JBJ Nano Cube and clam

[alexwolf]

Does the JBJ have enough light for a small Maxima clam?

[Ed]

Alex,

There is a small (2.5") Squamosa in the NanoCube at AA. It seems to be doing quite well. Not sure if there would be enough light for a Maxima.

-Ed

[JimD]

How small? What kind of wattage we talkin here? A small clam would be a better choice since it relies mostly on direct feeding with DT's or the like and not so much on photosynthasis, however, on down the road, it will definatly require much much more intense lighting....

[alexwolf]

24w power compact

[JimD]

uhh, ok,,,,, no

[MikeP]

Clams under 3" are generally only partially photosynthetic. Any of the larger clams that might do ok under that light would outgrow it in time and there is a good chance they won't thrive - if you do try it Hippopus hippopus, T. derasa or T. squamosa would be doable. Croceas or maximas would eventually incur a nutritional deficit under such lighting IMO and slowly starve.

[JimD]

Personaly,
I dont think any clam would do ok under that lighting for very long, a Deresa may have the best chance of survival, but myself personally wouldnt risk it unless I was planning a serious lighting upgrade very soon. 24 watts aint squat.

[GaryP]

Its funny, but I was in Austin this week and stopped into AA. I made the same comment about putting a clam in the JBJ. Besides being somewhat of a bad idea for the well being of the clam I think it puts out the wrong idea to SW newbies that stumble in the door. IMO Nano's are a double edged sword. They are a great entry level tank for newbies, but at the same time the staff at LFS need to be aware of their limitations when selling critters to their owners. I guess it all goes back to the discussion that we repeatedly have here about responsible staff at LFS.

I'm not saying that AA isn't responsible, but it doesn't take much imagination to see a maxima or crocea going home to some newbies nano. Its one thing for an experienced reefkeeper to recognize a clam that is in distress and take the appropriate steps to deal with the situation. Its another to expect the same from a newbie.

Gary

[Tim Marvin]

I'll second that Gary!!!!