Squamosa in this setup? maybe a maxima????

[castor]

Okay, I know this may sound stupid but I am thinking of getting a clam for my 10g nano. Before you come to any conclusions hear me out. The clam will not stay there - I am setting up a 55g (have almost everything, but have to finish the stand and canopy) and it will go in there in about 6 months depending on size/growth.

Here are the specs on my nano setup -

10g AGA display tank, 10g rubbermaid fuge, 5g sump tank. (~19g true water volume with taking into consideration sand and rock)

50lbs southdown sand - 1.5" in display, 5" DSB in fuge
27lbs LR (~20 in display and 7 in fuge)

107w NO overdriven by 2x over display
this is being changed to 4x32w pc 2-10k 2-7,100k blue in a few days (bulbs on delivery now) so it will be 128w over a 10g.

54w NO overdriven by 2x over fuge

about 150gph flow throw main tank

Inhabitants:

4 astrea snails
5 nass snails
4 med. scarlet leg hermits
1 small emerald crab
1 small peppermint shrimp

1 hybrid neon goby

med GSP colony
1 very small kenya tree frag
zoos
ricodea

Huge mass of chaeto in fuge

Water specs:

NH3-4: 0
NO3: 0
NO4: 0-.25ppm
Ca: 440ppm
sg: 1.026

temp: 80-82F (sometimes on a very hot day will peak at 84)

pics of setup (older pics)

I am thinking of getting a 2-3" squamosa. Will feed 2-3 times a week with DT's. I know it will outgrow the setup in not too long, but I plan on having MH over my 55g setup and figure it will be stable enough in about 6 months.

Would a 1.5-2" maxima placed higher up on the LR be completely out of the picture even with that much pc lighting?

Am I out of my mind even thinking of getting any clam?

 

[Aged Salt]

Hi Castor, nice aquscaping for a start. Maybe you mentioned it but be sure to use one or 2 fans across the water surface also the fuge] as your temp. swings will increase with pc's[they create heat].Otherwise, you should be able to host the maxima up high in your reef. Bob

 

[castor]

Thank you aged salt for your comments. I was thinking I could keep a maxima but I had read several posts with people bashing anybody even thinking about keeping one without MH.

BTW, I do have 2 small fans I added a few weeks ago, but have yet to need to use them, tank temp has stayed steady at about 81-82F.

Other water params I forgot:

Ph: - 8.3
alk: - 9-10 dkh
phosphate: undetectable


All params have been stable for several months.

Also talked to a fellow local reefer that is clam crazy who said he will gladly 'babysit' my clam for however long if I feel it's not doing 100% until I get my 55g reef going.

 

[Peabody]

I would not do a maxima. (Hippo or Squamosa would be happy ) I've seen maximas perish more times then I care to admit in people's reefs with PCs, even lots of PCs, in tanks ranging from 10-75gallons. I myself had a 15 gallon with 2 65 watt PCs and would not keep a maxima, I sold them and got a 175w Mh just so I could get one.

The big question is what lights will your 55 have?

 

[oceanarus]

Re: Squamosa in this setup? maybe a maxima????

I plan on having MH over my 55g setup and figure it will be stable enough in about 6 months.

 

[Peabody]

Oops...missed that one.

In that case, I would wait for sure. THe clam would have to try and adjust to the PC lights, which might be tough on him, and then readjust to intense light. Just wait till your 55 is up for a while with MH....your maxima would appreciate it