do i have enough for ultragrade maxima clam

Reef junky 305 · 03/31/2013, 12:36 AM

i am thinking about buying an ultragrade maxima clam on monday but im worried about not having enough light. i have a 175 bowfront with a light fixture with 3 150 watt metal halides with pheonix 14k bulbs (new) & 8 39watt t5...4atnic &4violet.. The fixture is about 4 inches over the tank the tank is 29 inches tall....i have about 4 inches of sand...The question is will it be happy at the bottom of the tank or am i gonna have a problem.......
any advice is apreciate it thanks

shifty51008 · 03/31/2013, 03:55 AM

i would actually go with 250's i dont think 150's will have enough punch to reach that far in your tank.

Ron Reefman · 03/31/2013, 08:40 AM

With 150w MH you are probably a bit short on light. Keeping the clam higher in the rocks can help, but clams don't always stay where you want them. I'd try a cheaper, heartier clam first and if you are successful, go after the expensive one 9-12 months later.

From Live Aquaria:

In the home aquarium, the Maxima Clams require intense lighting to thrive as they contain the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, and receive the majority of their nutrition from the light through photosynthesis. Smaller T. maxima that are 2” or less in size are much more sensitive to very intense lighting as their membrane is much thinner than larger specimens. For this reason care should be taken to properly photo-adapt them to the existing reef aquarium lighting in a similar manner to newly introduced stony and soft corals. When adapting a new Maxima Clam to very intense lighting, it is ideal to set them on a small rock or in a plastic dish with coarse substrate at the bottom of the aquarium. Over time the clam can then be slowly moved up higher in the aquarium.

Tridacna clams are also filter feeders and constantly filter the water for small particulates. Maxima Clams larger than 2” do not require supplemental feedings, but smaller T. maxima that are less than 2” should be fed a phytoplankton or greenwater supplement several times per week if maintained in a nutrient poor reef aquarium.

For the full scoop:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...586&pcatid=586

Reef junky 305 · 03/31/2013, 06:50 PM

im picking up a coralife fixture up now with 3x250 mh &4x96 t5 hopefully i should be okay with that thanks guys and monday i will be picking up my clam

03/31/2013, 12:36 AM	#1
Reef junky 305 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 61	do i have enough for ultragrade maxima clam i am thinking about buying an ultragrade maxima clam on monday but im worried about not having enough light. i have a 175 bowfront with a light fixture with 3 150 watt metal halides with pheonix 14k bulbs (new) & 8 39watt t5...4atnic &4violet.. The fixture is about 4 inches over the tank the tank is 29 inches tall....i have about 4 inches of sand...The question is will it be happy at the bottom of the tank or am i gonna have a problem....... any advice is apreciate it thanks

03/31/2013, 03:55 AM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	i would actually go with 250's i dont think 150's will have enough punch to reach that far in your tank. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

03/31/2013, 08:40 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	With 150w MH you are probably a bit short on light. Keeping the clam higher in the rocks can help, but clams don't always stay where you want them. I'd try a cheaper, heartier clam first and if you are successful, go after the expensive one 9-12 months later. From Live Aquaria: In the home aquarium, the Maxima Clams require intense lighting to thrive as they contain the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, and receive the majority of their nutrition from the light through photosynthesis. Smaller T. maxima that are 2” or less in size are much more sensitive to very intense lighting as their membrane is much thinner than larger specimens. For this reason care should be taken to properly photo-adapt them to the existing reef aquarium lighting in a similar manner to newly introduced stony and soft corals. When adapting a new Maxima Clam to very intense lighting, it is ideal to set them on a small rock or in a plastic dish with coarse substrate at the bottom of the aquarium. Over time the clam can then be slowly moved up higher in the aquarium. Tridacna clams are also filter feeders and constantly filter the water for small particulates. Maxima Clams larger than 2” do not require supplemental feedings, but smaller T. maxima that are less than 2” should be fed a phytoplankton or greenwater supplement several times per week if maintained in a nutrient poor reef aquarium. For the full scoop: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...586&pcatid=586 __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

03/31/2013, 06:50 PM	#4
Reef junky 305 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 61	im picking up a coralife fixture up now with 3x250 mh &4x96 t5 hopefully i should be okay with that thanks guys and monday i will be picking up my clam