Giant clams and light readings.

[jamesfatherree]

Greetings everyone,

I'm a few days away from wrapping up a re-write/update of my giant clams book, but would like to add in some more information about lighting if possible. If anyone has had a clam for several months (at the least) and has any lighting intensity numbers (PAR, etc.) to share, I would greatly appreciate it. Please provide an ID (or photo), how long you've had it, type of lighting system, and reading where the clam is.

I have several numbers for different species already, but I'd be especially interested in seeing some from someone with a hippopus. I don't have any numbers for that one, at all.

Thanks!

James

 

[B0brobert]

Welcome James. I am Robert from Fracebook (do you recognise my licence plate?) I am looking forward to your updated book.

 

[jamesfatherree]

Yes, I do Thanks Robert. It's pretty much done, and I'm handing it off to a proofreader next week. I hope to have it out in maybe two or three weeks. I've got several light readings/numbers for clams, but could really use some more. There's no such thing as a one-number recommendation, even for each species...

 

[hart24601]

3 Maxima's - 300 PAR under orpheks for maybe 6 months. Plenty of new growth. Gigas same lighting for 1.5 months. Maxima's on bottom of this tank.

1 squammy, 2 derasa, 2 hippo (only 1 in photo) under 200 par from kessil h380 for many months now all with growth. The derasas and squammy move out of the center to edges every time I tried moving them closer to around 100-150 par. It's the sump - Rubbermaid 150g stock tank.

 

[jamesfatherree]

THANKS!!! That's exactly what I need.
Love that hippopus. Glad you got your hands on one of the gigas, too. Nice

 

[hart24601]

Here is the other hippo, just for fun because it has a mantle pattern I hadn't seen before with a ton of fine lines that are hard to make out in the picture.

 

[B0brobert]

Yes, I do Thanks Robert. It's pretty much done, and I'm handing it off to a proofreader next week. I hope to have it out in maybe two or three weeks. I've got several light readings/numbers for clams, but could really use some more. There's no such thing as a one-number recommendation, even for each species...

I think reefers want to have normalization for lighting on their clams to succeed.

 

[Huff747]

Just a Derasa under 5 Radion XR15s and 4 T5s. Had it since December 5, 2018. Getting about 200-220 par (measured with MQ-200 so applied the 1.08 correction for being under water).

And a shot with the lighting:

Have a Gigas in QT but only for a couple weeks.

 

[Troy V]

Thank you James for all you have done to advance the hobby, and further our knowledge of these magnificent creatures.

This Gigas I've had for over 11 years, and in that time it's been in 2 different systems. I have always tried to keep the par between 150 and 250. On the current system, which has been setup for over 3 years. I use 2 Hydra 52 HDs and a 250 watt MH which is on for 4 hrs a day to bump the par up from 120-160(depending on where you take the reading on a 30" mantle.) To a more even 250-260. The clam seems to really enjoy the MH.

Here is the original 240g (8'x2'x2')tank which it out grew after 8 years. The lighting in this pic was a single Reefbreeder Photon 48 and 2-48" T5s. Par would ramp to an even 150-160 peak for 4hrs.

Current system: 3 tanks one sump. 550 total gallons.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Thank you James for all you have done to advance the hobby, and further our knowledge of these magnificent creatures.

This Gigas I've had for over 11 years, and in that time it's been in 2 different systems. I have always tried to keep the par between 150 and 250. On the current system, which has been setup for over 3 years. I use 2 Hydra 52 HDs and a 250 watt MH which is on for 4 hrs a day to bump the par up from 120-160(depending on where you take the reading on a 30" mantle.) To a more even 250-260. The clam seems to really enjoy the MH.

Here is the original 240g (8'x2'x2')tank which it out grew after 8 years. The lighting in this pic was a single Reefbreeder Photon 48 and 2-48" T5s. Par would ramp to an even 150-160 peak for 4hrs.

Current system: 3 tanks one sump. 550 total gallons.

I love seeing pics of this GIANT!

 

[radiata]

Troy V,

Loved your above-the-tank horticulture display! I've thought of putting ferns on top of my canopy. Any thoughts on what plants work best, assuming they're getting low lighting?

Thanks...

 

[Xjv152]

Have the 2 squamosa and 1 Derasa large plus a handful of Maxima clams I don't have pictures of. All under Radion x15 in a 180 gallon tank, I do not have a par meter everybody is on the sand and doing well.

 

[Troy V]

Troy V,

Loved your above-the-tank horticulture display! I've thought of putting ferns on top of my canopy. Any thoughts on what plants work best, assuming they're getting low lighting?

Thanks...

Those are actually fake plants you are looking at. I originally started with several live Pothos vines, which did very well. But after a while it became difficult to dust and remove dead foliage, and I became concearned about the fire hazard risk. Especially since I was running 3-400 watt MHs, and the plants were growing into the lights and being burned by the luminarc reflectors. The only issue with the fake plants is when you dust them a few times a year. Pothos vines are great indoor plants for lower light conditions. But what you don't see in these pictures is the 10'x12' series of windows lighting the room.

 

[rkpetersen]

Loved your book, read it cover to cover, looking forward to the new edition.

In one tank, I've had no luck with clams at all, and have tried all but gigas.
I suspect perkinsus is present in the water. Could be other factors but I haven't identified them.

In another almost identical tank, I've only placed one maxima, but it has been thriving and growing there for 13 months.
6" now, sitting in the sand, receiving 250 PAR max from 3 Radion XR15s, 2 blue+, and 2 actinic T5 bulbs.

 

[jamesfatherree]

Just a Derasa under 5 Radion XR15s and 4 T5s. Had it since December 5, 2018. Getting about 200-220 par (measured with MQ-200 so applied the 1.08 correction for being under water).

And a shot with the lighting:

Have a Gigas in QT but only for a couple weeks.

Nice! That's a very weird looking derasa - good one! Thanks for the numbers.

 

[jamesfatherree]

Here is the other hippo, just for fun because it has a mantle pattern I hadn't seen before with a ton of fine lines that are hard to make out in the picture.

Those are sweet! I've never had a H. hippopus, and seeing ones like that make me want to get one...

 

[jamesfatherree]

T

Thank you James for all you have done to advance the hobby, and further our knowledge of these magnificent creatures.

This Gigas I've had for over 11 years, and in that time it's been in 2 different systems. I have always tried to keep the par between 150 and 250. On the current system, which has been setup for over 3 years. I use 2 Hydra 52 HDs and a 250 watt MH which is on for 4 hrs a day to bump the par up from 120-160(depending on where you take the reading on a 30" mantle.) To a more even 250-260. The clam seems to really enjoy the MH.

Here is the original 240g (8'x2'x2')tank which it out grew after 8 years. The lighting in this pic was a single Reefbreeder Photon 48 and 2-48" T5s. Par would ramp to an even 150-160 peak for 4hrs.

Current system: 3 tanks one sump. 550 total gallons.

Troy - this is ridiculous... Holy crap that's a BF clam!
Seriously awesome tanks - and thanks!

 

[Cassian]

This isn't related to your clam question, but as a fellow author, may I ask, are you self publishing or is your book professionally published? Im a 17 year old author trying to break into the book industry, which is apparently incredibly hard.

 

[Huff747]

Nice! That's a very weird looking derasa - good one! Thanks for the numbers.

Thanks. It looks even better that what I can capture in a picture too. I'm a terrible photographer. It also grows some large scutes on the side, it was listed as a Dermosa hybrid when I bought it but I've just kind of worked with the assumption it's a unique Derasa based on some of what I've seen from you about hybrids.

 

[robmiller2]

Cant wait for the new book. I absolutely love clams. I will see about renting a par meter so I can get the readings.