requirements for clams???
- Thread starter vmonnet
- Start date
salsipuedes
New member
i've seen instances where people have kept croceas and maximas under pc lighting... granted it was 6 96 watt bulbs... yeah it can be done but that doesnt make it a good idea. I just dont think pc lighting has enough intesity unless you really flood a tank with it. 4 65 watt pc might work if u keep it no less then 10 inches from the bulb and use quality pc bulbs. But why gamble? I think most of us agree clams look best in the sand, acting as a white background so the colors really pop. Upgrade your lights to at least 175 watt mh or t5's. I kept maximas and croceas under 1 175 watt mh 10k and 4 65 watt blue pc in my 92 corner no problem.
dxtr
New member
hey all. good reading. I don't currently have any clams, however, I am looking and have been reseaching for the last couple of weeks and have the following questions:
Tank Specs first:
100g tank is 60x24x18 (don't have tape measure handy but looks correct.)
Parameters:
0 amonia
0 trites
0 trates
390 calcuim
0 phosphates
8.4 ph
1.023 salinity/gravity
80 degrees
My lighting is 2 x 175Mh (new bulbs coming this week) and 440 watts VHO (2 white 2 blue) My Mh are approximately 26" from the sand bed.
Would my ligting be good for keeping clams, and I mean good enuff for a clam to thrive, not just survive?
Also, what types of clams to start with? I believe I read Dersa is a good "starter" clam or possibly Maxima?
thanks for your thoughts and assistance.
Tank Specs first:
100g tank is 60x24x18 (don't have tape measure handy but looks correct.)
Parameters:
0 amonia
0 trites
0 trates
390 calcuim
0 phosphates
8.4 ph
1.023 salinity/gravity
80 degrees
My lighting is 2 x 175Mh (new bulbs coming this week) and 440 watts VHO (2 white 2 blue) My Mh are approximately 26" from the sand bed.
Would my ligting be good for keeping clams, and I mean good enuff for a clam to thrive, not just survive?
Also, what types of clams to start with? I believe I read Dersa is a good "starter" clam or possibly Maxima?
thanks for your thoughts and assistance.
salsipuedes
New member
should be fine for derasa... as far as thriving though, they will thrive under 250 or 400s... but 175s spread over 30 inches each with 440 watts of vho should be more then enough. u will notice pretty good growth but i noticed on my 92 when i upgraded to a 250 mh alot more growth with my clams. the derasa seem to be a very good starter clam but the way i see it is if u can keep a derasa why not a maxima or crocea or squamosa? if your paramteres are good, have high lighting and find a healthy specimen and dont have anything in your tank that will harm the clams i say go for it and dont hold back.
dxtr
New member
Cool. Thanks for the info. I'll be upgrading the lights (as we do with everything with this obsession! 
in 6-9 months)
Stock list is:
Yellow Tang - just read the post on his tang picking his clam
Maroon Clown
Flame Angel - may be the reason i cannot get clam
Bi-color Angel - may be the reason i cannot get clam
LM Blenny
Engineer gobys
cleaner wrasse
royal gramma
domino damsel - hopefully gone to sump soon....
3 cleaner shrimp
1 CB shrimp
and the standard hermits and snails
As stated above, the pygmy angels are my biggest concern with picking at clams. that said, I've had SPS, LPS, zoas, softies, etc witht hem with no problem.
Thanks again
*edit* - just finished re-reading my books and some websites, and the "flame angel is prone to pick at clam mantles"
No clams for me.
in 6-9 months)Stock list is:
Yellow Tang - just read the post on his tang picking his clam
Maroon Clown
Flame Angel - may be the reason i cannot get clam
Bi-color Angel - may be the reason i cannot get clam
LM Blenny
Engineer gobys
cleaner wrasse
royal gramma
domino damsel - hopefully gone to sump soon....
3 cleaner shrimp
1 CB shrimp
and the standard hermits and snails
As stated above, the pygmy angels are my biggest concern with picking at clams. that said, I've had SPS, LPS, zoas, softies, etc witht hem with no problem.
Thanks again
*edit* - just finished re-reading my books and some websites, and the "flame angel is prone to pick at clam mantles"
No clams for me.
Last edited:
RichConley
New member
And I completely dissagree. People complain way more when they fail than they brag when they succeed.
I would guess that there are 10 successes for every person that posts, and then gets ripped on this board. You gotta remember, people know that if thye post that theyre having success under PCs, theyre going to et attacked...just like people are in this thread.
I wouldn't be so sure. No one ever comes back on and owns up and says "Well, my clam just died, guess you guys were right." But the uncommon few who succeed are happy to point it out because they're proud.
Regardless, my personal observations of personally seeing people try back up jmaneyapanda's thoughts. I would never try any clam under less than intense light.
Regardless, my personal observations of personally seeing people try back up jmaneyapanda's thoughts. I would never try any clam under less than intense light.
jmaneyapanda
Commencing hatred
Rich Conley- I also have to respectfully disagree. As far as I can find- I dont see many posts saying "Tried a clam under PC, it died soon after". I see a lot of people asking "Is it OK to clams under PC?", and a few other responding "Ive done it". I might just be missing it, though, where are these complaints of failure?
RichConley
New member
I'd say there are a lot more people just not trying because of being told not too, than people who fail.
There are plenty of people complaingin about failure: Theyre all the people saying you can't keep clams under PCS.
Now, I'm not saying that its a good idea, but I really didnt like the original post.
jmaneyapanda
Commencing hatred
Dude, you are totally misinterpreting this discussion. Your point is my point. On this forum, we dont read from people who fail at keeping clams under PC. Why? Because they probably dont post. Whether they members of this forum or not. I would almost guarantee that in this hobby, way more clams have died at the hands of people who have tried to do so than people who have not tried due to the ADVICE of others. It is ADVICE we are offering, not complaints. My point in the original post you quoted, was that people do not start threads saying "I tried clams under PC's, and it doesnt work". So when people ask, I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVISE THEM, that PC are bad ideas for clams.
Do I think people should be attacked for posting of their success- absolutely not! Do I think they should in turn post and say clams do fine under PC- absolutely not! It is misleading, and counter productive. This is my point. Furthermore, I cannot find anywhere in this post where someone was attacked for their claim of success. Someone may get dissapproval for suggesting a bad idea, but not for saying "I've been successful". More than likely, they'll get a comment that they've been lucky, or have a hardie than average clam.
Do I think people should be attacked for posting of their success- absolutely not! Do I think they should in turn post and say clams do fine under PC- absolutely not! It is misleading, and counter productive. This is my point. Furthermore, I cannot find anywhere in this post where someone was attacked for their claim of success. Someone may get dissapproval for suggesting a bad idea, but not for saying "I've been successful". More than likely, they'll get a comment that they've been lucky, or have a hardie than average clam.
I'm certainly no clam expert here, but I kept my crocea back in like '89 under NO bulbs for three years. Sure, it was VERY high up in the tank, but it lived, and grew. Would I recommend it, no. Point is, just as much someone may think it's irresponsible to recommend keeping a clam under weaker lighting, I think it's a bit irresponsible blaming every death of a clam under less than MH or T5 light to lack of sufficient light.
Just a little added experience for the mix
Just a little added experience for the mix
jmaneyapanda
Commencing hatred
Hey Peter:
I understand your point, but no one has blamed all clam deaths on lack of lighting. Obviously, many other factors can play a part in it, but this topic discussed is light.
As I'm sure you know, clams REQUIRE very strong light. Like fish require food. Without this light, the clam will die. If there was a post saying "My fish are doing fine, all I ever feed them is brine shrimp, and they are doing awesome. Thats all you need to feed your fish!", wouldnt you consider that irresponsible advice? There are many other causes of fish death, but that is irresponsible nonetheless.
Perhaps I am wrong, as I am SPECULATING WILDLY, but I do strongly feel that the two major causes of clam death in aquarists tanks are 1) innappropriate lighting, and 2) innappropraite tankmates, both due to misinformation.
Just my 2 cents.
I understand your point, but no one has blamed all clam deaths on lack of lighting. Obviously, many other factors can play a part in it, but this topic discussed is light.
As I'm sure you know, clams REQUIRE very strong light. Like fish require food. Without this light, the clam will die. If there was a post saying "My fish are doing fine, all I ever feed them is brine shrimp, and they are doing awesome. Thats all you need to feed your fish!", wouldnt you consider that irresponsible advice? There are many other causes of fish death, but that is irresponsible nonetheless.
Perhaps I am wrong, as I am SPECULATING WILDLY, but I do strongly feel that the two major causes of clam death in aquarists tanks are 1) innappropriate lighting, and 2) innappropraite tankmates, both due to misinformation.
Just my 2 cents.
brimil
New member
Being a newbie to the reef keeping, I think the best advise to people asking for help is to give them the best answer that will help them with success. Tell them that it might work, or others have had some success with inadequate lighting is not really helping.
I just purchased a Clam, but waited until I had the right MH equipment.
I disagree with more people complaining than posting success stories I see more "hey look at what I got" and "look how it's doing than" - "Hey keep my Achilles Tang in my 5g Nano and gee he died!"
I just purchased a Clam, but waited until I had the right MH equipment.
I disagree with more people complaining than posting success stories I see more "hey look at what I got" and "look how it's doing than" - "Hey keep my Achilles Tang in my 5g Nano and gee he died!"
Rhodesholar
New member
I had to chime in here. I got into a similair discussion about the lighting needs for anemones, and a gentleman pointed out they could be kept with no light, as long as they are fed. Ok, point taken. But, when it comes to keeping these fascinating delicate creatures I believe it is our responsibility to provide them with every possible parameter they would have in their natural environment so they have every chance to thrive, not just survive in captivity.
My point? Whatever parameters the animal lives under in the wild, provide the same or as close to it in captivity.
My point? Whatever parameters the animal lives under in the wild, provide the same or as close to it in captivity.
Rhodesholar
New member
SDGuy please don't go there. Yes it can be done and I was dragged over the carpet severely when I said it couldn't/shouldn't. Upon learning I was wrong I had to apologize. Please see the link below for that original conversation and my demise.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1007694
The next link is to the thread where the scientist says how it can be done.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34041&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
After reading it my previous post will have far more clarity.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1007694
The next link is to the thread where the scientist says how it can be done.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34041&perpage=25&pagenumber=1
After reading it my previous post will have far more clarity.
Rhodesholar
New member
Sdguy, NO, no, my fault. I should have used NO. Regaurdless, I don't agree with him nor do I think it is a good idea to recommend it whether it is possible or not. Basically he was saying that the animal can live strictly on food, and not light. The light is a caveat.
I would never recommend anything less then as close to possible to what the animal requires in nature. I would never attempt to keep a crocea in anything less then T-5 or MH. And seeing that I am old school, MH would be "my" choice.
I would never recommend anything less then as close to possible to what the animal requires in nature. I would never attempt to keep a crocea in anything less then T-5 or MH. And seeing that I am old school, MH would be "my" choice.
