Sand Bed Clams?

[npaden]

I'm going to be getting some clams in the next month or so and was curious as to people keeping clams long term on the sand bed.

I have a 28" tank with an average sand bed depth of 4" - 6" so that would put the clams 24" or so under 400W Iwasaki's. I have succesfully kept Derasa and Squasmosa clams on the sand but still feel that Maximas and Croceas need more light that they would get on the sand.

I currently have 1 maxima and 2 croceas about 1/3rd of the way off the bottom of the tank and 1 large maxima about 1/2 the way up the tank in the rocks.

I have heard some say that keeping the maximas and croceas on the sand if you have a deep sand bed could result in nitrogen gases building up under the clam and hurting them.

Just wanting to get some input. I will probably start my new clams out on the sand but plan on moving them up into the rocks from 1/3 to 1/2 way up.

Any thoughts? Nathan

[MiNdErAsR]

I house all my clams in the sandbed, which is 5-6" deep in a 24" tall tank. Under 400w Iwasaki 6500k halides of course! :D No worries.

[npaden]

What about coloration? Will a clam that has been acclimatized and then raised up in the tank have more intense coloration than if the same clam was left on the sandbed?

Here is a pic of some of my clams:
http://padens.homestead.com/files/640_clams_from_above_3-4-01.jpg

That pic is from 6 months or so ago in my old tank. Those clams are about 8" underwater directly beneath a 400W Iwasaki. During the move and everything I ended up lowering the big clam and raising the smaller ones.

The big clam appears to have lost a little color:
http://padens.homestead.com/files/big_maxima_from_above_12-2-01.jpg

and the smaller one gained color:
http://padens.homestead.com/files/crocea_12-2-01.jpg

Not the best pics but you get somewhat of the idea. Of course the big clam looks like crap if you aren't looking at it from above:
http://padens.homestead.com/files/640_Clams_through_glass_3-4-01.jpg

Oh well, just more rambling. Nathan

[crap]

I guessed you don't have a Starphire glass tank? :)

Ordinary glass tends to add a greenish tint to everything... and makes the colours of your inhabitants a little less life-like.