Ineresting observation today?

[geoxman]

This directly ties to this thread but it is a somewhat different topic.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=508002

I stopped by my local Asian market today to pick up some monk fish for dinner and the above mentioned thread was in my head as I was perusing the market.

I noticed that in the two places in which I stopped looking for my fish, that the Manilla clams were on the top of each aquarium, numbering in the thousands.
There were many of other tougher to catch inverts in the bottom of the tank, so the placement seemed odd??
Could a few thrifty store owners be using them as filtration for their many gallons?? It just seemed odd that one Korean and one Vietnamese store would have them at the top?
It could be because they are a great seller and the periwinkle's and crabs are not and it gives to easier access?
From what I have read most nutrients/proteins tend to stay in the upper 1/3 of the tank. Just an observation?
Any thoughts? I tried to ask but that is like asking Porky Pig for directions as no one spoke English

 

[mbbuna]

these types of clams are strict filter feeders feeding on particulate matter. they have no symbiotic algae and therefore have no use for dissolved nutrients( nitrogen). the only benefit these clams could have on water quality would be filtering out particulate before it has the chance to break down and turn into dissolved N&P

 

[geoxman]

So are they are serving a purpose for the store owner? The placement seemed odd in both places? Maybe because they are hot sellers?

 

[mbbuna]

hard to say what the stores intentions are but any seafood market that I've been to didn't seem too concerned about water quality

 

[geoxman]

I got your point after reading it again. Could these type of clams be beneficial in an overflow where particulate matter is in abundance? Kind of like all the feather dusters that I have back there. just curious

 

[geoxman]

seafood market that I've been to didn't seem too concerned about water quality

Agreed but in the MW after a large investment has been made to ship them in I would think it might be different. Death will cut into profit more. It is not like DE where ship times are not as big of a concern with death. I did see some larger wet/dry being used? It is funny as long as I have been into SW I have never given a stores filtration much of a thought? TIA

 

[geoxman]

I bought about 15 and threw them in the over flow in a basket. I will check on them in a month or so to see how they are doing. All are open at present with the little tube thingy sticking out, like the ones in my refugium.