clam lighting requirements

[findingnemo1974]

I have been doing lots of research on what I can put in my aquarium. I was wondering what kind of lighting is required for Clams?

I have 2 - 55 watt PC type fixtures ( probably not enough for any clams )

55 watt -- 10,000K
55 watt -- True Actinic

My tank is a 20 gallon tank with a total of 110 watt Power compact.

Does anyone know of such a clam that can be sustained with PC lighting.

[SteveO]

your good IMO. you're over 5 watts per gallon.

[Balkos]

I agree. especially if your near the top of the reef. I have a feeling many will disagree though

[ScottM]

You might be ok with lower light clams (Derasa's and Squamosa's). I'd prolly avoid Crocea's and Maxima's might not make it in the long run.

Scott

[jtremblay]

If you look around Nano-Reef.com (http://nano-reef.com) you'll find lots of people with so-so success keeping clams under PC. The general consensus is that you can keep the clams alive, but they typically don't grow very quickly and don't look as splashy as they would under MH. Just IMO, but you can probably find something that will add more "splash" to a small tank with PCs than a clam ... ricordeas, LPS corals, and zoanthids all spring to mind.

And water stability in a small tank is a whole other problem ...

Jason

[cancruiser]

I think Jason has hit the real issue. The lighting might do but the water stability and quality in a small tank is probably the bigger issue here.

[awcrimety]

Is MH the minimum? i would like a clam also, but not sure if i have enough light.

[cancruiser]

220w on a 50g only gives you 4.4w per gallon. A little low from what I've been reading. You could try a lower light clam but it seems that it would just make do. IMO of course.

[Ryan Landry]

you should have enough light for the clam to surrvive, but not thrive.

Ryan Landry

[awcrimety]

Well,...what is the minimum recommended watts per gallon for a clam to do well?

[simoncoul]

You can't really go by watts per gallon. Every type of light is a different intensity. If it is kept close to the light of a VHO or PC a clam should do fine. If u have it close to the surface the watts per gallon doesn't matter really because the light is barelly being filtered by the water. But VHO and PC don't have the intensity from what I've read to support Cro., maximas will do alrite but not grow as well.

[MountainM]

Its hard to say... a lot of variables depth of tank type of light

[awcrimety]

Well, I guess I better start building a canopy so I'll have room for two more VHO's. Should be okay with 440 watts of vho? I like the look of clams on the sandbed, but would not be opposed to putting it higher up if needed. I don't think I would get one at all though, knowing it would live but might not do well.

thanks

[VWfisher]

my Squamosa is under 150 VHO. was up high on a rock, but it jumped off and has now attached into the sand bed. its in a 20gal as well. been there about 3 weeks, and looks happy as a......
guess it likes the sand better.

[SteveO]

I have an 8 inch gold maxima and a 5 inch electric blue crocea. The gold maxima is in a 108 gallon 60x18x24 with 4 NO bulbs, 2daylight and two actinics. It is on it's third summer. The ecectric blue is in a 12 gallon nano cube with 24 watts of 50/50 pc lighting. It's 6 months. both these clams started out at 1.5" both tanks get kent 2 part, kalk, iodine and phytoplex. Metal halides my ass! 110 watts of pc lighting-20 gallon tank=5.5 watts.......Go for it!!!! probably a 16" tall tank. you're never gonna get a yes or no answer so do your research and make your decision but you're definitely not going to kill a clam...............Steve

[VWfisher]

how big are they now steve-o? lost any colour?

[ScottM]

"but you're definitely not going to kill a clam"

That's a pretty bold statement. I lost 2 maxima's due to what i believe to be light starvation in a tank with 400 watt halides.

I do concur with the statement "do your research and make your decision". Check out the clam forum on Reef Central and do a search on lighting for clams - there is a lot info about their requirements there.

Scott

[SteveO]

how do I upload pics and I'll show you the gold one as I recently took a pic of it.

[ajx22]

Originally posted by SteveO
how do I upload pics and I'll show you the gold one as I recently took a pic of it.

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/misc.php?s=&action=faq&page=3#attachments

http://www.aquariumpros.ca/photopost/uploadphoto.php

[jtremblay]

Weeeellll ...

Clams are filter feeders. If there's enough gunk in the water (phyto), they'll probably keep on going. Most people probably just find that it's easier to have them in high light than very high nutrient water.

Jason

[findingnemo1974]

Hello, I am still a newbee in setting up a saltwater aquarium but I am gathering as much informaiton as possible... to successfully establish one that I will enjoy...

I would like to extend my thanks to everybody who participated in replying to my post, and providing valuable information on Clam light requirements in an aquarium.

:victory: :toomuch:

[Mijee]

I agree with Steveo, you've got enough light to give it a try and aclam will probably grow very nicely. IMO, watts per gallon is a rule of thumb for beginners to get an idea of what they need. The real factor to consider is tank depth and water quality.
eg. Water of the same quality is going to affect light intensity equally at 12 inches deep whether it's a 4 foot deep tank or a 2 foot deep tank. (Reflection and other insignifigant variables aside)
My three clams are doing great in a two foot deep tank, on the bottom, with dual 175 watt MH's and 4 NO actinics. In my case that works out to about 5 watts per gallon.
Go buy one.