Suggestions for Light Upgrade for my BC8

G

GreyhoundTrish

New member
I have my heart set on a clam. Got the spot picked out, but alas, I only have the stock BC lighting. Any suggestions, that aren't too technical for me or DH to mod? It's the BC8. I'd like to just be able to change out the stock front bulb, and I'm assuming add fans?
 
Metal Halide would be your best bet to keep one of the blue Tridacna Clams. You could also go topless with a SunPod but then you risk your fish carpet surfing. The light kits arent that hard to install, I have done 3 and they allow you to keep the factory look.
 
Scott, I heard you were da man when it came to Nanos. Can we put a MH in there and keep it cool enough, better yet, can I bribe ya to help me do it? I realize the Tric. Clam will get bigger than I need , but then I can donate it to the the St. Jude tank.
 
What type of clam are you wanting to keep?
Squamosa and Derasa grow very quickly but do well under PC's, VHO's, and T5's.
Crocea and Maxima, I would recommend MH.
 
The BC 8 only has 36W PC. If she put 10000Ks in both sockets would that be enough light for a Derasa? It would make your tank yellow looking.
 
Got a pic?
This is an older pic of my 12G, I a different bulb selection now. Amazing what you can squeeze into a hood when motivated.

DSC00538.jpg
 
Yea, Scott and I discussed the mod, and I decided almost 400.00 was not worth it for a clam. :) Now what about the light requirements for the red fringed scallop?
 
he Scallops don't require light but will usually starve to death because they only eat a certain size food (and that food size is not commercially available). Things may have changed but I believe they are one of the things best left in the ocean.
 
yeah in a thread made in reef discussion forum said scalops are hard to keep they will die because of what scarson said

and trish there is a 70w retro kit on nano tunners that isnt to much
check out the reto lighing page on there
 
You mean this 70W retro kit ? I have been looking at that for my 12gal. I know the heat shield and fans would have to be changed. I am working on how to get a heat sink / reflector / UV filter while keeping the stock splash shield. All of this is still in the theoretical stage for now. I didnt want to point her toward a retro and then find out it caused problems after the fact. Have you installed one of these in an AIO?
 
I'm going to stick with the stock lighting for now, guys. We'll be doing a larger tank eventually, so no biggie. Would my lighting be sufficient for a red flame oyster? I couldn't tell when reading up on them last night.
 
Trish, you may want to read up on the red Flame Scallop...I had one for a while and it just laid there under the edge of my liverock in the dark occassionally blowing sand everywhere ...while it did add some color to the tank, I had to be careful not to add anything that would aggrevate it ...stress will kill them quick. Mine lasted about 8 months before I found it dead one day . The text books tell you not to add some of the clean up crew critters with a scallop due to the stress they will cause. Hope this helps .
BJ
 
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