Giant Clam lighting

[Germanman]

Has anyone had any luck with giant clams under anything other than halide lamps?

[wastememphis]

Some people probably have, but clams only use light once a certian size so I wouldn't get one without halides. You would have to keep them up pretty high in the tank (top 10" or so if you had VHO or Power Compacts).

[Germanman]

it would be about 4 in from the top and true they do rely on light for food but they also need phytoplankton and they remove other organisms in they water including substances like amonia and nitrate. so what im really asking is would a corcea, maxima, or squamosa clam do well 4 in under a satilite lamp wirh constant feeding of phytoplex and marine snow?

[Crown Royal]

Derasas and squamosas require the least light and would probably do well under PCs with enough wattage. However, they get the biggest and are the least colourful.

Maximas and croceas are the most colourful and desired, but require the most wattage. I've seen a few people keep them high up in the tank under PCs, but there's a difference between merely keeping one alive and having it thrive over the long term.

I think it would be very challenging keeping a crocea clam thriving with its beautiful colours under PCs or VHOs only no matter how much supplemental feeding you give it.

Be that as it may, I'm going to try a maxima under my 4x39W HO T5s. I've got a nice spot about 5 inches from the top staked out for it.

[wastememphis]

You don't need to feed any clam after 4", it only uses the water and lights. So I'd just make sure it had both of those. They process nitrate and phosphate, I didn't know about ammonia.

[Germanman]

thx for the input! im getting a squamosa i just ordered it for myself when i placed the order 4 the store i work at. they are brand new bulbs and it will be about 4 in. from the light and the clam is a 3-3.5 in. and only costs me $21.00 oh yea! its nice working in a aquarium store and getting things 40% off!!!