Would like a clam, but questions ...

[binski]

Like most of us on the forum, I like colorful clams. My tank is a 55 gallon tub (30 long x 24 deep) but I run PC lighing. I am currently running 390 watts of PC (2 ea. Actinic, 50/50, 10k).

I would like recommendations and cautions. The tank is very stable on parameters and is maintained at 77 degrees. Any input would be welcome.

Binski

 

[Julio]

you can keep maximas, hippopus and croceas towards the very top of the tank. These should do fine in your tank under those kind of lighting.

 

[binski]

Thanks Julio ... appreciate your input!

 

[mbbuna]

PC lighting dosent have the intensity to keep the brightly colored clams.with that lighting you could keep,T.Derasa or Squamosa.

 

[Julio]

i have kept brightly colored maxima and croceas under pcs

 

[mbbuna]

i have kept brightly colored maxima and croceas under pcs

i wouldnt advise keep the two most light demanding clams under anything less then MH.

you say you Have kept them under pc's. for how long and what happened to them?

it can take a clam 3 to 4 months befor it starves to death(and look good the whole time)is that a success?

 

[Julio]

Maximas are not the most light demanding, croceas do require a little more light, but they can be kept under PC if kept directly under the light. i kept both species for several years under PCs with no problem.

 

[mbbuna]

I said the two most light demanding.
T.Crocea is the most light demanding
T. Maxima is the 2nd most
PC lights have lower par and light penetration then HO,VHOand T5's. PC's also lose there intensity faster then any florescent bulbs,and shift there k faster then any others. it not a good idea to try to keep these clams under PCs,and it bad advice to tell some that they can.im glad that you had success(I doubt that you kept the same clams for as long as you say)but please don't encourage others to do so,you are only setting them up for failure

 

[binski]

I appreciate the responses and am concerned about Crocea and Maxima's under the PCs. I realize that if I went this route, I'd need to place the specimen fairly high up in the rock work to maximize the light. However, I'm equally concerned about either a Derasa or Squamosa sitting on the sand given the 24" depth of the water column.

binski

 

[mbbuna]

a Derasa would be fine on the sand bed.but even if you were to place a Crocea or Maxima high up in the rocks i still dont think that it would get enough light

 

[Julio]

do you have any physical evidence for comparison on PC vs VHO intensity or K shift.

 

[mbbuna]

all you have to do is look up any bulb comparison between the 2

 

[cristhiam]

I think you should be fine, I'm overriding 40W bulbs with an icecap 660 according to icecap they run at around 80W, I have about 350W, 3 40W and 1 110 URI actinic, the lamps are from home depot, phillips bulbs. I have less watts than you and I've been able to keep, crocea, maxima, gigas and a derasa. The crocea is at the top of the tank, the max around the middle. The maxima is been in my tank over a year, crocea about 9 to 10 months. I think a lot have to do with the 3 lights been 6500K. I have some pictures in my gallery. Good luck.

 

[Julio]

thnaks for sharing that Cristhiam, it shows that they are capable of being kept under that kind of wattage.

Mbbuna, where do you get this info?

 

[Kirklan]

It is my opinion that you need MH to keep Croceas and Maximas. If you have to ask if your lighting is enough, then it probably isn't. Lets keep in mind that he only has 1 10K light, the other 3 are 2-Actinic (very low in PAR) and 1-50/50.

 

[mbbuna]

thnaks for sharing that Cristhiam, it shows that they are capable of being kept under that kind of wattage.

Mbbuna, where do you get this info?

I've been studying and keeping clams for 6 years.
I get my information from many different places like:
http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/content...9&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=10&resourcetype=1
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/conte...4&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=20&resourcetype=1
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/Clam_care/Clam_care.htm
many papers that I have gotten from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines.
and countless other papers and book by to many to list but if you like I will.

Julio where do you get yours?

 

[cristhiam]

What info? it's working for me. About the icecap overriding the bulbs? on their website

 

[s3aL]

Ive tried to keep two blue croceas and one gold maxima awhile back when I was hard headed. I had the 260watt coralife PC fixture but of course only 130 watts of it really counts cuz it was a 48" fixture, and the clam only got light from two of the bulbs. It was 3-4" below water surface. They started fading in color after about 3 months. I was also feeding live DT 3 times a week.

 

[skippy2]

I do want a clam. Have wanted 1 for quite some time. I do have 2 250w mh on my 75 but I still am so hesitant. I am not sure if I would know enough to pick out a healthy clam. I, unfortunately, am losing faith in my lfs over the past couple monthes.

 

[Julio]

alot of you guys are going based on opinion, how about you try goign based on epxerience and see hwo other people have kept them successfulyy under pc for long term, i had croceas and Maximas under pcs well over 3 years and the blackout a few years back killed them all.