Clams and PC

[jurichar]

I am looking at getting a clam, that is if you guys give me the go ahead . Anway, i have a 55 long with just under 400 watts of PC lighting. I know your only supposed to have clams under MH lighting, but i was curious if I would be exempt from that considering how much PC i acutally have. It works out to just under 8 watts per gallon. I have talked to a few LPS all with different opinions. One guy, whom i really respect, told me that every species would do just find. and another guy told me only squamosa. So now i'm confused. My tank is is

[hr]
need of some blue, so my choice would be a croacea (i think that's the species). But i would like some input from the rest of you pro's!!!
thanks!

 

[mudplayerx]

I think clams will can survive in less than metal halide, but will not grow at all.... and will eventually die. You may get it to survive if you build up your rockwork and keep the clam right next to the water surface.

 

[wax32]

My tank is 4 months old. I'm thinking about one, but not until I'm SURE my LPS is doing well, ie. my water is stable. I have 300w of VHO on my 29gal and so far my hammer, frog, fox, bubble and brain are doing well. In another couple months I might try a clam.

 

[jurichar]

is MH really that much more powerful watt for watt???

 

[viper_930]

Originally Posted by jurichar
is MH really that much more powerful watt for watt???
Yes
I think you can keep a squamosa, gigas, or derasa clam under your lighting as long as you keep him in the top half of the tank. Those species do not require as much light as maximas or croceas.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by jurichar
is MH really that much more powerful watt for watt???
Words cannot do justice to MH and HQI bulbs... The only comparison I can make is if you have ever been snorkeling on a VERY shallow reef at noon on a cloudless day.

 

[ron thomas]

I used to think my PC lights were pretty bright. I have a 55-gallon with 260 watts of PC. In the winter, direct sunligh hits half of my tank. When that happens, the part of the tank that is not in the sun looks like it's in deep shade. Just shows how PC lighting is not anywhere lilke sunlight hitting a reef.

 

[jobob]

i used to have 4x55 and 2x65 pc on my 55gal reef. i upgraded to mh. and wow what a difference. i thought that the pc was bright and everything was doin great, now since i got the mh everything open bigger and more colorful, the corals are more fuller. now i know what they're suppose to look like. anyway i heard u can keep those clams to ( squamosa, gigas, or derasa) so watt for watt they dont compare.

 

[logen32]

I had a 96 watts in a 10 gallon, Giving me almost 10 watts per gallon and it didnt seem too happy. I upgraded to a 30 gallon with 250 watts or metal haladies and you see the diffrence right a way, he also started to grow. I had him in my 10 for about 4 months and did not grow at all, i had him under the M H for 2 month and he grew 1.5 Inches.

 

[fishamajig]

What do I know
all I know is I see allot of people keep clams under pc's and they are doing fine. I dont have experience with metal halides, I dont want to deal with the electric bill, the humming of the balists, or the retarted evap rate. clams are cool but t here are allot cooler things to put in a tank, thats just my opinion though. :happyfish

 

[verde_ad]

I had PC's in my tank as was very happy with them. When I graduated from collage my dad bought my a 250 watt HQI pendant and let my just say, WOW. You really don't understand the diferrence until you have them People look at my tank now and they think it looks cleaner and clearer and just plain better. All I changed was my lights. My power bill really didn't take that much of a hit either. Maybe ten or twenty bucks. It is fully worth it in my opinion. Clams will love it too.

 

[nanoreef]

You can use PC's For clam expecially that much wattage just put more to the top of your tank
Cheers, Brad

 

[iceemn360]

I have closer to the minimum watts per gallon but if you want clams go for aquacultured. I have three derasas and in the past month of having them, they have added 1.2mm to their shells and have full mantle expansion and great coloration.

 

[jurichar]

interesting!! thanks for all the input. I havent decided what im goin to do yet. I wish i could go MH. 4 more months till graduation when i can buy myself my new tank, then all will be easy!!