Thinking of adding a clam

[Orchids]

I have been approached by my partner in reef keeping (10 year old son) about the adding a clam to our reef tank. I am comfortable with my water conditions, but I am unsure if I can maintain a clam with my lighting and substrate.

I have a 120 gallon tank with 8 T5's as light. The substrate is crushed coral.

Is this sufficient to keep a clam and if so, what would be best?

Thank you in advance

 

[acrodave]

crushed coral is fine... but with you lights on a 120 i would keep it midway or at the top of the tank..and keeping you ca and alk in check is imporant also..well if you go with a squamosa or derasa they will be fine at the bottom they do not need as much light as the others

 

[crvz]

Do the bulbs have individual reflectors?

Either way, I imagine there are some solutions that could fit your needs. Low light clams that are sand/substrate dwelling include the derasa and squamosa, either of which should do well in that size tank. I hesitate to recommend a crocea or maxima without knowing more about your light setup.

 

[Orchids]

I would not want to try a crocea or maxima, they would not thrive in a 24" deep tank with T5 lighting.

The lights do have individual reflectors. I would likely go with a derasa or squamosa depending on availability.

VM

 

[crvz]

Shouldnt be a problem, but careful or you'll get hooked!

 

[phil519]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14246734#post14246734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Orchids
I would not want to try a crocea or maxima, they would not thrive in a 24" deep tank with T5 lighting.

The lights do have individual reflectors. I would likely go with a derasa or squamosa depending on availability.

VM

Orchids -

I am not a T5 expert - but I would imagine a bank of 8 T5s would be more than plenty for a clam that is strategically placed higher in the tank.

Also keep in mind that squamosa and dersa will quickly grow to a much larger size. Whereas the per year growth of a crocea is very small.

That stated - you should share what else you have in the tank (fish/inverts). For all I know you have a dozen horseshoe crabs for sand cleaning...(and they would love to have a clam snack).

 

[betamed]

I have the tek 8 bulb t5's on my 30" deep 150g. Dersa does great on the bottom and a crocea is about 10"down on the rock. As long as your lights have the individual reflectors I think you could do the same

 

[Sk8r]

Lol. I have a crocea in a reef that has very much had its own opinion about where to be. I have put it into the rockwork multiple times, but it would fling itself out to the sand, and went 2 years without byssal threads until I found the perfect situation for it, a 5" tall pedestal of an old montipora (deceased). It sits in its little goblet quite happily and expands enormously. If you do have trouble getting it to settle, try the pedestal mount.

 

[marc price]

the above crocea's are ~4" from the surface of a 72"x18"x18"/four t5's/indv. reflectors.
i also have one other crocea borrowed into live porities coral ~6" down and a +12" squamosa which was 3.5" five years ago and a new 2.75" squamosa on the sandbed.
your tank has twice the # bulbs span 6" more front to back so i'd think with careful placement you could keep whatever you want.