JENnKerry
When you read that maximas have been kept under VHO, or PC's I would be a bit leery....I dont think that they are giving all the necessary information. In the next paragraph ill list some necessary facts about maxima clams.
Light dependency varys amoung maximas depending on pigmentaion and size. THe brown or gold maximas can get by with less light, how much less I cant say. The other factor is size....a baby max really dosent need much light for the simple reason is it dosent have enough mantle, not enough surface area to live fully off of photosynthesis, so it has feed to keep itself alive...thats where the DTs and golden pears food sources of the right micron size come into play....IMO baby maxs can live under power compacts and VHOs untill they grow. Growth is the kicker with maximas as they grow they need more intence light and higher par numbers as the mantle gains more surface area the clam shifts to a more light dependent feller...and studys have indicated that the clam starts to loose the ability to filter feed.
So when people tell you that they have kept maximas under power compacts ask them a few questions, One what coloration is the clam, what size is the clam, and how long have you had the clam....another factor about the maximas is that they look great for months but in reality they can be starving for light and living off there energy reservs and one day walla empty clam shell out of no where....Im sure there is always exceptions to this...its possible some clams have adapted to lower light situations, But IMP jenn If one atempts to keep maximas under power compacts I think the sucess percentage will be under 20% for long term. But if one goes with T5s and up the percentage goes way up....say a 250 halide system I would say a 95% sucess percentage baring preidation and disease...and poor water quality....
But if you have to have a maxima then go with a baby max but be ready to feed it by the bowl technique at least three times a week......but once it starts gaining size a light upgrade will be necessary.....now as far as the gold maximas I would ask barry at clams direct about there light requirments...the guy deals with 1000s of clams year around and he keeps them under 250DEs ....
