Clam Placement for Lighting

[Flatfish]

Hey All!

I've got at 100g, 20" tall with at 3.5 inch sand bed. My LR reaches a total height of about 15" from the tank bottom.

Lighting: 2-Iwasaki 400W 6500K + 2-Actinic blue vho. The lights are in a pendant and are 22" above the surface of the water (for heat management).

Regarding a T.maxima:

How much do you think does the height of the light off the surface affects light quality?

Do you think I'll be able to place this specimen on the sandbed?

Should I start on the sand bed and work up or start on the LR and work down if needed?

Thanks!

Joe

[DuncanReefer]

With 400 W Halides you should be fine with the Maxima on the sand bed. Just keep an eye out and if the mantle does not expand fully or if you see a hole forming in the mantle that might mean that it is not getting enough light. Keep in mind that if your clam is over 3" than your lighting is going to supply all of the clams needs- so the more the happier. I have a 4" 1st grade Maxima and it adds a lot to the tank. I have dual 250W 12K and I have him about 4 inches from the water line. He loves all the light. Just a piece of info for you. You will get different opinions on this but I like to keep my clam on rock so they can connect to the rock like they do in the wild. But I have seen some great looking clams on sand beds and they seem to do fine?? Who knows?!

2 cents,

Kevin

[reiple]

Good lighting! You can keep them on sand bed. With MH you are on the right track.

I beat to death tried PC and NO-Acts but you will end up with a prolonged hunger spell and very unhealthy calms in the end.

[Flatfish]

Thanks for the replies!

FYI this is my first clam.

I recieved my maxima clam yesterday. It was a bit smaller that I wanted (about 2") but very healthy looking. There was a lot of brown in the mantle, but it is very responsive. I took my time acclimating and placed it on the sand bed. I brought the lights on slowly over the next several hours.

Today the mantle is turning a nice purple-ish blue and it seems to be coloring up nicely. I'll try to post a good pic of it.

Thanks!
Joe

[WestPat]

this is the type of info I was looking for so I am jumping aboard. I just bought a crocea yeterday from a store that was closing. I got it for 15$. I would not say it was first grade as it has some barnacles on it, and little corals also. I placed it on the sandbed last night and this morning when the actinics came on it was standing on end with its foot out combing the sand, not sure if it was burying itself or what.

It is right at 3" long and it has opened about 1/4 to 1/2 inch so far. The place where it was on end still is covered in sand. It was not open any more than this in the store, but I had seen it in there before and it was healthy. I attribute it being closed to no water movement at the time, in fact all of there clams were closed.

Anyway, what should I look for as far of signs of progressing normally or not? It is under a Hamilton 175 12K halide, with 2 coralife 40w actinic 48" tubes. It is about 24 inches from the halide, but directly under the bulb.

I appreciate any input, thanks for your time,
David

[Flatfish]

WestPat,

Here's what I saw with my new Maxima (first clam):

After shipping (mail order) the clam didn't open very much. Not what you'd see in most pictures. The mantle extension was not much beyond its shell. I gave it a couple of direct feedings with DTs and eased it into the light. It was recommend to me to acclaimate the clam to the light in its new home and not just shove it under the full bore of the MH. So I shortened my photo period. I also only ran one bulb the first day. After three days the mantle is much more extended. It kind of flaps over the shell for lack of a better term. There's still quite a bit of brown in the coloring though I think thats due to the 6500K lights (not the best bulbs for show). The clam is very responsive and will almost fully retract when a fish swims between it and the light. It will also quickly re-expand. These are things that I've read that are "normal" clam behaviors and a sign that things are OK.

Here's a good blurb about your clam.

Here's a page with a lot of helpful links

Good luck!
Joe

[Sue Truett]

T. crocea clams are the most lighting needy of the giant clams. Considering what lighting this crocea was under at the LFS I would make sure it is getting sufficient lighting to thrive. Also since it is 3" or so it should not need to have any direct feedings but I would for sure feed the tank with DT's or KoralVitF. Usually my clams will extend their mantles within a few minutes of being in my system after acclimation. I would watch for this clam not opening and be sure to check it for the tiny pyramid snails that will kill clams.

Your statement that all the clams were closed is kind of scaring me. The clams should of been open and looking good to you if they are healthy. Be sure to watch this clam as I would be a bit concerned about it for the time being.