Which is the best clam for me??

[smcnally]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8342431#post8342431 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dvmsn

There is an absolute halide bias in this hobby. Some of the prettiest tanks I have seen have been VHO only tanks. Granted VHO's lose their intensity with depth, but a Crocea high up under VHO's will live nine times out of ten.

Only people that don't own Halides really feel this way. People that have swapped over to Halides, swear by them...doesn't that say something? Why would we continue to use a lamp that runs hotter than the others, and that you have to be more careful with?

As for the Clams...I've had T.maxima, T.derasa, T.crocea, and T.squamosa clams in my tank at one time or another. I think you could do a derasa or a squamosa under that lighting if they are up high and ALL your bulbs are 10,000K (or something close). If 2 of those 4 bulbs are actinic, I wouldn't recommend any clams. Both clams will grow fast, and large though, so you'll need to take that into consideration. I had to find a new home for my T.squamosa when it got to 12" and was too large for my 125 Gal tank.

 

[critterkeeper]

I haven't seen any numbers yet, but I think Sanjay Joshi is doing some studies on t-5s (or will be). If they turn out to have the output that MH does (at least in shallow tanks) that'll be a good thing for the hobby. Until we know more, I still would tell people to get MH for clams, or at the least have as many bulbs as can possibly fit over a tank that isn't too deep.

To tell the truth, I'd love to find out that more people are successfully keeping them under fluorescents - but it just ain't happening. At least not yet... Derasa is the only species that I know of that has been regularly kept under them succesully - but even that doesn't mean all of them can. I guarantee there are lots of people that tried and failed, and then wondered what went wrong.

In fact, I'm one of them! I tried a couple under 440w VHO in my 55 in about 1993 - corals thrived, clams slowly died and never showed any growth. Switched to halides, never had any problems. So, even derasas aren't "bulletproof"...

 

[skidaddy]

parrot the clam is at least 3".

 

[Jeffrey Porter]

i have to say i love having the halides on my tank. although they are only 150w each they get the job done. all i have is 1 squamosa and it is doing great and now that i've added a kalkwasser stirrer it's growing even faster than with the calcium supplement i was using before.

 

[dvmsn]

I whole heartedly agree that halides are currently the best all around choice for lighting. I myself went from florescent to 175's to 250's to 400's. For the type of tank I have there is no better option. For clams, I think halides are the BEST option. That being said, I also feel that a vho lighting system is a perfectly adequate lighting setup for many species we keep. Many of the corals we commonly keep as beginners will actually do better under vho's than 400 watt halides. (ie. bubbles, red open brains)

The original question related to the care of clams under vho florescents. I have personal experience with the care of squamosas and deresas under florescents. In the interest of full disclosure, I eventually upgraded to halides. Would they have eventually faded away. I can't say for sure. Both put on growth rings while under florescents. The growth did not compare to halides, but I think it is fair to say that it was an indication of good health. I personally feel that both of those species will do well under 4 * 110 watt vho's. This is just my opinion, based on personal experience. I wouldn't recommend a gigas because they get way to big for a ninety. I the lighting adequate to keep one alive and happy, I think so.

Again the questions wasn't, "I am setting up a tank for clams, what kind of lighting should I get?" it was "What kind of clams can I keep in the tank I currently have?" Do I want to keep my clams right up under the lights in my tank? No. But it is his or her tank and can do whatever he wants with it.

 

[Jeffrey Porter]

well i think it would be possible for a squamosa, maxima or derasa in the tank. it's got around 440 watts of light but if he wanted to upgrade the lights just to have a clam or 2 then a minimal wattage of halides would probably do just fine. even croceas, just put them fairly high up. although it is likely that coulours would intensify with some of the obove mentioned clams with stronger halides, lower intensity halides would not be detrimental to growth or long term care for most clams.

 

[jay24k]

I've kept a maxima and crocea under VHO for awhile. The maxima I had 12 inches below and the crocea was on the bottom. I had that tank for about a year. No color loss although slow growth on the maxima. I still have the two but moved them to MH which my current tank is on.

I would say you can keep them if you keep the bulbs in check and the correct height, however MH is recommended.

Same goes with ANYTHING in this hobby. Sure you don't NEED a skimmer, but it helps. Sure you don't need 30X flow in a SPS tank, but it does help.

 

[jbittner]

My t5 setup works great for me. I know of many people (like myself) who switched from MH to t5 and will not go back. I see growth rates and coloration that i could not achieve with a mh setup. Just because one way works does not mean it is the only way. I would never change back to mh--I have to much flexibility (and intensity) with my t5 setup. The term metal halide recommended is over used.

 

[critterkeeper]

Not trying to give you a hard time, but I can't make any sense of that...

When haldies come from 4,300K to 20,000K and 75w to 1000w, and any type of fluorescents you choose can be used with them - how do you get more "flexibility" and intensity with T5?

What, specifically, is it about your T5s that you like so much. Maybe you can convince me to try some.

 

[jbittner]

I can run a wide variety of lights on my system. I have a 4 bulb system so my options are a little limited. But I can run 4 different bulb spectrums. If i had a halide system I could run 2 but using 2 differnt halide bulbs would just look funny. I currenntly run 2 11k, 1 actinic and 1 10k and get a beautiful white tank. I have been looking at adding a 6.5k but I dont like the yellow, but I could try it for about $20. If I had a halide system I would be stuck with one spectrum for both bulbs. I would not want to change both bulbs ($200) just to experiment. The light in the tank is amazing and everthing (exept a few mushrooms) love it.

 

[a4twenty]

i'm not sure what the difference is? 2 11K's, 1 10K and an actinic , sounds like you'd want a 14K halide. they are both great and have there advantages and disadvantages

don't even waste the $20, the yellow in the 6.5K wont look good.

 

[cristhiam]

IMO it has to do with the kind of K on the bulbs. I have a derasa, crocea, maxima and gigas for over 2 years, and my lights are 4 40W NO t12 from HD bulbs are 6500K, and 2 110W super actinics, of course I'm running 2 IceCaps ballasts 660. I keep the crocea near the top and maxima around the middle, derasa and gigas are on the bottom. (gigas is getting way too big )
These are a few months ago.

 

[jbittner]

Or I could go with the 3.5k and get a pink spectrum.

 

[mushnmeesh]

cristhiam nice clams, I didn't get what your specs are? what size tank, and how much light??
Thanks

 

[cristhiam]

Thanks mushnmeesh. Specs: 125G, 4 40W NO bulbs phillips 6500K and 2 110 W URI Superactinics. Running 2 IceCaps 660 ballasts. Calc around 460 (new salt) Alk 3.5 - 4, MG 1400. The tank is been running for about 8 months, but all the clams and most of the corals were in a 55G for over 2 years. The 55G was run with 3 40W and 1 - 110W superactinic. Derasa and gigas were about 2.5 inches, now derasa is about 3.5 - 4 inch and gigas about 6 - 6.5 I think it's getting huge!!! - Crocea is about 5 inches, grows slower than the others, the maxima was 1.5" now it's about 2.5"+ I need to measure them again to double check sizes. I'll post later.
Pic of the 55G