T5 and clams
- Thread starter Jacob D
- Start date
Greetings All !
mothra,
My experience is that T5 lighting lacks the intensity to penetrate almost 20" through the water column to deliver the light required for a T. squamosa. I too am interested in what others have to say on this ... .
This is not to say that T5 lighting cannot be effective for growing Tridacna species clams. The link below is to a pic in my gallery of a T. crocea under PC & T5 lighting in a 80G mixed reef display. The key is that it's located about 6" below the surface of the water. It's size has increased roughly 30% during the last 12 months. The only problem is that the green star polyps and xenia keep growing up onto its shell. Looks cool, but the clam is not pleased ... .
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/45323clamLedge_optimz.jpg
HTH.
mothra,
My experience is that T5 lighting lacks the intensity to penetrate almost 20" through the water column to deliver the light required for a T. squamosa. I too am interested in what others have to say on this ... .
This is not to say that T5 lighting cannot be effective for growing Tridacna species clams. The link below is to a pic in my gallery of a T. crocea under PC & T5 lighting in a 80G mixed reef display. The key is that it's located about 6" below the surface of the water. It's size has increased roughly 30% during the last 12 months. The only problem is that the green star polyps and xenia keep growing up onto its shell. Looks cool, but the clam is not pleased ... .
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/1/45323clamLedge_optimz.jpg
HTH.
Greetings All !
mothra,
"...unless I get it up in the rock work like yours."
With regards to lighting, we have two choices. Either we deliver the light to the clam (... metal halides ...), or, we deliver the clam to the lights (... elevating the clam to the upper water column ...).
Since you're using T5 lighting, I suggest elevating the clam.
"Do all clams tolerate being placed in the rockwork or do some species prefer sandy bottom?"
Tridacna crocea actually excretes chemicals that allow it to "dig" into calcium/limestone based rocks ... hence one of it's common names, "Boring Clam."
"Do all clams tolerate being placed in the rockwork or do some species prefer sandy bottom?"
I've had success placing clams onto rocks, substrate, and areas with neither rocks nor substrate. What's important is that the animal have a firm point of attachment, correct light source, correct current, etc ... . BTW, the clam will let you know if it's not happy where you've placed it ... too much mantle extension, too little mantle extension, repeated efforts to dislodge itself from its placement ... .
If you haven't already come across it, "Giant Clams. A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tridacnid Clams" (Daniel Knopp, 1996), is a great book ... .
HTH.
mothra,
"...unless I get it up in the rock work like yours."
With regards to lighting, we have two choices. Either we deliver the light to the clam (... metal halides ...), or, we deliver the clam to the lights (... elevating the clam to the upper water column ...).
Since you're using T5 lighting, I suggest elevating the clam.
"Do all clams tolerate being placed in the rockwork or do some species prefer sandy bottom?"
Tridacna crocea actually excretes chemicals that allow it to "dig" into calcium/limestone based rocks ... hence one of it's common names, "Boring Clam."
"Do all clams tolerate being placed in the rockwork or do some species prefer sandy bottom?"
I've had success placing clams onto rocks, substrate, and areas with neither rocks nor substrate. What's important is that the animal have a firm point of attachment, correct light source, correct current, etc ... . BTW, the clam will let you know if it's not happy where you've placed it ... too much mantle extension, too little mantle extension, repeated efforts to dislodge itself from its placement ... .
If you haven't already come across it, "Giant Clams. A Comprehensive Guide to the Identification and Care of Tridacnid Clams" (Daniel Knopp, 1996), is a great book ... .
HTH.
Jacob D
New member
Thanks for all the good info. I've that Knopp book is pretty good. I'll have to check our club library and see if we have it or not.
Scuba - I remember when Moonpod had that T5 lit tank. He eventually upgraded to MH also didn't he?
This is sort of another topic, but are clams bothered by bubble tip anemones? I was toying with the idea of a species tank for a single rbta w/ a 175w MH over maybe a 30g breeder (36x18x12h). If clams wouldn't be stung by the rbta then that might make a nice display for our living room.
Scuba - I remember when Moonpod had that T5 lit tank. He eventually upgraded to MH also didn't he?
This is sort of another topic, but are clams bothered by bubble tip anemones? I was toying with the idea of a species tank for a single rbta w/ a 175w MH over maybe a 30g breeder (36x18x12h). If clams wouldn't be stung by the rbta then that might make a nice display for our living room.
