Proper environment for a first clam

[layer3guru]

All,

I will get right to it.

55Gallon
48Lx12Wx24D
5 Inch Sand Bed
25gallon Sump
260 watts of lighting right now

Frog Spawn
Mushrooms
Toad Stool Leather
All is doing great.

Well I have been wanting to go to MH for my tank and I found this on ebay and called and spoke with the company and they gave me a really good deal I think http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=4307511058

I upgraded the ballast to pulse start, got 4 fans put in the canopy and a UV shield for it, also got 2 Ushio 10k bulbs for it. I am coming a little late I guess because I made a deal with the wife that if she purchased this, the very next thing I would buy for here is a nice clam. I have not wanted to keep them becuase of my current lighting. Everytime we go to this nice LFS she goes right over to this blue clam I am not sure what type because the deal was she would do all the research on what it takes to keep one. That is what lead us to the lighting she is the one that actually recommended I get this. I just wanted to make sure this would be enough.

 

[Typhon]

The link isn't working??

Are you sure your tank is a 55g?? I have never seen a 24" deep 55g tank??

 

[layer3guru]

Sorry about the link.

I am positive it is 55gallon it is very narrow only 12 inches front to back. Same as a 120 gallon but the 120 is 24inches front to back.

The new lighting is

2x 175MH Ushio 10k
2x 110VHO actinics

In canopy with upgraded ballast to pulse start and a uv shield in the canopy.

 

[Typhon]

I think 55g tank are only 20" tall.

Do you plan to keep the clam on the sand bed or on the rock wall?? If the tank is really 24" tall and you won't be able to keep clams on the sand bed even with a 5" because 175w MH only pentrate down to 18". So your clams would be about 19" from the lights.

With a 24" tall tank you will need to go with 250w MH (pentrate down to 24") or keep the clams higher than 18" somewhere on the rock wall.

Good luck..

 

[layer3guru]

I will measure it again to make sure and thank you for the advise. One quick question though and not that I doubt you but I looked all over for info about light penetration of MH lamps and could not find any that would give me the actual penetration depths. Where did you find such info, or does this come from your own experience.

Please sir do not take this as an insult because I do appreciate the replies.

 

[Typhon]

Oh.. I am not considering the question as an insult. It is good to ask questions. I think I asked a fellow reefer the same exact question when I started using MHs on my system..

You might want to read this article.. Near the end it methods the light requirements of Clams..

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/august2003/feature.htm

Also if you do a search on Metal Halide Penetration, you should fine out where i got the numbers from.

 

[layer3guru]

You were right I just measured again, it had been a while since I measured my tank. It is 20 inches deep.

And thank you for the info and link on the lighting.