Clams w/o MH

[minethief]

I’m putting this exact same post on 3 different forums.

My question; is it possible to have crocea electric clams without a MH lighting? Other factors I plan to have include: 6 inches from light to water, and 12 inches from water to sand bed. I’ve got plans for 175 watts of PC over a 29 gal main tank with a 29 gal sump/fuge.

I’ve read hundreds of threads suggesting this is not a good idea, but I’m betting someone will respond with their success. Chime in with your experience if you’ve tried this.

I WANT CLAMS!!! After establishing a good reef tank/sump/fuge, that is the final goal. I don’t currently have a salt water tank, but I’m going to get one started shortly after a move I’m making. It’ll probably be a year before I get to the adding clams state. I’m going seriously over plan this whole process to try to avoid over spending.

All that said; I’m sure I’ll cave and buy a nice 250 MH. I’d like to gather all the info I can before I start.

[Amphiprion]

I know several folks who had good luck with pc. I have had good luck with VHO, keeping T. crocea, etc.

[HornetMech242]

I have a corecia under 160W of PC and he is doing just fine. I had him about ten inches from the top and he lost a little bit of color. But I repositioned him about four or five inches from the lights and he likes it a lot better. The shell also started to grow a lot faster. I would recommend you get your calcium and Alk a little bit higher than normal when you put it in the tank. Mine dropped both by about half in about two days. But I have developed a dosing schedule now so it stays at normal levels now. Here is a couple of pics to show the growth and color. Please give your opinion of the clam too.

Chris





Oh and here is my one armed bandit.

[mg426]

I had Crocea for 8 months under PCS untill I got my MH setup. Kept him up on the rockwork kept the covers clean. No problems.

[horkn]

if you want crocea under non MH light, your best bet is by using t5ho with individual parabolic reflectors. that really is the only way to get enough light for the most light demanding clam.

[Johnsteph10]

Keeping it...you can. For it to optimally thrive and grow, then you really need a lot more intensity that PCs or VHOs. T5s or MH as croceas are the most light demanding clam.

[minethief]

All great replies. I've gotten plenty of info saying they're the most light demanding, that's what I want to be prepared for. That way I wont be limited to what I can get later.

I'm an info addict....keep it coming.

[BLockamon]

Again, I have kept a crocea under VHO for about a year and a half. I have him high in the rock work. The electric green highlights aren't visible from the front under VHO (only from the top). I assume that more intense light would bring this out. However, he is growing (added 3 ridges to his shell since I had him) and appears to be doing fine.

One more think, I would recommend keeping clams (esp. crocea) on rocks rather than the sand anyway. There is less chance of a worm invading from the bottom of the shell on a rock. Besides, in the wild crocea appear on the reef and secrete a substance that allows them to eventually bore into the rocks/reef head.

[minethief]

Then on the rocks it’ll go! But I do want it deep enough that I can enjoy the view from the front of the tank. I’ll have to do some more research on the best placement.

[Yinger]

my gf has one in her nano dx and it's doing great. She doses the tank with DTs every few days. It's been in there for maybe 5-6 months now.

[HornetMech242]

As you can see in my pics I have the clam on a small slope. That way I can view his blue/purple from the front and the green from the top. In my opinion and experience you don't have to have MH or T5's. They may be optimal but not mandatory. And I also do not let my bulbs get too old.

Chris

[scottp]

here are my 3 clams under 2x9watt corallife pc in a 2.5gallon
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...RW_4665-vi.jpg

[Omar H]

I was never able (and tried several times) to keep any clams before I got MH (250hqi) and started dosing phytoplankton.

Plus in the long run, MH are cheaper to run. I realize buying a nice 3 MH plus actinics setup can be quite expensive, but you can start with pendants one at the time as you keep stocking the tank (if longer than 2' long).

Just my experience.

Omar

[minethief]

I knew I'd find one.....3 clams under 18w of PCs. I'm going to buy some PC's to start the tank cycling, and then use them for actinics when I get a MH.

[old salty]

I have a clam on the bottom of my tank using T5's. Seems pretty happy there, too (do clams become happy?)

[jimbo045]

Without the MHs, PCs or VHOS may work better than standards. JD

[horkn]

Originally posted by jimbo045
Without the MHs, PCs or VHOS may work better than standards. JD

huh?