Clams and Acropora...

[arlene1995]

Hi!!!
I've always been wanting a clam, SPS, LPS or anything that is costly LOL. My question is though, what is it that matters light wise? Is it just watts per gallon? Or does it HAVE to be Halides/T5s for Clams and such... I was just kinda curious to see what it would take for me to keep what was just mentioned in my 20. It's 16" tall and I currently have a 65w Coralife PC light fixture. Just kinda throwin' ideas around here...

 

[nycbob]

ur chance of success is way better with mh or t5 with individual reflectors. in addition, water parameters and flow r crucial factors too.

 

[arlene1995]

That's what I had figured. I have heard something about a PAR rating; and that that of a mh is MUCH greater than anything else... Do you know anything regarding this? Supposedly it helps tremendously in growth or something like that... Yeah, I know how picky the SPS and the like are with parameters... Currently my flow is right around 35x the tank volume so... Too much/too little?

 

[bjlsnez]

Dont know if it will help u but this is what i have. 75gal tank with 48in t-5 2 whites and 2 blues. my flow is approx 25x but it could use a little more if u ask me. i have a derasa clam and it seems to be doing just fine if the brislte worms would leave it alone lol. i placed it to where when i feed the oyster feast or phyto it kinda circulates around the clam and it snaps shut when it gets a mouthful then opens back up prettier than ever feasting. so my wattage is roughly 3 watts pr gal. and my tank is 18in tall with the clam being in the sand at the bottom.

 

[jackri]

I would not use PC lighting for SPS or clams.
A good t-5 fixture/set up minimum... halides ideal. The thing about halides IMO is your set to keep anything you want... after finally upgrading to them I wouldn't go without now.