Lighting for Clams

[coolj1]

I've been interested in getting a clam (Maxima's are my fav) for my reef tank for some time now. I've seen a number of differing opinions on T5's being enough for them. Some people say halides for sure and T5's are "hit or miss." I don't want to get it if there is a 50% chance it will croak on me after a few days.

I have a Nova Extreme 4x39w T5 fixture. The spot I have staked out for the clam will be mid way up in the tank (46 Gallon Bow). Thoughts?

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

My personal experience ... they've only survived under MH's. I suspect however that if they are high in the water table, you could get by with T5's. I have a blue maxima and he's doing well and seems to love the intensity of my MH's over the early morn/late afternoon T5's.

 

[raisedonnintendo]

I'm not sure about how well the light would be. Each bulb puts out a way different par. Also some people may get away with t5 while others don't with the same amount of bulbs. Because they sacrifice attincs. If you don't put attinics in your t5 fixture you can bring your usable light way up. But you will loose that pop. My main concern with a nano tank would be calcium absorption. Do you have a reactor? Or dose? I hear they are really demanding. Also if you want more light just for say that clam. You could buy a supplemental light like leds. I know jenn has a rose bubble growing from a single 99$ led strip in her cube. I'm sure if that can grow 1 off a single led strip. If you added it to your existing lighting your par would be more then enough for anything

 

[rolo65]

porpoiseaquatics;584729 wrote: My personal experience ... they've only survived under MH's. I suspect however that if they are high in the water table, you could get by with T5's. I have a blue maxima and he's doing well and seems to love the intensity of my MH's over the early morn/late afternoon T5's.

Mines the same way....I have a gold maxima that's underthe halide...and he seems happy....and a blue maxima more under the T5s and he seems happy too.....but he is about halfway up the tank....

 

[merkywater]

Metal Halide is the only way to go for any clam to live a long life hands down. If you decide to go with a clam with T-5's it must be a Derasa they are the only clams that have a 50/50 shot. IME

 

[coolj1]

Yea I have to start dosing for calcium, was going to pick up something from the LFS this weekend. I'm running two actinic's and two daylights in the the fixture.

If I pick up a maxima this weekend it will be on the highest rock in the tank for sure