Little clam tank

[rspar]

I have a 10g tank and have been thinking about setting it up in the kids room with a clam and maybe a couple sea horses. I'm thinking such a small tank one or two 55watt compacts would do the trick. Any thoughts? Would the low current needs of the sea horses clash with the clams needs?

 

[Peabody]

The light is going to be the problem, as well as stability. Clams demand a stable chemistry which is very difficult in a 10g (CA, ALK, etmp, SG)

About the lights..... A pair of 55s would be fine for a derasa or squamosa, but those get too large, too quickly for a 10, and deplete the chemicals at an alarming rate in a small tank. Those lights would likely not be enough for a maxima or crocea. I've seen them in 6-12 gallon tanks with 96 watts of PC over them and they didn't last past 6 months. Throw a 70-150w MH bulb over the tank and you can keep them with no light worries, just stability.

Your best bet would probably be H. Hippopus.

 

[Ron Leversee]

Ditto's with Peabody.....

 

[Scuba Dog]

The sea horses might try to use the clams as a hitching post....that would look kinda scary when the clams close up on the tail also...and the other guys are right on the dot...maintaining...proper alk and ph and calcium would be a pita in a 10 gallon...plus feeding sea horses is messy....lots of water quality ishues there....I would go a little bigger tank...bump up to some stonger lights.....and not mix the horses with the clams....the easiest thing to do...is get them a sea horse tank in itself...

 

[rspar]

Maybe I'll shine the clam (or maybe put one in my tank instead) and just make them a little seahorse tank. Then lighting's no big deal. Maybe just one seahorse and a pipefish. Hmmm...sounded so simple at first.

thx for the input.

 

[Peabody]

Little seahorse tanks are very cool...good luck!!

 

[rspar]

My 24" cube currently has 4 x 24watt t'5s with sls reflectors and 2x 55 watt compacts would this be clam friendly? I really couldn't get much more over the top of it.

 

[Peabody]

About the same answer. That's marginal for the lower light clams because of the low penetration of those bulbs and the 24" deep tank. You could try a squamosa or derasa on the sand. (They really can't be placed in the rocks...they prefer the sand, and will jump) I would not try a maxima or crocea. They often demand the PAR and point source of a metal halide bulb. Once in a blue moon someone can get away with another light source, but it's the vast minority. I've seen too many dead clams

If you're really interested, try a smaller (3") derasa or squamosa. Be sure to read up on all the care requirements of clams too beyond light...good luck

 

[Peabody]

...to continue what I was saying, have you considered replacing all that stuff with a single metal halide bulb if you're really interested in clams? I started out with PCs, then got more PCs, then more PCs. I sold it all off and got a single MH bulb. Didn't cost me a penny.

 

[rspar]

No halides in my future can't deal with the heat or the cash outlay. For the depth of the tank I was thinking about gluing a shelf about half way up the wall not sure if it would be the back or side. Just an idea at the moment kind of a tiered effect. Maybe camouflage it with some homemade rock. I haven't seen anyone try this but I think it would work for the high light demanders.