lighting a 220 clam tank with t5.

[jfulmer]

I have a 220 thats 30" deep and im running 6 over driven t5's on ice cap 660 ballast right now but i have 8 bulbs available to me. What bulbs do you think would be best for color and making sure they have enought light to thrive. Im thinking run 4 ati aquablue specials which are around 12k and 4 ati blue plus or should i do 6 aquablue specials and 2 blue plus. Im looking at doing maximas, croceas, dearsas and squamosas. I have some clams in there now but im looking to see what everybody else thinks. Also im looking at ordering a nice order of farm raised maximas out of vanuatu and micronesia and was wondering if anybody has had any luck raising the really small clams cause i can get a really good price on them.

 

[skinz78]

Honestly I don't think it is good to keep clams under the super blue spectrum's, I would do the the first combo you mentioned and see how they grow.

 

[Electrobes]

Definitely listen to Chris above me, boy is master clam sensei! ;) I agree with him as for such a deep tank, you may need more punching par to get that energy to the clams.. unless you get them high up enough.

 

[jfulmer]

so change of plans. I have built a plywood tank and im not using it and its the same dimensions as my 220 except for its only 12" deep and its a look down tank so it will be better for the clams. How many t5 do you think would work for this tank. The lights will be about 18" off the water. The majority of the bulb will be aqublue specials which are about 10k. So they will have plenty of par per bulb.

 

[skinz78]

I say go with the same plan as before since the lights will be so high off the water.