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  #1  
Old 12/20/2007, 04:11 AM
Cheebs Cheebs is offline
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Clams consuming nitrates?

I was told that my crocea clams can feed off nitrates in the tank. Now, obviously I'll be keeping the nitrates as low as possible as usual, but I was just curious: Does having clams in the tank actually noticably HELP with keeping nitrates low, or is the amount they consume so minute that there is no noticable effect? Think of 2-3 clams in a 75 gallon tank.
  #2  
Old 12/20/2007, 06:22 AM
a4twenty a4twenty is offline
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Re: Clams consuming nitrates?

Quote:
Originally posted by Cheebs
Does having clams in the tank actually noticably HELP with keeping nitrates low, or is the amount they consume so minute that there is no noticable effect? Think of 2-3 clams in a 75 gallon tank.
yes, they consume both N ( they can even get the N from A (NH4 )) & P but it wont be noticeable, you would probably have to fill the tank with clams before you noticed it.
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  #3  
Old 12/20/2007, 08:32 PM
mbbuna mbbuna is offline
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what he said
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  #4  
Old 12/20/2007, 08:41 PM
skinz78 skinz78 is offline
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I don't know, what do you think? do I have enough to notice it?
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  #5  
Old 12/20/2007, 08:54 PM
zippopunk1 zippopunk1 is offline
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will scallops do the same thing
  #6  
Old 12/20/2007, 09:00 PM
mbbuna mbbuna is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by zippopunk1
will scallops do the same thing
no.

the only resin Tridacnid clams consume nitrates (actually nitrogen) is because they house symbiotic algae. the algae use this nitrogen source for photosynthesis and then pass on sugars to the clam as food. this is why "cleaner clams" don't work. they are not photosynthetic.
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  #7  
Old 12/21/2007, 07:10 AM
a4twenty a4twenty is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by skinz78
I don't know, what do you think? do I have enough to notice it?

if anyone does, it's you
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  #8  
Old 12/21/2007, 08:52 AM
skinz78 skinz78 is offline
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lol #27 is supposed to be here today, squamosa. I think I am gonna stop now, at least till next year.
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Well, I'm off to give my reef a 30 min freshwater dip!!

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  #9  
Old 12/21/2007, 08:57 AM
skinz78 skinz78 is offline
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LOL I am trying to catch charlie davidson. He has like 35
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Well, I'm off to give my reef a 30 min freshwater dip!!

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  #10  
Old 12/21/2007, 06:29 PM
ezcompany ezcompany is offline
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27!!!! thats nutz!!
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  #11  
Old 12/21/2007, 09:58 PM
skinz78 skinz78 is offline
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It has lots of blue too. I will post pic's later.
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  #12  
Old 01/07/2008, 06:48 AM
babareef babareef is offline
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Hi Guys since clams do consume nitrates and phosphates,how many clams roughly do I need in 4x2x2 tank full of LPS ? I'm already running a refugium with chaetos at 24/7 light. Also, I have a H&S protein skimmer running.Other residents in my tank also include about 15 fishes and 10 hermits and 4 cleaner shrimps. In other words how effective are clams in reducing nitrates and phosphates? Any info or advice mostly welcome.
Thanks.
  #13  
Old 01/07/2008, 10:03 AM
skinz78 skinz78 is offline
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they don't use phosphates. but that would be awesome if they did.
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  #14  
Old 01/11/2008, 11:11 AM
rwbogard rwbogard is offline
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Only Nitrates as I believe they are used to generate proteins and feed the symbiotic zooxanthellae, which in turn generate sugars. Clams don't eat much so they absorb.
  #15  
Old 01/11/2008, 11:13 AM
rwbogard rwbogard is offline
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Actually now that I think about it, shouldn't they absorb phosphates? Not sure if they absorb organic or inorganic forms though. Phosphates are necessary by all lifeforms to create proteins, DNA, etc.
  #16  
Old 01/11/2008, 12:02 PM
BusterDog BusterDog is offline
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An article I found on using Gigas as a bio filter:
http://www.spc.int/coastfish/news/tr...rochus8-07.htm
  #17  
Old 01/11/2008, 06:12 PM
a4twenty a4twenty is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by rwbogard
Actually now that I think about it, shouldn't they absorb phosphates? Not sure if they absorb organic or inorganic forms though. Phosphates are necessary by all lifeforms to create proteins, DNA, etc.
yes, they do. clams need Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus to survive but as with the nitrates they are not going to be effective at removing phosphates.
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  #18  
Old 01/11/2008, 09:36 PM
Big load Big load is offline
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I am surprised in all these posts about nitrates and cleaner clams nobody mentions Hippopus they are excellent nitrate removers and I believe they dont need as much light as the other giant clams and some people keep them in the refugium.
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  #19  
Old 01/11/2008, 10:47 PM
mbbuna mbbuna is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by Big load
I am surprised in all these posts about nitrates and cleaner clams nobody mentions Hippopus they are excellent nitrate removers and I believe they dont need as much light as the other giant clams and some people keep them in the refugium.
hippopus are just as light demanding as crocea's and dont use any more nitrogen then any other Tridacnid
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  #20  
Old 01/11/2008, 10:54 PM
skinz78 skinz78 is offline
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besides that all hippopus clams are outrageously priced and very hard to find.
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Well, I'm off to give my reef a 30 min freshwater dip!!

That should fix it everything right???
 

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