How much impact do Tridacne clams have on nitrates?

[guyguerra]

Do these clams really reduce much of the nitrates in a tank or is it negligible?

 

[mbbuna]

the can take up some but i wouldnt depend on them to drop your nitrates to 0. the reason people say that they use so much is because clams house 10 times the zoox per sq inch when compaired to corals

 

[CaptiveReef]

Tridacna and Nitrates

Tridacna and Nitrates

Yes a large group of clams can have an effect on Nitrate levels in an enclosed tank, mbbuna hit it on the nose clams have 10 times the amount of symbiotic algae in their tissues than corals.
They use Nitrate as a fertilizer, also I wouldn't design a system to make alot of Nitrate, a normal setup with alot of fish will make plenty of Nitrate, also Tridacna's will feed on fish waste.
If you are going to have alot of clams or some large specimens, I would stock alot of reef safe fish, and use a good plankton supplement, to feed Tridacna's.
Also very important is calcium and trace elements, weekly small water changes will be a positive thing for them.

Tridacna's are big filters!!!! and they filter out alot.

They are the sea's true gems.

CaptiveReef

 

[guyguerra]

The one I have now is 4" long. Do I still need to add phyto when they are this size? Everything else you mentioned fits what I am doing. I like these so much that I can see me adding two more at some point.

 

[mbbuna]

at that size with the right lighting it shouldnt need to be feed

 

[CaptiveReef]

Clams

Clams

mbbuna, also is right, but you can add once a week a little Phyto clams are passive feeders, and they prefer to filter out waste that has been broken down into the fine micron size.

CaptiveReef

 

[guyguerra]

I can be more specific on my clams to see if anyone thinks they will really have any noticable impact on nitrates. I just ordered 1 more Crocea (4") and 1 squamosa (2 1/2"). So I'll have 3 medium sized clams in a 230 gallon system with a medium load of fish. Right now I get up to .5 on nitrates in about 2 weeks, and a 20% change brings it back down to close to zero. I should be able to answer ther question myself after a month. I'll always do two week water changes as I have a simple set up for it, but I'd like to see nitrates stay below .5.

 

[kevensquint]

IMO, 3 clams in a 230 won't make an impact on nitrates.

 

[guyguerra]

That's what i figured too. If one clam per 75 gallons would do it, we could ALL save a lot of work. LOL
I'll be adding the other two this week so I'll see if I notice any difference at all and post the results.