Clam Question

jeepjon · 02-10-2004, 03:51 PM

I know this is the wrong forum...but I want this to actually get read (I haven't seen much activity in the clam forum). I recently updated my 15 gallon reef with two new bulbs from Hellolights (One 10k/03 combo and one all 03) (They're 2 55w pc lights). I am putting the lights from my old hood (2 28w pc lights). I'll have another 10k and another 03 over my tank then. There will be now 166 watts of light over a 15 gallon tank. The tank is only 12" deep, so I'm assuming this is a lot of light for this tank. My SPS are loving it...but I want CLAMS! ! ! Will a maxima be able to thrive under the 166 watts of PC light? What about a Crocea? How fast do they grow (will they outgrow the tank soon). I really wouldn't mind a combo of three clams in the tank...I have a spot on the sand just waiting for some...but I want to be able to take care of them. I like having my animals thrive while in my care. I don't want to abuse them. Thanks guys!

PS-the lights are all centered over the tank, so the 2 28 watt bulbs are still in the center of the tank, concentrating extra light on center stage for my future clams!

Jeremy1973 · 02-10-2004, 04:07 PM

Well, they may not be a ton of action in there, but I know I check it when I see new posts.

To answer your question, I am not sure how well a crocea or maxima would do in your tank. From what I have read, they are a little more picky about their lighting. I have read people keeping deresas and squamosas under PC lighting. So, I can't say for sure that Maximas would be just as resillent. Maybe higher up in the rock work closer to the light could help compensate, but, again..hard to say.

jeepjon · 02-10-2004, 04:34 PM

I know that in Sprung and Delbeek's The Reef Aquarium, Vol. 1, they say that VHO can get light levels that can compete with MH when the tank is shallow and a reflector is used (I think they said less than 20"...maybe a foot, I don't have the book in front of me). They also said that they have successfully kept Clams (they didn't specify which ones) under NO fluorescent lighting, with the clams directly under the lighting. I have heard people say MH only...but that sounds like a blanket statement, and I am not personally fond of those...as they don't take into account individual differences. My main question is with my PC setup I have described...there seems to be a lot of wattage over a small area with a shallow tank. I was thinking that all added up to good intensity. If people can keep a clam thriving 2' under the water, and the 175W MH light is a foot off the water...then why shouldn't I be able to use 166watts of PC (that has a high PAR energy from what i have heard, right...that's why people like them), with the lights being 3" above the water and the clam 9" below that? It seems like the blanket statement of MH only for clams doesnt make sense...if I am wrong please someone inform me. I am asking this not to argue my point, but to try and tell people what I am thinking, and to have my understanding changed, if need be.

Jeremy1973 · 02-10-2004, 04:55 PM

Nope, don't see you as arguing. I can follow your thinking. I think if you keep the clam a little higher up, you can try it, but keep an eye on him to make sure you don't see recession. You may also want something to stir up the surface of the water some. I remember reading somewhere that the "lines" of light on sand bed floors from the waves in the water is beneficial to clams. Since these lines of light are focused light rays at a little bit higher intensity then the general light washing through the tank.

Another thing to keep in mind is if you get a small clam, under 3", be sure to dose phytoplankton. I have also read that at a smaller size, they don't rely as much on the light, but through feeding. This is just my two cents. I am relatively new to clams, have only been keeping them for a few months now. So, hopefully someone with a ton more experience will jump in.

Eric P · 02-10-2004, 04:56 PM

My main concern is also with your lighting. It may do ok being that the tank is so shallow. I would go for a derasa or a squamosa as they don't require as much light and if you look around you can find some that are just awesome looking.

Try www.clamsdirect.com Barry has some awesome looking derasa's now. The thing with the lighting is not always the watts but the intencity. I have run NO, VHO, PC and now I am running MH with PC actinics. No comparison to MH's. I plan on changing my actinics back from PC to VHO, they seemed cheaper, more reliable and had a better color.

Eric...

Reefdude5 · 02-10-2004, 05:40 PM

Hi Jon,
Definitly don't go for the squasmosa and deresa, sorry for disagreeing Eric. True, they can do with less light, but they will outgrow a tank that size. Jon, how high are the lights from the surface? I would think that it would be fine, but i would watch the maxima or croecea extrememly closley!

Eric P · 02-10-2004, 06:08 PM

You may be right Austin, but I would think a 3 or 4 inch derasa will still take a couple years to outgrow that tank. Besides by that time he will have grown out of the tank and will have at least a 180.

Or he could send it to me!!

Eric...

Reefdude5 · 02-10-2004, 06:22 PM

Heck, is he gonna have a 180? Get as many clams as you can cram in there then!

jk!

Well, as long as there is an alternate home for him eventually then i would say go for it. I was talking about the 20year thing.

jeepjon · 02-10-2004, 10:52 PM

well...I will probably have this tank only for the next 4 years...until I get out of medical school...unless I win the lottery or something, the next 4 years will have my budget extremely low...my next tank I would like to have would be a 30 cube...I'm planning on upgrading slowly...like only having to buy new lights and rock, and then keeping the skimmer, then upgrading the skimmer for the next tank...and slowly working up to my dream 300 ! ! ! Anyway...the lights are right on top of the water...there is an acrylic sheet over them that I could remove. As to the water ripples. One of my powerheads is close to the surface, so I get some of those light ripples. It seems like I will just have to try and see what works in my tank, and keep you guys updated. I think I can do it...but then again, I may be wrong. I am going to have an alternate home for the clam if something goes wrong, so that I could take him out of there if something doesn't work quite right...any reefers in the cleveland area that would like to be an alternate home in case it doesn't work?

jeepjon · 02-10-2004, 10:57 PM

I am just trying to work out the different schools of thought on clams. I don't like the blanket statements of ONLY THIS or ONLY THAT...there's a lot more art to reefing than some people admit, but there's also a science foundation to it! This info is pretty good....thanks for your help! I appreciate all of the comments, whether they be warning to me or telling me its good. I like these discussions! Anyway...I think I will save some $$$ and get a 4-5" maxima or crocea to start...and then see what I have to tweak to make him/her/it grow! If things work, then good, if not, then I'll have my alternate housing setup take him! If it works...I'll get two more for my dream trio! Any more comments to help would be great! Thanks so much for your help guys!

PS-in my last statement, about the lights right on top of the water...I mean about 2.5" up...

Jeremy1973 · 02-11-2004, 09:47 AM

I would remove the acrylic sheet, unless it is the thin sheet that is actually made as part of the PC light. Then I would leave it, but make sure you clean it periodically to remove the salt that will slowly grow on it.