I have just started setting up a reef tank. It is 58 gallon (18" deep). I would eventually like to have a clam. My lighting consists of 5 VHO tubes 95 watts each) powered by IceCap ballasts. Two of the tubes are 10,000K, two are Actinic, and the last is 50/50 6,000K/Actinic.
Will this lighting be sufficient to keep a clam? If not, what change should I make? I don't think I can get a MH in my canopy.
you can probably keep some T. derasa clams with that lighting.
Personally i dont know if it would be enough for clams like T. crocea or T. Maxima as these usually require strong MH's
You might be able to try a T. Squamosa also...
If you could find some that have been acclimated to VHO or HO lighting you will probably have better luck. I dont want to say that you cant do it, you very well may be able to, but i would start with some that have lower light needs as i mentioned above. Then if you find a good deal on a Maxima or Crocea, go for it... i would just be carefull, clams can be expensive..
If you do try, one imporant thing is they Need good calcium supply and ready supply of phyoto (or other invert filter foods). if you meet the lighting needs, calcium and food needs, they are quite hardy, and usually do quite well.
This is one of those touchy subjects. Most peopel say that you MUST have MHs to keep SPS coral, but i have seen people that have found ways to keep them under PC and even NO lighting. You do have decent lighting, so you very well may be successful, i would just preceed slowly, and keep a close eye on them.
hope this helps
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I have less than 5" depth in my wood canopy, and only about enough width left for one more VHO tube. Would it help if I replaced one of my 10,000 VHO tubes with a 20,000 tube? The IceCap site has an article indicating that my ballasts can drive NO tubes at near VHO levels.
well if you could find a away to add a coupel inches you would be all set for MHs.
adding a 20,000K bulb wont help. while the blue spectrum does help coral in there coloration and calcification, 20,000K bulbs are actually less intense than 10,000K bulbs... in other words if you place a 10,000K bulb next to a 20,000K bulb the 10,000K bulb with produce more lumens per watt and more PAR (Photosynthetically active radiation).
you could also look at some DE MH pendents, they are a bit more money than SE MH bulbs, but have a lower profile, and might fit in your hood..
also look that the MH hood at http://www.aquatraders.com. i haev not had persoanl experience with them, but many people i know speak quite highly of them. and the com with supplemental lighting.
since they are so cheap, you coudl probably get one, remove the components, and mount them in your canopy... or maybe even simply mount the whole lighting assemply in your hood.
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this article is a bit old, and kind of misleading, and also so was my posting. (misleading)
coral growth, can be varied some like certain types of liights and some like others.. in that some will grow better with 6500K and some better with 14000K. it depends on where they are from.
i have read, including in one of Eric Bornemans books, that there is evidence that may suggest (in otherwords its far from "fact") that bluer spectrum may help in calcification and coloration.
with all that said, generally speaking your corall WILL look more drab under 6500 K lighting, and WILL look more vibrant under a 14000-15000K. alot of this is becuase when you remove the lower colors spectrum, it cause alot of the color to show more. not that it wasnt there, it just stands out more. so i personally believe you tank will look better overall with 10-15000K bulbs, but maybe thats just a personal preference.
i do apologize, i (and everone else providing advice) really need to stop making generalized statements. as they usually cannot be made accuratly
but dont take my word for it..
search the internet, do some research, and look at peoples tanks. reefkeeping.com has a great archive of past tank of the month winners. you can see there lights, and what there tank looks like.
there is new research, and new anecdotes all the time..
telling them apart can be a chore all its own..
i usually trust Eric's work at face value, and i do believe the article was a good one.. but lighting is one of those things that can be VERY complicated.. and honestly its one of those things that if you as 10 people, you will get 12 different answers.
occasionally i make a judgement call (sometimes good, sometimes bad) to not overwhelm someone with all the nitty gritty details adn jsut answer there question.. then provide them if asked...
i know thats not the best way to teach.. but i have found that the people that are interested in learning, or arent already OVERWHELMED will ask why.. then i can go into the details...
not that Stephen doesnt want to learn.. but i just want to be carefull not to FLOOD people with TMI (Too Much Info)
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We have a Derasa in our 5.5gal with only a 65w PC. But that translate to about 11.81watts per gal. I did a DIYkalk doser from this site & supplement it with calcium. Also feed it live phyto. It has nice color & extends it's lips over it's shell. My tank also has a skimmer & powerheads for flow. It's been about a month sofar & all is well.
-John
Hi Stephen,
I have kept a maxima and a crocea under vho lighting at one time. I was using 6 vho 110 watt bulbs (3 uri super actinic and 3 uri actinic white) on a 90 gallon tall. I kept the clams about 18" from the lights and they did just fine but my water is crystal clear which also helps the light reach the clams better. I have since upgraded to 2-250 mh with two uri actinic and I know keep the clams at the bottom of the tank. I think you will be able to do it just keep the clams close to the vho lights.
Take care
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