Mussels to filter reef tank water

[Deo]

Sorry for the previous post guys. Got mixed up with the shell kingdom. I mean I plan to put live mussels in my sump tank to filter my reef tank water. They strive in breakwater rocks in not so clean water & warm water. Even in water with oil spills from ships. They are attached to rocks; doesn't move anywhere once attached). Rely on nutrients from water passing by. Anybody with exp? Do they need light? Or is this the first try?

 

[Mouse]

Sounds like a nice idea, there are just a few problems that maybe someone a little more knowlegeable can confirm but:

1) Allthough it is true that mussles do absorb all sorts of nasty toxins from the water, i would imagine that they also absorb far more usefull things than Macro Algie. Therefore Macro Algie win this round.

2) Allthough mussles do absorb and remove various heavy metals they must release some sort of toxin back into the water as excriment. Macro Algie i know does this by releasing Oxygen, very usefull so i guess Macro wins again.

3)One of the major appeals of Macro Algie is that once the toxins have been assimilated into planty flesh, it is then easily removed from the system by pulling it out with your hands. All i can say for the mussles is good luck!!

Just my beleifs as to why mussles are best kept ornamentally, and why 24 hour macro algal refugeums kick assssssssss.

 

[Deo]

Hi, Reason why im looking at other ways is, i hadn't any luck keeping macro algaes. i tried caulerpas but the longest i had them is one month. At first they grow then becomes thinner & thinner. Any secret tips on keeping them? Yeah, you're probably right on the mussels but i might still try slowly...say 2 or 3...if they die, i can feed them to the fishes...if they live, i'll watch the corals closely for effects. get them out asap if the corals become unhappy. if not, add 1 or 2 more. Thanks for the reply.

 

[kjb]

You might like to check this link http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/degradientmenu.htm where Steve Tyree talks about living sponges, Sea Squirts and crypto fauna, etc... maintaining water quality, perhaps along the same lines as the method you are interested in.

 

[kjb]

You might like to check this link http://www.dynamicecomorphology.com/degradientmenu.htm where Steve Tyree talks about living sponges, Sea Squirts and crypto fauna, etc... maintaining water quality, perhaps along the same lines as the method you are interested in.

 

[dbman]

I'm not sure where you intend to get these mussels - if they're not native to tropical waters, the warm temperatures of your reef tank will likely kill them in very short order.

 

[BradB]

I find it hard to believe you can't keep macroalgae, either your nitrates are really low, your water is really bad, or more likely, something is eating it. I think you are breaking new ground if you try this, but I also think macroalgae will be easier to keep alive longterm.

 

[Deo]

Hi Bradb, Don't think my water is that bad. My tank is 2 years old with soft corals, shrooms. 4 1" fish. Lighted by a 175w mh. My sump has no visible inhabitants who are able to eat caulerpas. Several times, i put feather and grape caulerpas in the sump lighted by an 18w compact lamps. But like i said, nothing lasted more than a month. Anyway, i really don't have a serious water problem. Just trying to find a way to make things better..you know... something nearer to nature. No worry, i'm very cautious. Thanks for the replies.

 

[dbman]

it's entirely possible that your water is so lacking in contaminants that there are insufficient nutrients available for the macros. Either that or your water is too warm, which macros don't care for either.

 

[Deo]

Hi Dbman, You may be right, it's the temp which goes up to 90 deg. Now i have to find a way to bring it down and see if the macroalgae will grow. Thanks again.