theshad
New member
I have read what posts were available in this forum and would like to preface this with the following:
I am looking for information from experts that can be quantified with actual data. Please do not use this post to argue the benefits for or against the possible use of clams.
We produce live food for marine aquaria. In the process of production we have off the scale levels of both ammonia and nitrates in some of our production systems. In order to control these levels we do daily water changes of 50% and in some case more. These systems range in size from small 10-50 gallons to large 200 gallon +. As you can imagine a 50% water change on a 200+ gallon system daily can get rather time consuming as well as costly with respect to the cost of salt and RO Filters.
We have been doing some research and have come across a few articles that talk about the use of giant clams as a natural filter. Thus far the information does seem promising as a possible partial solution to reduce water changes.
What I am looking for is some data that if at all possible states how much ammonia and nitrate a given size giant clam can process in a given period of time. As well as how much ammonia and nitrates a clam can handle with respect to water quality.
The thought was to be able to take sever clams or several hundred clams and use them as a filter. This may be able to reduce the amount of water changes we would have to do as well as cutting operational costs.
If you have any information that may be able to assist us it would be appreciated. It is our goal to be able to determine if this may work rather than purchasing the clams up front as a live experiment in the hopes that it would work.
We strongly believe that the health and well being of any organism comes first.
I am looking for information from experts that can be quantified with actual data. Please do not use this post to argue the benefits for or against the possible use of clams.
We produce live food for marine aquaria. In the process of production we have off the scale levels of both ammonia and nitrates in some of our production systems. In order to control these levels we do daily water changes of 50% and in some case more. These systems range in size from small 10-50 gallons to large 200 gallon +. As you can imagine a 50% water change on a 200+ gallon system daily can get rather time consuming as well as costly with respect to the cost of salt and RO Filters.
We have been doing some research and have come across a few articles that talk about the use of giant clams as a natural filter. Thus far the information does seem promising as a possible partial solution to reduce water changes.
What I am looking for is some data that if at all possible states how much ammonia and nitrate a given size giant clam can process in a given period of time. As well as how much ammonia and nitrates a clam can handle with respect to water quality.
The thought was to be able to take sever clams or several hundred clams and use them as a filter. This may be able to reduce the amount of water changes we would have to do as well as cutting operational costs.
If you have any information that may be able to assist us it would be appreciated. It is our goal to be able to determine if this may work rather than purchasing the clams up front as a live experiment in the hopes that it would work.
We strongly believe that the health and well being of any organism comes first.
