Using only clams as Filtration?

[musel101]

Do you think it’s possible to use only clams As a means of Nutrient export and filtration? Only Having wave makers, heaters to keep the water moving.

 

[The_Paradox]

Short answer. No.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Short answer. No.

Out of curiosity..what would be the long answer?

Absolutely, 100%, no way in hades, are you out of your mind, what have you been drinking, are you high, you picked the wrong hobby not on your life no? ;)

 

[musel101]

Out of curiosity..what would be the long answer?

Absolutely, 100%, no way in hades, are you out of your mind, what have you been drinking, are you high, you picked the wrong hobby not on your life no? ;)

So yeah I have a 20g reef and 40g sump wanted to load the sump with clams maybe 1000 dollars worth. I try to keep my tank clean I a natural way still doing biweekly water changes.

 

[musel101]

Don’t shoot me just wondering if it’s ever been done

 

[exnisstech]

You can be a pioneer :winking-face:

 

[musel101]

You can be a pioneer :winking-face:

Cool let you know how it go’s

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Don't think this will work. Maybe they can take some nutrients out of the water, but you'll definitely need something else as well. If you're interested in natural nutrient export, a refugium or algae scrubber is the way to go.

 

[shakacuz]

i have a 40G breeder with two clams(1 crocea about 2-3in, and a maxima that’s about 4-5in) and i had to shut my skimmer off because when i added the 2nd clam my nutrients would bottom out frequently. i dose sodium nitrate and phosphorus daily to keep up with nutrient intake.

of course, corals consume a bit of this as well. but i attribute the significant change with the clams.

edit: i do have chaeto but it has been growing slowly for me. and i’ve lowered its photoperiod from 12hr to 6hrs and i still have low nutrients

 

[twentyleagues]

What kind of clams are we talking here?

 

[bushdoc]

About 40 years ago when I was in College I did a study about freshwater clams and their role in water filtration. Surely they clear matter suspended in water and decrease microflora and microfauna levels, but I didn’t measure dissolved organic matter, nitrates etc. Besides giant clams are getting more of their energy and nutrients from photosynthetic action of zooxanthellae and less from filtration. So longer answer would be that they would not be sufficient as a sole means of water filtration, but adding live rock, who knows?

 

[malacoda]

I can't find it at the moment ... but there was a thread (or a few posts within a thread) a few years ago of someone who had a TON of mussels in their sump as a primary source of filtration.

I can't recall the outcome/effectiveness. But I do vaguely recall that it was someone who was in the hobby a very long time ... and had a very respected reputation as a hobbyist. I believe he was a doctor ... but can't recall his name/username.

It may take some digging ... but, if you're really interested, I'm sure you could find it.

 

[musel101]

What kind of clams are we talking here?

Have some already had them for 2 years now there getting bigger for sure

 

[FUNGI]

How helpful would you say clams are with filtration?

So I know derasas are known for being good to help with filtration, but how good are they? What do they usually help with? Are other clams helpful for this purpose as well? Photo by @Dyonopses

www.reef2reef.com

 

[musel101]

i have a 40G breeder with two clams(1 crocea about 2-3in, and a maxima that’s about 4-5in) and i had to shut my skimmer off because when i added the 2nd clam my nutrients would bottom out frequently. i dose sodium nitrate and phosphorus daily to keep up with nutrient intake.

of course, corals consume a bit of this as well. but i attribute the significant change with the clams.

edit: i do have chaeto but it has been growing slowly for me. and i’ve lowered its photoperiod from 12hr to 6hrs and i still have low nutrients

Nice looking tank by the way!

 

[kzenoni]

I read studies about oysters being great filtration.

 

[The_Paradox]

I read studies about oysters being great filtration.

They are but in most systems that people have here they would not be enough. Lots of studies on oysters and clams filtration abilities.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-020-01930-w

Looking for other doi that discusses actual daily uptake of clams based on biomass.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have to laugh at the "expert factual" negative opinions given here with no facts involved from those who think owning an aquarium for 10 years makes them a resident expert...

Is it possible? I don't know. I do know that there are numerous successful methods, both short and long term for maintaining a system with little to no mechanical filtration or mechanical export. Bioconversion, sequestration, flocculation, precipitation or whatever means of keeping nutrients from becoming toxic...

My reef ran for close to 10 years with absolutely no export... NONE (no water changes, no skimmer, no scrubber, no socks). The fish all survived (without me adding food) and there was LPS (brans and blueridge) and soft (leathers and mushrooms) that survived (and grew) the entire time. The only input to the system was light, makeup water and electricity. How long would it have run like this and when would it have eventually crashed? Who knows.

I don't think the question is crazy or without merit. If you have ever watched a demonstration of clams or muscles cleaning a completely opaque tank of water in hours, you would also not laugh at this reasonable question.

This does have a sump and mechanical filter, but my understanding is that it is minimal (brackish btw) not a lot going on in the 'refugium'.
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Reef Aquarium

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I can't find it at the moment ... but there was a thread (or a few posts within a thread) a few years ago of someone who had a TON of mussels in their sump as a primary source of filtration.

I can't recall the outcome/effectiveness. But I do vaguely recall that it was someone who was in the hobby a very long time ... and had a very respected reputation as a hobbyist. I believe he was a doctor ... but can't recall his name/username.

It may take some digging ... but, if you're really interested, I'm sure you could find it.

Yeah, Dr. Dendrostein did filtration using oysters - they come up in the thread mentioned above:

How helpful would you say clams are with filtration?

So I know derasas are known for being good to help with filtration, but how good are they? What do they usually help with? Are other clams helpful for this purpose as well? Photo by @Dyonopses

www.reef2reef.com

and here:

Clams replacing refugium as a nutrient export

Hi, In a video (can't remember which one) Randy said an employee at BRS swears by the use of clams for nutrient export - keep adding clams until the desired nutrient drop is reached. Is there an experiment planned to prove/disprove this idea? Thanks and love the videos

www.reef2reef.com

For tridacnid clams (gigas specifically):

YES, to all the concerns about keeping a Gigas this large. From spraying water out of a 60"x30"x31" tank daily, spawning multiple times a year, and the clam's massive weight and movement. Which I found impossible to support, and because of this it caused the hinge to separate, and its eventual demise. Also the 550+ gallon system became a parasite to it's needs. It would strip all NO3, PO4, CA, and ALK. This one I had for 14 years and at it's death in October it was 30" long and 140lbs. I will never keep another Gigas and I recommend other do the same. I enjoyed it. But I am done with it! Check that off the bucket list.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

So yeah I have a 20g reef and 40g sump wanted to load the sump with clams maybe 1000 dollars worth. I try to keep my tank clean I a natural way still doing biweekly water changes.

I hope you didnt take that as an insult..just trying to be funny.