Up next: Oyster rufugia?

[MikeMcFarland]

Here's a neat link.

I've heard that there are challenges to keeping the most common species alive in small systems, but maybe there are other, warm-water types that could thrive in a dedicated area.

Improbable, but an interesting idea. Thoughts?

 

[billsreef]

Keep in mind oysters need to eat, and of course make their own wastes after.

 

[mattberrytr]

Very interesting, algae scrubbers are similar in a way, both using natural filtration to pull nutrients from the water

 

[billsreef]

The oysters won't remove nutrients from the water. They only remove phytoplankton of a suitable size to eat. Any other particles that they appear to "remove" they simply pelletize into what's called pseudofeces and expel. They really aren't anything more than another animal that eats and creates waste as far as placing them in an aquarium.

 

[Subsea]

The oysters won't remove nutrients from the water. They only remove phytoplankton of a suitable size to eat. Any other particles that they appear to "remove" they simply pelletize into what's called pseudofeces and expel. They really aren't anything more than another animal that eats and creates waste as far as placing them in an aquarium.

Bill,
Would photosynthetic clams perform both mineral nutrient uptake and zooplankton & phytoplankton uptake. I know Gerald Hesslinger of IndoPacific SeaFarms established accelerated clam growth using liquid ammonia as a nutrient source.
Patrick

 

[billsreef]

Patrick,

Those photosythetic clams are a whole 'nother ball of wax Those do uptake ammonia via their zoox. However, many of the tridacnids apparently apparently stop feeding on phyto as they grow, instead relying the zooxanthellae.

 

[Subsea]

I think that is very similar to corals. Many corals will use both photosynthesis and prey capture of zooplankton & photoplankton. I suspect, it depends on what is available. Meaning, why does it have to be one or the other. Why not both, with the clam or the coral choosing?
Patrick

 

[billsreef]

For whatever reason, some of the tridacnids actually have their stomachs reduce has they mature. With coral, most have a tremendous amount of their physiology designed towards prey capture. Which is a pretty good sign they need to capture food as well as what their zoox supply. Some softies are known to have only vestigial stomachs, incapable of feeding, and rely only on their zoox. Then of course there are the non photosynthetic corals that rely only capturing food. Quite a bit of fascinating diversity