to hear! My tank is sitting under a sloped ceiling, and at best bet, a MH pendant would hang a mere 8" over thetank. This, in addition to the fact that the room
in question in the 3rd floor of af an old Victorian mansion with no central air somewhat precludes MH"S> I already purchased a 16,000 B.T.U. unit to cool the 1000 sq. ft. area in the summer to avoid the purchase of a chiller!! Just let me know, a small squamosa, or no.

 

[Cornell]

hi, vikingkim

sad to say....
I am a user of FLs for quite a number of years until recently when i changed it to MH

I used three 40w FLs to light up my shallow tank....

and trust me, whatever clam i tried to keep couldn't last for more than a few mere months.

even a less light loving squamosa couldn't take that little light for long.......

Just try MH man
I believe you will be very pleased with its performance.
a 250w iwasaki would be extremely bright....
much much brighter than all the FLs you are gonna put together!

 

[vikingkim]

Thanks for the info folks, I'll give the MH's some thought, I sure do love that "glitter line" effect they produce. Now where is my wallet......