Lighting upgrade... clam happy?

LulusMoogle · 03/09/2009, 01:53 PM

Alright, guys. I finally feel like a lighting upgrade is needed for my little BC29. Currently, I am looking into having a clam of some sort. No species in particular, just whatever one will be happy. I think they're all beautiful.

Here are the two upgrade kits I'm looking at from NanoCustoms:

http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_i...products_id=57

http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_i...products_id=58

Could either of those really be clam happy? If I got the first (the cheaper) one, then would I be able to keep a clam if I placed it close to the top? The place I'm thinking of is one of the brightest spots in the tank (even more so with either upgrade). The only problem is that the spot for the clam will be completely above water during a water change. Is this a problem? Is it even possible to keep a clam happy with that upgrade?

What about the second upgrade? Same questions...

Thanks, guys.

reefworm · 03/09/2009, 02:14 PM

It's my understanding that MH lighting is really the optimum for clams and SPS corals - that's why I upgraded from PC lighting to MH/T5 for my 29 a while back [1x250w + 24w T5]. http://www.aqua-medic.com/oceanlight_T5_HQI_combo.shtml Lots of posts here had advised that at best growth would be slow, and at worst the animals would slowly die without the more intense lighting. I've recently rebuilt and am just beginning to add animals, so I'm waiting several more months before adding SPS and a clam. Hopefully others with more experience will chime in, as my input is mostly academic at this point. Good luck!

betamed · 03/09/2009, 02:24 PM

most PC lights prolly won't cut it for smaller clams like maxima or crocea. A durasa or squamosa would be fine, but they get quite large. I'd say a fixture with 4 rows of T5 with individual reflectors or at least a 15o MH would be needed. T5 without individual reflectors might not cut it. The $179 fixture you posted might work, but for that money you could probably do better.

03/09/2009, 01:53 PM	#1
LulusMoogle Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 370	Lighting upgrade... clam happy? Alright, guys. I finally feel like a lighting upgrade is needed for my little BC29. Currently, I am looking into having a clam of some sort. No species in particular, just whatever one will be happy. I think they're all beautiful. Here are the two upgrade kits I'm looking at from NanoCustoms: http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_i...products_id=57 http://www.nanocustoms.com/product_i...products_id=58 Could either of those really be clam happy? If I got the first (the cheaper) one, then would I be able to keep a clam if I placed it close to the top? The place I'm thinking of is one of the brightest spots in the tank (even more so with either upgrade). The only problem is that the spot for the clam will be completely above water during a water change. Is this a problem? Is it even possible to keep a clam happy with that upgrade? What about the second upgrade? Same questions... Thanks, guys.

03/09/2009, 02:14 PM	#2
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	It's my understanding that MH lighting is really the optimum for clams and SPS corals - that's why I upgraded from PC lighting to MH/T5 for my 29 a while back [1x250w + 24w T5]. http://www.aqua-medic.com/oceanlight_T5_HQI_combo.shtml Lots of posts here had advised that at best growth would be slow, and at worst the animals would slowly die without the more intense lighting. I've recently rebuilt and am just beginning to add animals, so I'm waiting several more months before adding SPS and a clam. Hopefully others with more experience will chime in, as my input is mostly academic at this point. Good luck! __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

03/09/2009, 02:24 PM	#3
betamed Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cooper city fl Posts: 1,383	most PC lights prolly won't cut it for smaller clams like maxima or crocea. A durasa or squamosa would be fine, but they get quite large. I'd say a fixture with 4 rows of T5 with individual reflectors or at least a 15o MH would be needed. T5 without individual reflectors might not cut it. The $179 fixture you posted might work, but for that money you could probably do better.