Clam with power compact light

[jenni1979]

I have a t. maxima clam and I was going to go with metal halide but i see that power compact lighting is cheaper and it gives off a lot of watts. Has anyone used power compact with clams and how did the clam do? I know most of you are going to prefer that I get metal halide for it but I just want an opinion from someone who has had experience with power compact lighting and clams. I also heard that the wattage on the PC lights are 3 times more powerful than the other lighting so how does that work when you figure gallons/watts required for the tank. I have a 55g tank so would 2 65w pc lights work?

 

[marvida]

A watt is a watt is a watt. If possible stay with your original plan of MH. Some people do keep clams under PC, (do a search for Brooklyn Johnnys kitchen nano). In any event 2X65 on a 55 might not be enough for mushrooms.
Ken

 

[aileena]

I see that you have opened pandora's box...congratulations...before you get flamed about putting a maxima clam under pc's I will tell you my experience and let you decide.
I had a maxima under 225watts of VHO lighting in a 29g tank...the tank had been set up for over a year before I added the clam. I had the clam for about 6 months maybe more, maybe a little under a year, can't remember...but in the time I had it it grew and looked great!
Now I cannot tell you about pc's because I never used them...but I have looked right at em at the pet store when they were on...they did not really blind me too badly...
The 3 vho bulbs did however burn my eyes a little...and the metal halides melted my cornea's!!!
I would say that 3 vho's over your 55g tank would be enough to keep that clam, 4 would be best...either way I don't know if pc's are equivalent to vho's. One thing I do know and thats I would wait at least 6 months before adding the clam...
In my experience you don't need halides to keep the clam and help it grow...but you do need a lot of vho depending on the size of your tank....
Good Luck ... i hope the clam does well...they are very cool to watch..everytime I walked past mine it would close up and open very slowley...it was very healthy

 

[jenni1979]

Anyone with PC bulb experience and clams. Not really wanting any other advise. Thanks.

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Jenni I am currently keeping tridacnids under PCs in my 10 gallon, including three maximas. They are doing very well, however they are in the top half of my ten gallon just inches from the PC light source. It could work in a tank your size, but only if the clam was very close to the light as it is in my 10 gallon, which is highly unlikely in your tank. PCs do not penetrate as far down the water column as metal halides... not nearly, but very close to the source my clams are receiving adequate light. I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU KEEP CLAMS IN A 55 WITH PCs. For many other reasons I recommend you get metal halides.
A clam could take months to die, and succes can only be claimed when continued growth is seen after months, There is a large range of light that a clam can live in, and will adjust accordingly, but there is a point where it will not receive enough light to support enough zooxanthellae and will gradually demise.
Although I keep my clams under PCs in my nano, I recommend this ONLY in nanos and only with hobbyists experienced enough to keep a small tank stable enough to keep delicate organisms like tridacnids.
I don't mean to harp on it... but I'd hate to see someone make the mistake of generalizing my setup and attempting to replicate it on larger aquariums. PCs won't penetrate far enough into a greater depth tank.
Many people say their clams are doing fine, but a surefire way is to get a shot of the mantle and notice the white growth (among other indicators). Here's a shot of my oldest purple maxima shell...

 

[reefnut]

You want to see what a clam under improper lighting will eventually look like?
This clam was kept under 440w of VHOs in a 55g Tank.

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Here's a recent shot of my three beauties... a purple, blue, and green (the blue's under the gorgonian). Note the deep color with no bleaching and a healthy "ungaping" look, some more signs that they're doing well.
Keep in mind also that there are many other important factors beyond lighting...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Reefnut shows a perfect example... there is no amount of PC or VHO lighting that could keep at least croceas or maximas on the bottom of a 55 for long... Adding more tubes will not make the bulbs penetrate any further...

 

[brooklyn johnny]

and if you have just two 65 watt PCs on your 55 now there is nowhere you could place the clam to sustain it long term... I suggest too Jenny that you bring it back or find another owner. You could then upgrade your lighting and try again in the future...

 

[jenni1979]

Thanks everyone. I am not sure what I am going to do yet. I just don't have the money to spend on MH lights right now. I cant find anything less than $300 for my tank. I may just find another home for it.
PCs do not penetrate as far down the water column as metal halides... not nearly, but very close to the source my clams are receiving adequate light.
Brooklyn... if I put them up on the top of my rocks, about four inches below the PC lights, would that work be efficient enough?

 

[brooklyn johnny]

Jenni that's a tough question to answer. I have my 2 36 watt PCs in an enclosed hood with reflector packed closely together over my 10. The hood results in the PCs being just about 2 inches above the surface of the water. Usually in larger setups, not only is the tank deeper, but the bulbs themselves are further above the water surface (which I imagine yours are), resulting in a pretty major dropoff in the amount of usable light entering the water. Sanjay Joshi, a major lighting expert in the industry, tested this with metal halide lighting, and found there is a major difference in the PAR put out in the water column when comparing lights mounted 6", 9", and 12" above the surface.
Answering "is this enough light?" questions is very tough, and particularly in this instance. I don't think there is anyhere in that tank though that would keep the clam for the reasons above. If you took those two 65 watt PCs, put them really close together, and put them right near the surface (as is the case generally in nanos) it MIGHT work. I strongly recommend you either upgrade or find another home for the clam. Believe me I hate generalizations more than anyone, like "Clams need metal halide", but in your case Jenni I think that's the best advice.
As tangsfornuttin mentions a DIY metal halide setup can be done for much cheaper than assembled metal halide fixtures. Just bite the bullet and do it. You will be MUCH happier in many respects with your metal halide lighting, and so will your pets.
Does that help? You deserve a for looking into this, and you'll get another if you make the right decision...
Johnny
PS- Also keep in mind Jenni that you chose one of the higher light clam species. Maxima (yours and mine), along with crocea (in reefnuts pic), are the two higher light species. I also have a squamosa on my sandbed that does fine, and I have seen those successfully kept (along with Tridacna derasa) on sandbeds of VHO lit tanks. If you ever upgrade your lighting try starting out with a squamosa...

 

[jenni1979]

Okay, thanks. I will just see if I can still return the maxima.

 

[brooklyn johnny]

That's a good choice Jenni and don't be disheartened. Unfortunately for many of us who started this hobby before the internet age, and before boards like swf.com, we had to learn things like this through trial-and-error and the advice of misinformed LFS employees. Consider yourself and the clam lucky, and give yourself a pat on the back. You'll feel much better when you're truly ready for a clam and it gives you years of enjoyment. As I said when you do get set up try a squamosa at first. If that does well shoot for a maxima. Good choice

 

[reefnut]

The clam was kept half way up in the 55g. It is now in the bottom of my tank because I didn't want to fry him. After he gets some more color back I will move him onto the rocks. Here he is after being under the MH for about 3- months.

 

[reefnut]

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[jenni1979]

Again, thanks everyone for your input. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when I bought this clam. I just knew it was beautiful and something that I wanted in my tank. I did that with a couple of corals and my water quality wasn't quite good enough (high nitrates and very low lighting) and I lost them both. I don't want the same to happen to my clam so I will see about returning it or finding a new home for it. I just found this message board a few days ago and it is wonderful. So many people who are experienced and know a lot about this hobby. Most are even more knowlegable than my LFS. Anyway, I will be sure to come here to ask to advise of you guys when I need my questions answered. I am outta here for now. Have a great day!

 

[reefnut]

Sorry Jenni, again don't get discouraged... we have all been there. I'm glad you found this site and started asking questions .
I'm not sure how long it took this clam to get this way but I'm keeping photo records of his progress to hopefully show others the importance of proper lighting & clams.

 

[brooklyn johnny]

In exchange for that clam Jenni there are many awesome and beautiful hardy corals you could start out with. Keep us updated
Johnny

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by Brooklyn Johnny
PS- Also keep in mind Jenni that you chose one of the higher light clam species. Maxima (yours and mine), along with crocea (in reefnuts pic), are the two higher light species. I also have a squamosa on my sandbed that does fine, and I have seen those successfully kept (along with Tridacna derasa) on sandbeds of VHO lit tanks. If you ever upgrade your lighting try starting out with a squamosa...
Good point, not all clams have the same lighting needs.

 

[jenni1979]

Not sure if it matters, but my tank is only 18 inches deep. I would certainly not put it on the bottom. Like I said, I could get it about 4 inches from the light. I have lots of live rock that I could prop it up on. Oh well, if my LFS doesn't take it back and let me get something else, then I may just keep it and put it up high in my tank. Unfortunately, the owner is gone on vacation so I won't know until she returns, I think next Friday. They said they usually don't do returns or exchanges on saltwater things. I look at it this way, if the store doesn't let me return it, I already wasted the money on it so I might as well do what I can until I can afford some better lighting.