T5 good for Crocea?

PupChow

Member
Upgraded my light. I now have 4x39w T5 over 30g. 2 64k and 2 actinic blue plus... I have the option to put in two more tubes, but thought it might be overkill for a 30g. Will this be a suitable home for a 4 inch crocea clam? Or should I seriously consider adding the the other tubes in?
 
I have 4X39 T5.
You will need more light.
You could get by for now by keepng it up high.
 
Thanks guys, just put in the extra two tubes, we'll see how things go! Now I have 6x39w, 3 day light and 3 aqua-plus.

Would you say Maxima will require less light than a crocea? If that's the case I will see if I can trade mine with some body...
 
maxima are next on the list for light requirement.
While you have the corcea might as wel try it out.
 
the crocea for about 3 months. Never a problem with him. I guess the long term test isn't in yet but I'm not worried. T5's are fine for clams, if it's a crocea keep him on the rock work.
 
My Crocea is still reacting to shadows quickly, so that's a good sign. I always see it stretching it's mantle all the way out and up though, does that mean it is still not getting enough light? (it's on the sand bed, probably 14" under the light)
 
I just do not understand why people insist t5 is so great and you can keep anything with them, the fact is you can't , I have wasted so many $$ on lighting thinking mh was to exspensive, to finally realize after I bought my mh it is the only way to go and is actually cheaper to run in the long run
 
Is it really a fact?
Could you post these facts?

Puphow: move it up a few inches.
 
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Ti hmm I have 30+ years in the hobby and you? not to mention hair algae as your macro either shows high nutrient levels or your t5's need replacement or both, if you want the facts on mh costs vs other lighting do the research like I did and then try MH like I did and you will see a noticeable differance
 
1st of all, chill.
I asked you 2 questions, I didn't insult your mom.
30yrs is nice, but have you personally used TEK t5?
Yrs of exp in a hobby doesn't mean everything, people who have been reefing for many years more than Steve Tyree can't even produce the results he does or even posess the useful knowledge he does from his personal experience.
T5 hasn't been around for 30yrs, it's relatively new so how long have you been using it to know it's limitations?
Have you spoken to our local lighting specialist "The Grim Reefer"?
Did you know that lower wattage T5 out performed a 150 watt MH on Par?
Did you see the april's tank of the month?
Did that tank have all sorts of High light demanding SPS?
Do you have data on par values on T5 bulbs?
I do.
Do you know how many other members here are keeping clams under T5 successfully?
Do you really think a person's signature is truth?
If I said I was the president of the United States in my sig would you believe that too?
For some reason do you believe that a higher wattage MH is cheaper to run than a lower wattage T5?
Is there some kind of rate difference the electric company charges for 1watt from a halide as opposed to 1watt from a t5?
You said it's cheaper, might as well state why.
Because I know the costs of running both I don't need to do the research.
Now you are off topic, pupchow needs help with his clam, not somebody to insult his choice in lighting.
If you got a bone to pick or if you truly want to discuss lighting in an intelligent manner then feel free to pm me.
 
I did some research, I think in terms of keeping stuff, a 250w MH still has an edge over T5. I picked T5 mainly due to the fact that it doesn't give off as much heat (since the tank is in my room). It's also true that long term MH is cheaper, since you only replace one bulb versus replacing all 6 tubes. Although I am quite please at how cool the T5 runs! I can actually put my hand on the fixture!

I did see a spectrum analysis of T5 and they do look rather impressive. However, I still heard that MH can keep "anything" where T5 can only keep "almost anything." I guess the verdict is still out of T5.
 
Very true pupchow.
MH is still a better source of lighting IMO.
You are also correct on the T5 being limited.
MH being cheaper is not that simple.
If heat becomes an issue you'll need a chiller, then you'd be paying electricity costs for both a chiller and the higher wattage MH. Depending where you are a KW could be like 8cents or it cold be 30 cents. We pay about 30 cents/KW here in Ca, while it is much less in other places.
So it all depends.
Grim reefer has been experimenting quite extensively with t5, vho and mh. He'll give you a good idea of what you can keep under your set up.
So how is your clam doing now?
 
PupChow, you should really move your Crocea up onto the rocks. The Crocea is rock boring clam, lives on rocks and will be much happier on the LR. Your Squamosas, Deresas and Gigas live in the sand, the Maxima's and Crocea's live on rocks.
By moving it up onto your rock structure you'll ensure that it has enough light and protect the clam from predators.
 
actually a corcea would be fine under the T5 tek lights, the only thing is, good water quality, If you think that you cant keep corceas under T5s then how are some people about to ceep some amazingly colored (i mean so beautifly colored that your eyes hurt) under PC? There are some who can, some who cant, It depends on the clam, there like people, all individual, all there own!!!

I have no clams in my tank right now because i am about to upgrade, but ahve noticed that some of my SPS corals, can be in one place and start to loose color be moved over about 2 inches (same amount of flow and light as it did 2 inches over) but start being happy and growing?!?!?! very strange, they all now what they like and are picky thats what. lol. (sounds kinda crazy but i think its true)

Try to move the corcea up a little. Also how much flow is on it?
 
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