Is 4X55W PC enough to keep Maxima clams?

[yellowfiji]

I have a 30 gallon reef tank with 4X55W power compact lighting. I wonder is it good enough to keep maxima clams?

 

[reefland]

It will likely be enough to keep the clam alive. It may not be enough to keep brilliant colors. You have any other light demanding critters? How are they doing?

Got any tank pictures?

 

[Palmetto]

I would stick with Squamosas or Deresas, as they are more light-forgiving creatures than Croceas or Maximas.

If you try a Maxima, I would go with a Maxima Gold.

 

[wade1]

Hippopus would be fine as well. But like mentioned above, I seriously doubt they'll remain colorful.

Wade

 

[Palmetto]

Ah, I agree on Hippopus. I meant to list that also.

Basically, the yellow/gold/brown mantled clams have lower light requirements than green or blue.

 

[leeks]

I keep a crocea and monitipora digitata green under 300 watts of power compacts. the clam is two times brighter then when i got it 6 months ago. I do feed it dts three times a week. tank size 75.

 

[Len]

My experience tells me 4x55W over a 30g tank will be more then sufficient to keep any Tridacna. I am not sure where the urban myth of "you need MH to keep clams" came from. It's patently false.

 

[reefland]

My experience tells me 4x55W over a 30g tank will be more then sufficient to keep any Tridacna. I am not sure where the urban myth of "you need MH to keep clams" came from. It's patently false.

I only attempted one clam under non halide tank, had 4x110 VHO over a 55g

Year later:

My experience says its not urban myth.

 

[Anonymous]

I had an "ultra" blue maxima under 2x55watt PCs in a 29 for 1 1/2 years before the tank upgrade. It doubled in size, and never lost its pretty blue.

FWIW, I did keep it fairly high in the tank, though.

 

[reefland]

Keeping it close to the lights is key. Happen to have any pics you can share of it?

 

[Anonymous]

I have one at work. It'll have to wait until Monday, I guess. It's a crappy pic, though.

 

[HK StYle]

I have had two nice blue clams under three 10,000K fluros and a bluemoon for at least 6 months now, they are bigger now and they are looking great!

Stephen

 

[criccio]

I've had 3 maximas (1 ultra blue), and one squamosa, in a 37 gallon with 2-65 watt smartlite pc's for 6 months, they're as beautiful as the day I bought them from Harbor Aquatics. BTW the clams are at the bottom of my tank (20" from the lighting source) with new visible growth ridges.

 

[reefland]

Please post some pictures of these clams under PC lighting. Would love to see them. Might try one again in my smaller tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Ugh... This pic is really embarrassing. It's the worst ever. It was taken with a crappy digital cam, and I messed with the exposure, so it's really dark. And the colors are not true. And it's old, so imagine about 1/2" bigger.

But, you asked for it...

 

[Len]

I can't offer any pictures, but I've kept Tridacnas under NO, VHO, and PC lighting with success. I don't recommend NO's, but I am confident that Tridacnas can thrive under VHO and PC lighting. FWIW, I maintained a 1st grade purple Maxima on the substrate (~18" from the light source) under 3xVHOs for over 2 years before the tank was scrapped. Grew steadily and never lost its initial colors.