lighting
- Thread starter bill37
- Start date
Scuba Dog
New member
If you want a maxima on the sandbed...or have desires for croceas..then i have to say yes......go with a 150 DE minimum....or even better a 250 SE....some peopel have had luck with T5's bt you would have to have the clams high up in the rock work...175s would work if you keep them up in the rock work as well....but the 150 DEs are a bit more powerfull and use a bit less juce....
Scuba Dog
New member
DE is Double end bulbs, SE is single end....The double ends are more intense and have usually a higher par rating due to their efficient design, and better reflectors...thats why 250 DE's are real close to 400 SE's in PAR and intencity. PAR is a unit that us reefers use to judge the umph for growth and color out of a halide bulb...photosynthetically available radiation
Go to this thread
to see a squamosa and a maxima that have been thriving under VHO lights for for 2 years.
to see a squamosa and a maxima that have been thriving under VHO lights for for 2 years.
pecan2phat
Active member
I've had a Derasa & a Crocea survive under PC lighting in a 29g mixed mini-reef. Mind you that the lights were only a few inches of the top of the tank & the clams were placed only 4-5" from the top of the water column.
Notice I said survive. I had them for over eight months like this, so they were not just living off their fat reserve, but they were also not spectacular looking.
When I moved them into the current standard 55g with dual 250w SE MH lighting, you then started to see them thrive through coloration & mantle expansion.
So I would like to say that yeah, it could be done but you will not get to enjoy the animal to it's full potential. Another plus is that I'm able to keep all my clams on the sand bed including Maximas & Croceas in this type of setup with a 20" tank height & MH's 12" off the top.
Notice I said survive. I had them for over eight months like this, so they were not just living off their fat reserve, but they were also not spectacular looking.
When I moved them into the current standard 55g with dual 250w SE MH lighting, you then started to see them thrive through coloration & mantle expansion.
So I would like to say that yeah, it could be done but you will not get to enjoy the animal to it's full potential. Another plus is that I'm able to keep all my clams on the sand bed including Maximas & Croceas in this type of setup with a 20" tank height & MH's 12" off the top.
thanks for the replies. What do you think of this unit?
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_HQIProaqualight.html
the 48" hood.
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_HQIProaqualight.html
the 48" hood.
pecan2phat
Active member
bill37,
The 48" model is too deep for a standard 55g tank. A standard 55g is 13" deep & the lighting unit is 15". Plus I would try to shoot for a minimum of a dual 175w setup. Supplemental actinics whether PC, VHO or T5 are just personal taste as your inhabitants are receiving their main lighting from the MH bulbs.
The 48" model is too deep for a standard 55g tank. A standard 55g is 13" deep & the lighting unit is 15". Plus I would try to shoot for a minimum of a dual 175w setup. Supplemental actinics whether PC, VHO or T5 are just personal taste as your inhabitants are receiving their main lighting from the MH bulbs.
