Can a Tridacna crocea be too high?

[ilektrik22]

Is it possible to place a Tridacna crocea too high up in a tank?

( I know I've been having calcium problems but I got the clam before that started)

In anycase the clam seems to be doing well, At first he was sitting 18inches from the light, I'm slowly moving him up the tank. I was hoping to have his final placement at roughly 8 inches from the light( 4 in water, 4 above), is this to high?
I've read that this species needs intense lighting but is their such thing as too intense? and how high do they spit? ( the clam is a little over 2.5 inches).

Lighting- MH 150w 20k

 

[chris&barb]

IMO if its acclimated slowly there shouldn't be a problem with it being that close to the light.

i never measured how far the spit:lol:

 

[ilektrik22]

lol, no one seems to know...I just don't want clammy to spit and take out my lights...I'm hoping that they can't spit 9 inches up....:exclaim:

 

[chris&barb]

if theres a few inches of water above the clam when they squirt it usually disperses and just makes the water ripple. when ive taken them out of the water ive had them squirt pretty far though.

a 150w MH should have a glass sheild under the bulb, does yours?

 

[ilektrik22]

just checked, nope, mine is the cheap type evidently, no glass shield.

The clam is placed 5 inches underwater and the light is 4 inches above the water line...so far I haven't noticed any spitting.

I hopefully have a polite clam

 

[Pikachu]

you might want to get a glass top/cover just to be safe

 

[chris&barb]

do you have single end bulbs or double end? if its double end you need a glass shield to filter out some UV

 

[ilektrik22]

Double ended, it's a corallife mh pendant type( attached to my tank). I don't think there is anyway to attach glass to it.

 

[chris&barb]

can you post a photo of the light. DE bulbs are not shielded and if yours dosent have some kind of glass shield between the bulb and tank you need one

 

[Brenden]

Agree DE bulbs need glass to block the UV

 

[ilektrik22]

I'll take a pic later tonight

 

[ilektrik22]

okay so i found the description of my fixture

Specifications:
Dimensions: 10.5"L x 8"W x 3"H
Hang-on tank HQI metal halide fixture
150 watt 20,000K double-ended HQI metal halide lamp
External HQI metal halide ballast w/ on/off switch, 12-ft lamp cord and 6-ft power cord
Three points of articulation for multiple lighting positions
Sleek, anodized black-aluminum housing with ventilation grill
Highly-polished reflector
Built-in cooling fan
Glass HQI lens cover
Heavy-duty mounting bracket

So I guess there is a lens cover? I just can't see it...I've never changed the bulb( that this weekends fun) so I've never looked at it closely

 

[Cwazy Clown]

hmmm...is urs a coralife bell pendant or is it a HOB one??

my maxima was to close to the pc light and it kept moving away. (3" from light) and so i moved it 6" away from light and it likes it now.

 

[ilektrik22]

mine is the HOB version

The clam is sitting 8inches from the light and seems happy as a ...clam

sorry I couldn't resist

 

[ilektrik22]

I had to replace my bulb.

the clam is still sitting at the same top position roughly 8 inches from my light.

new bulb is a pheonix 14k, changed it 5 days ago, since then the clam has not extended it's mantle as much as previously, should I be conserned? or is it just acclimating to the new bulb?

and how long should I wait before I get concerned?

thanks
Yvonne

 

[DonW]

I had to replace my bulb.

the clam is still sitting at the same top position roughly 8 inches from my light.

new bulb is a pheonix 14k, changed it 5 days ago, since then the clam has not extended it's mantle as much as previously, should I be conserned? or is it just acclimating to the new bulb?

and how long should I wait before I get concerned?

thanks
Yvonne

I raise my lights a few inches for a week when I replace the bulbs then just bring them back down a little at a time.

Don

 

[ilektrik22]

thanks
Will do

 

[ilektrik22]

So I've moved the clam half way down the tank, It's starting to open more. My light is fixed in position so I can't really move it. I'm going to have to move it up the tank slowly instead.