Tridacna Clams & beginner corals

capps_caitlyn · 04/28/2012, 10:18 PM

I am looking at getting some new additions for my tank. I would love to have a clam but I'm not sure if I have enough light for one. I have a 40 gal breeder with 4 T5 lights ( 2 10,000K, 1 Actinic, and one that is blown I am still deciding on replacements). My tank has been up and running for almost a year and a half.

Do I have enough light in general? If I replaced the blown one with another actinic? or another bulb suggestion?

I am also considering getting some soft corals. I currently have a Kenyan Tree that is very happy and thriving. My calcium is perfect and all of my other parameters are perfect. So my only questions are about my lighting at this point.

What corals are good for beginners/intermediates? And what would thrive under those lighting conditions?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/29/2012, 07:32 AM

Clams are much harder to keep long term than you might suspect from reading of the number of people who have them.

Many very advanced reefers cannot keep them for more than a year or two, then they die, unfortunately.

izzy123 · 04/29/2012, 11:00 AM

I agree, I want to keep clams for a while now, and I have a really good DIY led light fixture over my tank, but I'm afraid they're out of my league at the moment.

Read up on them and try to decide for yourself if you can do it

Hope this helps

MarkGP · 04/29/2012, 04:30 PM

Stability is important with clams. Unless your tank has been running for awhile and all of the parameters don't fluctuate then you should be good to have a clam. I would probably start out with less light demanding one like a derasa clam.

04/28/2012, 10:18 PM	#1
capps_caitlyn Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Carbondale, IL Posts: 27	Tridacna Clams & beginner corals I am looking at getting some new additions for my tank. I would love to have a clam but I'm not sure if I have enough light for one. I have a 40 gal breeder with 4 T5 lights ( 2 10,000K, 1 Actinic, and one that is blown I am still deciding on replacements). My tank has been up and running for almost a year and a half. Do I have enough light in general? If I replaced the blown one with another actinic? or another bulb suggestion? I am also considering getting some soft corals. I currently have a Kenyan Tree that is very happy and thriving. My calcium is perfect and all of my other parameters are perfect. So my only questions are about my lighting at this point. What corals are good for beginners/intermediates? And what would thrive under those lighting conditions?

04/29/2012, 07:32 AM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Clams are much harder to keep long term than you might suspect from reading of the number of people who have them. Many very advanced reefers cannot keep them for more than a year or two, then they die, unfortunately. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/29/2012, 11:00 AM	#3
izzy123 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Belgium Posts: 504	I agree, I want to keep clams for a while now, and I have a really good DIY led light fixture over my tank, but I'm afraid they're out of my league at the moment. Read up on them and try to decide for yourself if you can do it Hope this helps

04/29/2012, 04:30 PM	#4
MarkGP Why do I do this? Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bristol, RI Posts: 1,015	Stability is important with clams. Unless your tank has been running for awhile and all of the parameters don't fluctuate then you should be good to have a clam. I would probably start out with less light demanding one like a derasa clam.