Clam kept high up in the tank under 230watts of light yes

[sub trate]

Ok I know that it is iffy but....I have a 40 gallon breeder and the rocks go clear up to 2 inches below the water line...There is a flet spot on the rock for a clam under the MH The MH is a 150watt Iwaski combined with a 55watt PC actenic and 20 watt actenic.The lights sit 10 inches above the water....The combined total watt output 230 watts...Could I keep a Tridacna crocea?

[ August 18, 2001: Message edited by: sub trate ]

 

[chris_h]

THat is more than enough light. I have one growing in my 20 gallon with only 110 watts of pc. It is about half way down from the surface.

 

[Carpentersreef]

Short answer is yes you could, anywhere in the tank.

Make sure that you have the other basics covered - food and calcium. do you have any books on clams?

Mitch

 

[sub trate]

Yes but all my books when they talk of lighting for clams it just says intence lighting.......Ugh.....lol.......I am very cautious about getting an animal....I havent had a coral or the likes die in my tank yet .....and after two years I am not ready to start.....Thanks a bunch......I would like to hear more opinons though anyone else?

 

[Carpentersreef]

O.K.,
Here's a second opinion - 230 watts should be considered intense lighting for a <40g. (take away LR volume)

Mitch

 

[Rorschach]

I basically did the same thing with a 150W 10K MH. My beautiful crocea's colors dulled to a dark blue/purple in a few months. Too much UV? He is healthy and growing very slowly.

 

[jdeets]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by sub trate:
<STRONG>Yes but all my books when they talk of lighting for clams it just says intence lighting.......Ugh.....lol.......I am very cautious about getting an animal....I havent had a coral or the likes die in my tank yet .....and after two years I am not ready to start.....Thanks a bunch......I would like to hear more opinons though anyone else?</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

sub trate--pick up Daniel Knop's book, "Giant Clams." I got it and read it from cover to cover before I ever tried a clam. IMO, it is indispensable reading for clam-keepers. In addition to lighting, it covers the basic anatomy and physiology of clams and has a great section on clam diseases.

Knop recommends various lighting based on the distance between the tank and the clam. If I recall, 175W will work down to 24", 250W for 24-30", and 400W for up to 36" depth.

At any rate, your clam would probalby do OK where you propose to put it. However, you'd probably want to start him lower in the water column and gradually move him up to the higher location, as "shocking" clams with intense light when they've been kept in dealers' tanks with insufficient lighting or shipped in darkness for several days can kill them pretty quickly.

 

[FijiKen]

Jdeets suggestions are correct. You can do a search on the board and there are alot of good articles by Knop. It's recommended that you watch out for what spectrum of light you need for the clams also. T. Crocreas are shallow water clams that will do well with light closer to natural light(5000K - 6500K) and need some current. Gradually raising the claim (from bottom) and gradually increasing the length of time (from 4hrs) for the lights are recommended also. These clams tend to burrow into the rock (almost impossible to move after) over time so move it not too high so that you can see the colorful mantle. Good Luck.