ManEatingGuppy
New member
im noob and i want to get some clams. i have a few question. why do clams need light and i have a 55 gallon tank and i was wondering how many watts would i need
lighting question
- Thread starter ManEatingGuppy
- Start date
Re: lighting question
Most clams (like the ones that come with your linguine) don't need light - it's the tradacnid clams with those gorgeous mantles that do. These clams have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellate that lives in the mantle of these clams. The zoo uses a process known as photosynthesis to convert light into (for simplicity I'm going to say) - "sugar". With enough light and if the clam is big enough (3~4" at least) the zoo converts enough "sugar" to provide a very good source of food for the clam.
The question of watts is misleading. Watts just tells you how much electricity your light is using. For example - having 10x 40w NO lights gives you 400 watts - but really, who does that on their tank? What kind of lighting do you currently have? Different clams will have different levels of need as it relates to light.
ManEatingGuppy said:
Most clams (like the ones that come with your linguine) don't need light - it's the tradacnid clams with those gorgeous mantles that do. These clams have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellate that lives in the mantle of these clams. The zoo uses a process known as photosynthesis to convert light into (for simplicity I'm going to say) - "sugar". With enough light and if the clam is big enough (3~4" at least) the zoo converts enough "sugar" to provide a very good source of food for the clam.
The question of watts is misleading. Watts just tells you how much electricity your light is using. For example - having 10x 40w NO lights gives you 400 watts - but really, who does that on their tank? What kind of lighting do you currently have? Different clams will have different levels of need as it relates to light.
Agreed with the above. I reccomend reading up on clams before getting any. They can be tricky.
Phil is right about watts. They don't mater. Clams need intense light with high PAR. The really "pretty" Tridacnids like Maximas and Croceas will likely require Metal Halides (or maybe a large T5 setup with good reflectors). Most clam keepers have 2 150w or 2 250w metal halide bulbs on their 55g or similar sized tanks. FOr squamosa or derasa clams you could have less light, like a sufficient amount of VHO or PC bulbs.
Phil is right about watts. They don't mater. Clams need intense light with high PAR. The really "pretty" Tridacnids like Maximas and Croceas will likely require Metal Halides (or maybe a large T5 setup with good reflectors). Most clam keepers have 2 150w or 2 250w metal halide bulbs on their 55g or similar sized tanks. FOr squamosa or derasa clams you could have less light, like a sufficient amount of VHO or PC bulbs.
ManEatingGuppy
New member
ive read about them, im just having trouble with lighting. i read they need good lighting like 2 watts per gallon. im very very noob at lighting, but whats VHO and PC? also i researched that clams have different shell shapes. all the sites iw ent to gave me pictures of how colorful their mantle is. anyone have any pictures of their shells and identif them? thnx
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Scuba Dog
New member
VHO Very High Output fluresent sp PC is Power Compact fluresent. They are basicly fluresent tubes with a lot more lumen output than your shop lights or household fluresents lighting.
Metal Halide is a smaller bulb that burns very hot and produces the most PAR all the aquarium light systems...PAR photosyntheticaly available radiation is a measurable unit we salt heads use to gage our bulbs performance so to speak...I say that loosly...generaly the higher the PAR ratings the better...depending on the depth of the tank and the orginism.
Metal Halide is a smaller bulb that burns very hot and produces the most PAR all the aquarium light systems...PAR photosyntheticaly available radiation is a measurable unit we salt heads use to gage our bulbs performance so to speak...I say that loosly...generaly the higher the PAR ratings the better...depending on the depth of the tank and the orginism.
ManEatingGuppy
New member
http://www.hellolights.com/241xcoraqpch.html , is this enough for a squamosa/derasa?
I'm afriad that's not enough light to keep anything alive, especially a clam. For low-medium light corals, and the lower light clams you would need at least 4 65 watt PC bulbs, minimum. Even then you will not be able to keep the higher light corals/clams/anemones.
If you're really interested in clams you would want to go with no less light than this: http://www.hellolights.com/48aqpr2x15hq.html
Similar quality of light can be found cheaper, but they are still very expensive. Lighting is the most important and most expensive part of the hobby. Rememebr watts per gallon means nothing. If you had 2 150w metal halide bulbs you could keep any clam. 300w of PC bulbs and you probably wouldn't be able to.
And you would need to wait about a year after your tank has started and gotten stable until you add a clam. Go slowly, read as much as you can. (Giant Clams by Dnaiel Knop is a good start for clams)
If you're really interested in clams you would want to go with no less light than this: http://www.hellolights.com/48aqpr2x15hq.html
Similar quality of light can be found cheaper, but they are still very expensive. Lighting is the most important and most expensive part of the hobby. Rememebr watts per gallon means nothing. If you had 2 150w metal halide bulbs you could keep any clam. 300w of PC bulbs and you probably wouldn't be able to.
And you would need to wait about a year after your tank has started and gotten stable until you add a clam. Go slowly, read as much as you can. (Giant Clams by Dnaiel Knop is a good start for clams)
ManEatingGuppy
New member
blah, to expensive, i already set up my tank around october so ill wait till probly september. ill go to my lfs and see what they have. thnx for the info anyways, how about ebay, they sell any lights i can use?heres a small list i found
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4368980326&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4369077458&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3212&item=4369818045&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4369392961&rd=1
before i go research these big words about lgihting, jsut a few last questions, what site do i go to read about lighting?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4368980326&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4369077458&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3212&item=4369818045&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4369392961&rd=1
before i go research these big words about lgihting, jsut a few last questions, what site do i go to read about lighting?
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You're correct, water quality is of utmost importance too.
Maneating guppy: None of those lights will work with your tank. The first one would fit your tank, but would not be enough for any corals or clams. Yes it is expensive, but if you want to keep these beautiful creatures it is necessary. It is not possible to do cheaply.
Just be prepared, to keep corals and clams you are looking at a starting price of probaby $300-400 for a somewhat decent lighting setup.
Careful about LFS advice...most are not too knowlegable about reefkeeping, and will just reccomend what they have to selll you. (And if they have the correct stuff, it will likely be MUCH more expensive than online)
Maneating guppy: None of those lights will work with your tank. The first one would fit your tank, but would not be enough for any corals or clams. Yes it is expensive, but if you want to keep these beautiful creatures it is necessary. It is not possible to do cheaply.
Just be prepared, to keep corals and clams you are looking at a starting price of probaby $300-400 for a somewhat decent lighting setup.
Careful about LFS advice...most are not too knowlegable about reefkeeping, and will just reccomend what they have to selll you. (And if they have the correct stuff, it will likely be MUCH more expensive than online)
