HPS Light for Clam QT?

[josephxsxn]

Can I use a High Pressure Sodium light for a clam QT? This would just be a 10-12 day QT tank to make sure its free of any major pests.

 

[OrionN]

The spectrum of a HPS light is not correct for photosynthesis. Too hot.
Why not jsut get a Flood LEF 5000K-6500K light for the clams. That is what I use and this is hor by clams grow in my sump

 

[josephxsxn]

Why not jsut get a Flood LEF 5000K-6500K light for the clams.

This seems like an easy enough idea to do. Do you know how many watts the LED Flood Lights your using are?

 

[OrionN]

the Flood light are about 18 Watts, which is about 150 W equivalent.

 

[josephxsxn]

Thought I would share the photo of the Clam QT I setup with the flood light. Par meter reads between 150-180par in the sand trays were they will go.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Likely inadequate
They require good lighting and moderate water flow
Additionally:
Salinity not to exceed 1.026
Ph not to exceed 8.3
Temp not to exceed 80
Alk not to exceed 9

feedings on phytoplankton genes the need for good lighting

 

[josephxsxn]

Thanks for the feedback. I could hook up a second light o have another, but the 150 par is pretty near my Sandbed in the display tank.

They will of course be moved into a better tank after a period of time, I just didn't wanna dump them into the display on day 1. They will be feed Phytochrom and ReefBlizzard-O both here and in the display.

 

[jda]

IF the HPS has a daylight bulb in the 5500k or 6500k range, then it will be fine... if it designed to grow terrestrial plants, then it is fine for clams. I would avoid some of the lower K bulbs like 2800k, 4400k and the like.

 

[OrionN]

My mistake. HPS is a growth light. It is not the same as Sodium vapor light which is a yellow light and often for night parking lot light.
@josephxsxn, I think you can put another light on it it would provide adequate light for high light needs like Maxima or Crocea

 

[OrionN]

Here is th light in my sump. My Crocea got 500 PAR while the Gigas get 450 PAR

 

[josephxsxn]

@OrionN Thanks for the photos, I see you also have some kessels, are they not providing lights for the clams?

Got my clams in the mail yesterday, they seem to have acclimated well and looked open and happy through the day. Here is a photo of them just now. Feed them some phytoplankton already, now I just need to watch for some pests over the next few days..

 

[OrionN]

The two Kessil lights are old. They do provide light but a lot less than the flood light. IMO, the Flood lights are the main heavy lifters. My animals in my sumps are all light hogs so I just pile on the lights. Clams, the Crocea and Maxima you have likley require higher than 180 PAR to do well, so I would add another Flood light. Also the angle of light is important. If light strike the water surface at 90 degree, a lot more would penetrate. The larger the angle from 90 degree, the more light reflex back.
I attach the light on the goose necks of the Kessil lights.

 

[josephxsxn]

I added the other one, with my PAR meter they read between about 300-400 PAR now depending on location.

 

[OrionN]

 

[josephxsxn]

Happy to have caught these little guys in qt and not the display tank. (Pyramid snails)

 

[Pntbll687]

I think some people are missing the point.

This is a QT setup not a display or grow out tank. The light just needs to be adequate for the clam to survive, not necessarily grow.

 

[OrionN]

In order to maximize an animal survival, QT tank should be optimal. It does not need to be pleasing to the eye or expensive. For clams, it is really important to have adequate light. For too dim light, the clam will not get the energy it need to survive, similar to not feeding your fish in QT. This is likely not OK even for a fat fish with a lot of reserve, it is a death sentence for a thin fish.
I keep my clams in QT for 6-8 weeks, adequate light for survival is optimal light.

 

[OrionN]

Happy to have caught these little guys in qt and not the display tank. (Pyramid snails)

It is great that you got these snails. Need to remove them all. That Maxima is not in great shape, due to the fact that it has no recent growth. If you don't provide optimal light, water, and removal of all the pest it may not make it. It will take it a while to turn around. Don't be fool into seeing the great mantle expansion as sign of good health.
This is the reason why many reefers are perplexed as to why their clams are "happy as a clam" then died overnight.

 

[josephxsxn]

@OrionN thanks, would you recommend I try to remove the Clam from the shell it's attached to for cleaning? Or just clean daily to keep catching the snails? (I did read the guide in this forum, very good.) Should I try to upgrade the lighting at this point as it appears they will be in QT longer then rather then continue using the 5000k flood lights?

 

[OrionN]

The Flood light is OK for them to grow with if you given enough. Near 300 PAR should be fine.
IMO, you should remove him from the shell to quickly remove all the Pyramid snails. Use a tooth pick to remove all the adult and sub adult snails. Then watch daily and remove all the snails that hatched. It is easier to remove all the egg mass if you breaks all the scuttles but you don’t have to. It just take more work.