Derasa Clam Placement/Advice

[hermitmandy]

Hello! I recently jumped into the world of clams a few weeks ago with a blue maxima, which unfortunately didn't go so well. After doing a little more looking/researching, I have a Derasa coming in today (one of my workplaces wholesalers had them on sale, and we were trying to fill up the last box- couldn't resist).
I do have some questions though, namely pH and placement. Recently, my tank's pH whenever tested has been sitting a solid 7.8. Mag/Calc/Alk at 1350/400/10dkH. Would you suggest continuing trying to raise it before adding the clam, or leave it at the solid 7.8? (It'll be staying in my stores frag tank for the time being-pH of 8.3- , as I need to do a couple water changes still.)

My second question is placement. I've heard they do well on both sand and rock, so I'm not sure where would be the best location for it. Running a Kessil at 50% intensity, deepest spot of the tank is about 19" away.
(Working on getting a photo uploaded, tinypic doesn't seem to like my phone. )

 

[Paullawr]

Don't try chasing pH if it's a stable 7.8. I ran at that with a clam for years.

They like both - on flat rock on sand. They will send runners to latch on to rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What kessil is it and how high above the tank.
In either case I don't think that's enough light. Your looking for about 200par. More is better.

You can use a lux meter to test light. Btw.

Slowly turning up the light over the next several weeks will acclimate the other corals to brighter intensity. Keep an eye on the nutrients as they will be used up at a higher rate as the metabolisms increase.
Also as the light intensity increases and photosynthesis increases your ph will go up.

In lux for an led at a 1:1 ratio 100 par is 6000 lux approx.

 

[Paullawr]

@saltyfilmfolks is right about par. 150 will cut it but wouldnt want to go lower.

Kessil produce far less light due to the 'dense matrix' led. It's actually far less effecienent that single watt leds of the same output and by some way.

So bare that in mind.

 

[hermitmandy]

The kessil is an a160 tuna blue, about 8 inches above the tank lid.
I didn't know about the connection between the photosynthesis and pH, though the more I think about it the more it makes sense. I'll start raising the intensity after the lights go out tonight and bump it up a notch.

Unfortunately the poor clam didn't come in alive, it was only a 2.5" despite being promised larger. The digi and monti came in fine, but as far as I've picked up they're both fairly hardy in comparison to the clam.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Unfortunately the poor clam didn't come in alive, it was only a 2.5"

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Well. Now you can get the rest of the stuff acclimated till the new clam comes in.

And I honestly dont know the par of the a160 at 100% @ 19in. That'd be good to look in to.

 

[hermitmandy]

So bummed about it, even the wholesaler rep was all "Noooo! D:". He's saving two for me next shipment though.

After doing some poking around on the forums, I ended up downloading a lux meter on my phone, the Galactica. With my phone sitting on the glass lid, about 1" above the water, the lux was reading 23k at full intensity, all white no blue. I have to charge my phone, but once it's charged up I'll get readings on my current light cycle at the same spot in the tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

So bummed about it, even the wholesaler rep was all "Noooo! D:". He's saving two for me next shipment though.

After doing some poking around on the forums, I ended up downloading a lux meter on my phone, the Galactica. With my phone sitting on the glass lid, about 1" above the water, the lux was reading 23k at full intensity, all white no blue. I have to charge my phone, but once it's charged up I'll get readings on my current light cycle at the same spot in the tank.

Oh hey cool on both.

Im that lux meter guy on r2r. the galactica works the best, just double check its in the right mode and reading correctly.

But that sounds about right for that light. Divide that number by 60, is in the 380 par range. if its easy just point the light at the meter at the same distance as the bottom.

 

[dMiles]

Oh hey cool on both.

Im that lux meter guy on r2r. the galactica works the best, just double check its in the right mode and reading correctly.

But that sounds about right for that light. Divide that number by 60, is in the 380 par range. if its easy just point the light at the meter at the same distance as the bottom.

Can't find Galactica in the play store?