Lighting

I have a 40 gl tank how nuch light do I need to keep clams and coral.

 

What are the dimensions of the tank? There are a lot of choices. Read up in the lighting forum if you haven't already about vho, pc and metal halide lighting. This will help you make an informed decision.

Jim

 

For clams, minimum is strong power compacts. Dont make the mistake of getting flourescent, you will upgrade later.

They sell ARO PC ballasts that are PnP for real cheap!

 

Metal Halides and you"ll never be sorry!

 

It depends on alot of things. What kind of clams do you want for your tank. You could probably get by with a Durasa clam with strong pc lighting(4-5 watt per gal.) If you want maximas, you need metal halide bulbs and 5+watts per gal.
As far as corals go, mushrooms, most Zooanthids, Polythoas, Clavularia and Pachyclavularia(i guess you could say most Octocorals or soft corals) could survive on strong pc. lighting. You could even have some sps on pc's. Montipora digitata is a good example. The polyps may be a brownish color though but it will survive and grow. Brain corals, galaxy, Pavona, Fungia, Pierogyra corals are a few that would survive with pc lighting.
I would however go with metal halide lighting, if for nothing more than the shimmer associated with metal halides. But you can then add Gonioporas, Acros and maxima clams.

 

I personally like VHO lighting better than Power Compact. The color is more pleasing to the eye. But for clams...nothing beats the Halides for punching through deeper tanks all the way to the sand bed for clams which in my opinion is where clams belong. On the botton in the sand.

Just my opinion though


Jay

 

The dimensions of my tank are 36in l, 18in w 17in h

 

With a 17 inch deep tank you can get a way with 150w or a 175w metal halides.
Generally speaking you use 1 metal halide for each 24 inches of length on tanks that are 24 inches or less in width. But with your tank being 36 inches long...Plus there is the center tank strap to contend with....................
What abut 2 - 100 watt halides evenly spaced on each side of the tank.
Jay, What do you think?
Or you could go with a group of 4 t-5 flourescents 2 -10k and 2-actinic. Covey has a set of those and can offer better advice. I know they will provide enough light.

Jim