I,d like to get a clam and I was told I needed to get better lighting, my tank is a 29g reef with 130w p/c .I,ve been told that I could just add a T-5 light and that would be enough.Any advice and as always I,d be grateful Thanx Dave E
clams/and T-5 lights
- Thread starter david emmett
- Start date
You could probably do a derasa without adding light. They get big, unfortunately.
Don't know if a single T5 would give you enough to keep a smaller species like maxima or crocea.
Don't know if a single T5 would give you enough to keep a smaller species like maxima or crocea.
Clam
I agree with the post above, chances are you might be able to keep a derasa clam, but I wouldn't have thought that one extra t5 bulb would be enough for a maxima, you might want to look at a MH fixture, say 150w.
I have a Derasa in my 72 and its doing great. It's on the sandbed, under 2 x 150w 10k MH and 110w T5 Actinics.
I agree with the post above, chances are you might be able to keep a derasa clam, but I wouldn't have thought that one extra t5 bulb would be enough for a maxima, you might want to look at a MH fixture, say 150w.
I have a Derasa in my 72 and its doing great. It's on the sandbed, under 2 x 150w 10k MH and 110w T5 Actinics.
Yep, a derasa should be fine with what you've got. But when most people thing of "clam" they have crocea/maxima in their heads. You'll need a lot more lighting before you can keep one of those. Beauty comes at a cost.
Beauty sure does. The reason for so much light over the tank is for growth. People have had success with light loving clams under lit. The most important is fluctuation. This will kill the clam before lighting, but if you want growth color and vitality the lighting is a must. I would say only metal halides for Tridacna crocea because we all know that this clam is truly the one desired. 
Oh, and I pinch you all.
Oh, and I pinch you all.
i'm really spellbounded by this MH talk. i have done extensive research on lighting and talked to many, many people that have great knowledge on lighting / reef tanks, and most all have stated that t5's can compete with MH completely, if having parabelic reflectors. it seems on here that most ppl think only MH, not giving T5's their due respect. u don't think that 4x54W t5's would be enough for clams and that tank size?
i believe that MH can definatly compete with MH because ive seen the two next to eachother. I would trade my 150 watt halidefixture for 8 tubes of t5 in a heartbeat. But there is no way adding 1 T5 will let you have a clam. And i definatly dont believe 130 watts of PC will be okay for a clam in a 29. The lowest light requireing clams, hippo, squamosa, and derasa, all like the sandbed much better than the rocks. and a 29 is pretty deep for how long it is. and adding 4X54 watt t5 on a 30 inch tank wont be good cause youd have a foot and a half sticking off each end. and 1 T5 isnt going to do a lot.
i say if you want to keep any clams, make sure your tank is very stable and upgrade your lighting.
i say if you want to keep any clams, make sure your tank is very stable and upgrade your lighting.
I guess I meet crazy people because I have witnessed 250-175 on nano over Crocea clams. People on forums are really diving into light. Don’t you think 2,000 watts of metal halide would be over kill for SPS and clam 55g but I guess someone doesn’t think so? I remember reading that 4-5 T5 bulbs had way less PAR than 4 PC bulbs. I can’t remember where I read this from, probably RC. I remember when people where saying MH vs PC. T5 are the best florescent but most articles I read about lighting state that MH are still the one. MH vs MH would be a good debate, but I wouldn’t be good at it because I stopped following lighting.