[JackedupSOB]

Can clams be successful under PCs?
Specifically 260 watt PC on a 55 gal tank

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by JackedupSOB

Can clams be successful under PCs?
Specifically 260 watt PC on a 55 gal tank

You might be able to keep a Squamosa or Derasa higher in the tank. However, these Triacnids are most commonly kept on the substrate which I would feel you do not have enough light if kept there. You could try some spot feeding nano plankton to keep them going but in the long run probably not a good thing. Clams seem to do best if they get good lighting to the point where they do not over extend their mantles and possibly injure themselves and no spot feeding is needed.

Im guessing you have an 18-20" tall tank.

[JackedupSOB]

Yeah my tank is 20'' tall. I guess I will hold off on the clams until I get some MHs. I'll stick with the LPSs and softies.

[pogodzib]

Holding off would be a good idea. Like Jim said, the only two types of clams that may be ok with the lighting, if high up, are sand liking clams.

[WILLIAM1]

I have two 265 watt pcs on my 90 gallon and stock a nice size gigas clam. for about a year now still going

[Lowej82]

Very tempting I have wanted one several times when they had them at the LFS, 192 Watts PC ovet the 29 prolly not good either

[WILLIAM1]

Not nessesarly thats 6 to 7 watts a gallon. Start out with a small 1 then see what happens. You also have to add phytoplankton of some sort to your tank.. What else do you have in your tank? I didnt think I could have a clam either I run two pc lights on my tank 265 watts each whats the watts per gallon if I had a 90..5.8 watts per gallon 4 daylights 10000 and 4 atinics 460 deep blue

[Lowej82]

I have 1 12000k & 1 true actinic. I have 2 of these setups I could add another 96 watts for a few hours a day along side the normal 2.

Theres a guy in the SDIRB club using NO(normal output) bulbs and keeps higher light needing corals.

[JackedupSOB]

Maybe I will give it a shot because I have over 5 watts per gallon and I also have a normal flourescent 40 watt light sitting around in the garage that I could add.
When I had a 29 gallon setup with 65 PC I had some favia right near the top doing good. Unfortunately I might have light shocked them when I moved them to my bigger tank.

[jtravapd]

i tried using powercompacts with clams and it didn't work...i think the watts per gallon measurement doesn't really matter....i guess what matters is how deep the tank is, and how good the light penetrates the water....since i upgraded to mh's i have had no problem keeping sand loving clams on the bottom, and light loving ones up top on the rockwork...i have heard some people say they used t-5's but again im not sure...my dad has 250 watt mh's and t-5's and his clams are loving life..lol...

[Jay03GT]

Originally Posted by jtravapd

i tried using powercompacts with clams and it didn't work...i think the watts per gallon measurement doesn't really matter....i guess what matters is how deep the tank is, and how good the light penetrates the water....since i upgraded to mh's i have had no problem keeping sand loving clams on the bottom, and light loving ones up top on the rockwork...i have heard some people say they used t-5's but again im not sure...my dad has 250 watt mh's and t-5's and his clams are loving life..lol...

I agree! You can have alot of light but some crappy bulbs and nothing will be happy.

[e_baer]

i have 390w of PC lights onver my 55. I have a 2: sand bed, so there is about 16-17: that the light needs to travel. Think I would have enough light? I have been doing some research and think I may be able to do it.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by e_baer

i have 390w of PC lights onver my 55. I have a 2: sand bed, so there is about 16-17: that the light needs to travel. Think I would have enough light? I have been doing some research and think I may be able to do it.

If you are gonna give it a go start with a Derasa or squamosa at least 3 inches long. That will give you your best shot. Without knowing par levels in your tank its hard to say.

[e_baer]

I was planning a squamosa about 4". I hope to trade my tang in and get the clam form my not so lfs, but we will see.

[JackedupSOB]

I haven't had a chance to try adding a clam yet but let me know how it goes for you Jim

[das04j]

i would have to disagree. sand loving clams need a sandy bottom so it can attach. The bigger clam you get the less sucessful you are going to be. Most sand loving clams loose their bissle orang which then they depend on their weight to keep them stationary. if you have it on rock work and the loose their bissel organ than you have a 40+ dollar clam falling and potential damaging itself.Also PC just don't have enough lumens to penetrate all the way to the bottom. I would trade in the tang an put it towards lighting. you cant beat HO t5. you get the most penetration of light. check out http://www.reefbuilders.com/forums/e...-light-do.html. You get almost twice as much penetration on the bottom of the tank with T5, and you get a cheaper electric bill.

[NAS]

I currently have Crocea and Maxima's (Ultra, green, gold) in a nano tank with PC's. They have been going for about 5 months now. However, it is only a 7 Gallon nano. It's total depth is 8" so all the clams are clearly well within the pc's penatration range...

[NAS]

For PC's you are looking at about 16-18 inches when the specrtum starts to slide. I have found with clams that this is the key for me. I would try to stick to no more then 14 inches just to be sure and take into consideration DOC's, Glass canopy or not, protien content, age of bulbs ect...

[NAS]

By the way, Ebayer... my wife says your avitar pick is freakin creepy...lol

[e_baer]

I am going to hold off until I move and get a larger tank with MH.

[e_baer]

Originally Posted by NAS

By the way, Ebayer... my wife says your avitar pick is freakin creepy...lol

lol...thanks....I think.

[jimw369]

Hey you see the clams for $8 if you buy another coral on Extreme Corals?

[Lightsluvr]

We need to be cautious about just relying on the so-called watts per gallon guideline. If watts per gallon were the only measure, you could keep clams in a goldfish bowl under a 100 watt incandescent bulb.
You need to consider water quality, available nitrates, light temperature (suitable for the clam to produce food via its zooxanthellae). Temperatures between 75 - 82 degrees are optimal, with a pH of 8.1 to 8.3. Alkalinity should be kept in the range of 9 to 12dKH , and calcium should be maintained at 380 to 450ppm.
If you can't offer this environment for a clam, please wait until you can.
JMHO.

LL