Ideal Spectrum for Clammies?

**Captain Clam** · 10-03-2002, 03:45 PM

I'm thinking about kicking down for some MH's finally. I've read enough about them to make my head spin and am convinced that there are more opinions than there are possibilities (think about that for a second!) I was just wondering what some of you might think is the ideal spectrum specifically for clams?

**EastCoastClams** · 10-03-2002, 03:53 PM

10K metal halides are usually said to be the best for clams, according to Knopp. It is said to best represent what the clams get in nature.

I have kept clams with no problems with 65k, 20k, and power compact.

Best of luck, Rob

**Captain Clam** · 10-03-2002, 04:05 PM

Thanks Rob. With all due respect to Daniel Knop, I don't think his book can address the lighting issue adequately simply because technology has come so far since he wrote Giant Clams. I would guess that the 10K bulbs he used at the time of publication are quite a bit different than what is available now. I still use his book as my main reference book, but I find experienced people like you and Barry and other members here to be a great resource too. Especially since you guys are essentially doing the "research" now with current technology. In my mind everyone who has a reef tank, and pays attention to it, is essentially doing research for our hobby by learning and trying new products and techniques.

Did you notice that any of the three types you listed worked noticeably better or worse than the others? Thanks again for responding. ;)

**Hippopus** · 10-03-2002, 04:32 PM

Captain,
I use a combination which works great for me (my eyes) and my clams. 400 watt Ushio 10,000k and about 4 inches right next to it a 400 watt H3 15,000k.

Jim

**EastCoastClams** · 10-03-2002, 04:38 PM

In my personal tank I have 3 x 400 watts halides. Two outside ones are 65k and the middle is a radium 20k. Supplemented with 160 watts of vho.

My clam tanks I use dual 175 10 k with 110 watt vho.

I would say that the 10k and vho is what I like better to look at clams.

Also display tanks are only 12 inches deep, so I am sure that has something to do with it. It seems to me the whiter the light the better the clams look.

I was really into getting a 20k radium for my 240 reef, and it does look nice on tank, but I am dissapointed with how it looks on my clams.

Best of luck, Rob

ps Jim do those 15k's look green to you?

**Barry N.** · 10-03-2002, 09:23 PM

On my 180 SPS/Clams tank I use 3 x 250 MH 10K w/2 x 140 VHO actinic suppliments.

On clam tank I am using 150 DE HQI's .

Clams look good in all tank.

Barry

**Hippopus** · 10-04-2002, 08:32 AM

Rob,
Hello! The H3s started out real blue and are getting whiter as time goes on. I like them more as a supplement than a main bulb like the Ushios I use. So this is how it works on my main tank right now. First five 110 watt actininc URI vhos fired up using icecap ballasts. Three are located in the rear of the tank and two are in the very front of the tank. After afew hours then the two 400 watt 15,000k H3s kick in. Then finally acouple of hours later the two 400 watt 10,000k Ushios kick in. I am using two dual PFO ballasts for the MHs. Reverse this order for night time.
Jim

**EastCoastClams** · 10-04-2002, 09:29 AM

Jim,

Thanks for the info.

Rob

**Hippopus** · 10-04-2002, 01:01 PM

Rob,
Your welcome! How is the new addistion to the family???
Jim

**EastCoastClams** · 10-04-2002, 01:09 PM

Taylor is wonderfull!!!!!! Thanks for asking. Now if she would just go to sleep once in awhile, it would really help me out!! lol

**SueT** · 10-05-2002, 12:54 PM

Over my 180 I have 3 250w 65k iwasaki's supplemented with 2 URI 03 actinics. Something that I have observed and I have talked with Barry about this is...that I can get a green patterned clam and under these iwasaki's the mantle pattern is blue where the green *should* be. I first thought the wrong clam was sent but after talking with Barry we figured out with the last 3 clams I got, of which 2 had green in the mantle and are blue patterned now. I really want to try the 400w 10k ushios as I thnik this would best represent all the color patterns in the mantles. I got to see them in person this morning at my LFS and they are a great look to my eyes. These are over his sps coral tank and the colors on the acropora were nice too.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

**Steve H.** · 10-05-2002, 02:00 PM

Interesting. I noticed the same thing with one of mine under my Iwasaki's. On Barry's site it had an intense green rim around the mantle, but in my tank it's more of a blue color. I can see some green, but not as much. I'm due for new bulbs anyway, may take a look at the Ushio's.

**reefcat01** · 10-13-2002, 07:40 PM

I have 400w radium bulbs and blue line ballests. The color is white and not blue...with the tar ballest the bulbs burn like 14k color...I also like the hamilton 10 k bulbs because they are ice blue and not yellow like the A/B bulbs...These colors are white with the other colors as tints...not dominant pigments.

**Steve H.** · 10-15-2002, 10:48 PM

Hi Sue, my Ushio bulbs came today and I figured I would post a side-by-side comparison of some clams, one shot under the 65K Iwasaki and the same clam under the 10K Ushio. These bulbs are running on 250w electronic ballasts (from Hamilton) and supplemented with two URI VHO actinics.

Derasa - Iwasaki

Derasa - Ushio

Blue Ultra Maxima - Iwasaki

Blue Ultra Maxima - Ushio

Green Ultra Maxima - Iwasaki

Green Ultra Maxima - Ushio

Whole Tank - Iwasaki

Whole Tank - Ushio

I seem to have lost the green in my green ultra maxima. All the others look great though, IMO better than when they were under 65K Iwasaki bulbs. Still though, this is going to take some getting use to for me.

**Barry N.** · 10-15-2002, 10:59 PM

That is a great comparsion.

Barry

**Reefland** · 10-15-2002, 11:16 PM

Thanks for the comparison Steve; really a nice job!

How long ago did you take the full tank shot under the Iwasaki's? Looks like you've had some nice growth!

Regards,
Scott Z.

**Steve H.** · 10-15-2002, 11:31 PM

You all are more than welcome, hope it helps some. Looking at the pictures all together like that I am unsure what I think about the 10K Ushio lamps. To me the derasa looks very natural and the blue dots in its mantle seem to "pop" a little more. The blue max looks very saturated to me, and the green max ... well, it isn't green anymore.

Probably just take some getting use to.

The Iwasaki full tank shot actually isn't very old, few months I guess. I have a bunch of credit with a LFS for some web work I did for them so I've added a few things, the frogspawn and bubble coral are new, and two more clams. And my colt was going through a grumpy phase in the Iwasaki shot. As you can see it's back in full bloom, taking up that entire end of the tank.

**SueT** · 10-16-2002, 09:27 AM

Steve, those are some incredible shots. I like the derasa better under the ushio's as the color does seem to pop out at you more. The maxima looks great under either one I think.

The green maxima seems to have gone MIA, like mine have. I do love the coloration though under both lights on it too. Great of you to take the time to do side by side pics and show them to us.

You reef looks awesome too.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

**BobinCovington** · 10-16-2002, 06:38 PM

Those pictures are great!

I need a little help stepping up to raising clams and SPS in my tank. I have a 29 gallon tank with a 175 watt 10,000K blueline MH and two actinic URI normal output tubes (I know it's small, but I have scaled back since my divorce). I have had trouble in the past keeping the one SPS frag I tried...(it was not in very good shape when I got it from the LFS). I also have a tough time with xenia, but other soft corals, clowns and anemone are doing great (about 5 years old).

I have an aquaC remora skimmer and 2 powerheads in the tank for circulation/filtration. Plenty of rock, some soft corals (ricordia, mushrooms, tonga leather, etc) an alveapora and anemone and two clowns, shrimp, hermits. I want to add a small maxima clam and a few SPS frags. But I have a few questions...

what is the best supplement for calcium/alk? With my small system a calcium reactor is not applicable. I have been using B-ionic, but just switched to Seachem this last week (reefplus, reef complete, reef calcium, 5 mls each 2x week) make up water is 1 tsp/gallon reef advantage calcium or reef builder in RO water -alternating. I saw this "recipe" on the GARF website.

I hate falling prey to advertising and pretty bottles. Any comments on my supplementation from people that are really raising clams would be REALLY appreciated! Even if someone can tell me what I am doing is right.

I also want to upgrade my NO actinic tubes to VHO...is this too much light or worth doing?

I am looking at clamsdirect for my next purchase...they seem to be pretty good judging by their site and some of the people I talk to.

Thanks for any help or comments, Bob

**SueT** · 10-16-2002, 06:58 PM

Bob, Hi...The only problem I see in your keeping sps in your present set-up is having the leather in the tank. Leathers and sps for some reason do not like each other. Some say leathers release a toxin that sps corals will die from. Clams I don't think should be a problem. Mushrooms are also not a great coral to keep with sps. Some can keep these together but these are in much larger systems where the dilution ratio is lower.

Other than that I think the clams would be a better choice but maybe some others will chime in here.

my 180 ecosystem sps/clam tank:
http://berlinmethod.com/suet/
my 120 ecosystem sps tank:
http://suetruett.homestead.com/home.html

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