advice from clam experts!

bergamer

bergamer

Active Member
I am getting a 24g nano that is 20"x17"x20" (aquapod) with 70w hqi
I would like to get a clam eventually, after speaking with a few people, I was told that it might be possible to keep a maxima, but I don't like the wording of possible. (seems like a waste of life and money)
I realize that I could get a deresa, but that would grow too large for my tank.
So I was thinking about a crocea, as they only grow to about 6" and I assume since it is part of the giant clam family, that it does not need a large amount of light.
please agree or disagree with me, and if you have a suggestions please make it
 
speg

speg

Active Member
Originally Posted by bergamer
I am getting a 24g nano that is 20"x17"x20" (aquapod) with 70w hqi
I would like to get a clam eventually, after speaking with a few people, I was told that it might be possible to keep a maxima, but I don't like the wording of possible. (seems like a waste of life and money)
I realize that I could get a deresa, but that would grow too large for my tank.
So I was thinking about a crocea, as they only grow to about 6" and I assume since it is part of the giant clam family, that it does not need a large amount of light.
please agree or disagree with me, and if you have a suggestions please make it
Well.. Corcea clams are the smallest of the giant clams... but just cause they're giant clams doesnt mean they dont need light.. clams actually need very strong lighting. Depending on how close that 70 watt halide is to the clam it should be enough light. I have a Derasa and a Corcea under 2 96 watt pcs at the bottom of the tank. A friend of mine has the same two clams under 2 65 watt pcs at the bottom of the tank (in a much smaller tank).
That light probably wouldnt keep a maxima long, but a corcea/derasa/squamosa/hippowhatever should do pretty well.
Always try things that need the least amount of light first... go with the derasa first and if it does well then spring for a corcea.
 
reefiness

reefiness

Active Member
the crocea do need a lot of light even thoughthey are in the tridacna family. most tridacna's (giant clams) need a good amount of light.
the maximas should be good but im not sure about crocea, i think they will also do well because i think that these systems are about 1ft tall or so and with a 70w hqi i would say that yes, you can keep both crocea and maxima clams
 
speg

speg

Active Member
Maximas need the most light out of any of the giant clams. Corcea can get away with less light than maxi's
 
viper_930

viper_930

Active Member
Croceas need the most light of all the Tridacna clams, and the Tridacna rosewateri clams require the least. However, you will definitely not be finding a rosewateri or teveroa in this hobby, so since they're out of the question, the gigas need the least light.
IMO any of the Tridacna clams, including maximas and croceas, will do perfectly fine under your lighting.
 
jacknjill

jacknjill

Active Member
do you think i could do a crocea or maxima under a deluxe 12 gallon nano? its 48 watts of 50/50 pc
 
yosemite sam

yosemite sam

Active Member
Bergamer,
Lighting wise, you're ok. Just make sure the water chemistry is stable - an auto top-off would be a good idea for the tank. Croceas and maximas are small, but more sensitive to water quality fluctuations. With MH lights, your going to have a lot of evaporation.
I'm with viper, croceas are the most light demanding clams. They live at the very upper margins of reefs.
 
viper_930

viper_930

Active Member
Originally Posted by JacknJill
do you think i could do a crocea or maxima under a deluxe 12 gallon nano? its 48 watts of 50/50 pc
I wouldn't even try it.
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
Croceas need the most light of all the Tridacna clams.
i dont have a clam, but am considering it, and this is what my reserch has showed me.
 
speg

speg

Active Member
Firstly the coloration on the maximas is way more intense than the corceas, which would suggest they require more light.
Secondly I know people that have tried maximas under less than halide and have lost them. Of course those fatalities could have been other factors... but I have been keeping a corcea under 2 96 watt pcs at the bottom of the tank and a buddy of mine has been keeping his corcea even longer than me at the bottom of his tank with 2 65 watt pcs... if you can keep a maxima under 2 65 watt pcs at the bottom and keep it alive... then sir.. I owe you a coke :)
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
Firstly the coloration on the maximas is way more intense than the corceas, which would suggest they require more light.
Secondly I know people that have tried maximas under less than halide and have lost them. Of course those fatalities could have been other factors... but I have been keeping a corcea under 2 96 watt pcs at the bottom of the tank and a buddy of mine has been keeping his corcea even longer than me at the bottom of his tank with 2 65 watt pcs... if you can keep a maxima under 2 65 watt pcs at the bottom and keep it alive... then sir.. I owe you a coke :)
how long have you kept them is the question?
i just looking in Marine Invertebrates by Dr. donald L. Shimek. It doesnt say which need more, but it does say that both need intence lighting and that the crocreas are in very shallow waters. It also talks abbout how maximas and crocreas are closly related, but crocreas have a much more iridecent color. I know all the ones i have seen are more colorful than maximas, even though maximas come in more colors.
just wondering where you got this information is all.
 
speg

speg

Active Member
Personal experience is where a lot of my info comes from. If you ever hear me say 'I think' or something similiar then im using info that i've obtained from the net or word of mouth. I've had my clams for going on 3 months and the buddy of mine which is a LFS worker has had his for over a year.
I mean.. I personally have heard that they need the most light and anything less than halide for maximas will end in its death.. but its not personal experience and if that info is wrong and I can keep a maxima in my tank.. i'll throw away my corcea and derasa in a heartbeat cause i've been dying to get a maxima :p I am just not gonna be the person to test your claim of them needing less light :p
I also have the Marine Invertebrates book.. its a pretty decent book.. some of the information is outdated. Mainly because some of the animals he talks about require phytoplankton and apparently when that book came out.. it was hard to come by? For instance if you read about the feather dusters it says they'll last for about 6 months and starve to death. Still most of the info is great though.
 
fishieness

fishieness

Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
I also have the Marine Invertebrates book.. its a pretty decent book.. some of the information is outdated. Mainly because some of the animals he talks about require phytoplankton and apparently when that book came out.. it was hard to come by? For instance if you read about the feather dusters it says they'll last for about 6 months and starve to death. Still most of the info is great though.
it says that feather dusters need phyloplankton. But yes, it does say that most starve to death in a few months. And i have found some stuff that is outdated, but i referenced it here because the fact that crocreas live in shallow waters is not outdated is all. And id hope its a good book, i just spent 35 bucks on it :mad: lol
but yes, personal experiences are usualy the best to go by.
 
speg

speg

Active Member
Originally Posted by Yosemite Sam
Speg, trust us.....croceas are the most light demanding clams.

Well, soon as I see one surviving under 2 65 watt pcs.. I shall purchase one :)
 
viper_930

viper_930

Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
Firstly the coloration on the maximas is way more intense than the corceas, which would suggest they require more light.
Secondly I know people that have tried maximas under less than halide and have lost them. Of course those fatalities could have been other factors... but I have been keeping a corcea under 2 96 watt pcs at the bottom of the tank and a buddy of mine has been keeping his corcea even longer than me at the bottom of his tank with 2 65 watt pcs... if you can keep a maxima under 2 65 watt pcs at the bottom and keep it alive... then sir.. I owe you a coke :)
How intense the colors are do not matter. I do not think maximas have more intense colors than croceas either. Your first statement is waaaayy too general.
I'm sure there are also people who have kept maximas under what would be considered insufficient lighting. You have experience with a crocea under your lighting, yet none with a maxima under the same - not a viable test. Also, if I remember correctly, you regularly dose phytoplankton, which the clam will eat.
Again, it's a fact that croceas are found in shallower waters than maximas.
To each his own.
 
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