Clams, Tank Size And Lighting?

[Paul_MTS]

I'm really tempted to get back into marine again but just doing a bit of reseach and planning before i decide on anything.

I would like a clam in my new tank if I did one.

I doubt the tanks going to be any bigger than 3ft long and 18" high, possible a 24" width depending where I put the tank.

To be succesful with a clam what kind of lighting would I need?

Whats considered the minimum size tank for say the gorgeous blue maximas?

 

[SkiFletch]

Tank size isnt so much an issue with these guys, but lighting is. I'd go with a single 250watt halideand a pair of T5s, PCs, or VHOs for actinic supplimentation. Then I'd construct the aquascaping so that the clam sits as near to center as possible. If the tank has a center brace making this impossible, I'd cut it out (leaving little tabs to screw to) and replace it with a piece of acrylic screwed in with nylon bolts.

 

[sianeds]

Your tank should be big enough. I'm not great on the technical lighting bit but I think Ski's got it covered

I would add though...you probably know that clams are mainly Zooxanthellate but they do need feeding if they are to grow, so you'll need to feed phytoplankton very regularly to keep one healthy, especially if you buy a juvenile. If you do go for a Tridacna Maxima then anything from 2 to 4 inches is considered juvenile.

The temperature and salinity should be within normal ranges but clams need the same kind of calcium levels as hard corals, somewhere in the 400ppm+ range and I've read that they prefer pH to be no higher than 8.3.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, Sianeds brings up a fantastic point, do NOT buy a Tridacnid clam under 4" in shell length if this is your first one, regardless of the species

 

[Paul_MTS]

Thanks for the info, I'll probable not bother then.

I was hoping I could get away with a 150 MH, 250 will boast the electrics up tooo much!

All the ones I saw at the stockist were only baby ones at about 2.5"

 

[sianeds]

I don't have any "fancy-pants" lighting and I have a really happy clam. It is better to have the brightest lighting possible but you could always place one a bit higher in the tank. If your lighting is not as bright as you'd like you can suppliment it with extra feedings of phytoplankton, but...this will result in the loss of some of the zooxanthellae.

 

[Paul_MTS]

Its so much the cost of the lighting unit, it's the electricity it will consume.

Our bill is already quite high from my 500 gallon tropical fish room.

 

[tmreynolds]

I don't have any "fancy-pants" lighting and I have a really happy clam. It is better to have the brightest lighting possible but you could always place one a bit higher in the tank. If your lighting is not as bright as you'd like you can suppliment it with extra feedings of phytoplankton, but...this will result in the loss of some of the zooxanthellae.

Hi, what lighting are you running, out of interest?

Cheers,

 

[sianeds]

I'm soooo not a techie.

I have flouros. 1 white 1 actinic and 1 small pink. The white and blue tubes are about 1m long each

 

[SkiFletch]

Thanks for the info, I'll probable not bother then.

I was hoping I could get away with a 150 MH, 250 will boast the electrics up tooo much!

All the ones I saw at the stockist were only baby ones at about 2.5"

If you suppliment it with actinics and put it high up on the rock stack you could do it. Dont get a maxxima though if you go this route, they WILL flip themselves off high rocks. A Crocea or a Derasa would be a better bet, they stay put. Maxximas are better off in the sand since they flip around and down in the sand under a 150 wouldnt quite be enough light