Clams and Nitrates
- Thread starter azfishgal
- Start date
usefulidiot213
Member
Just the Cleaner Clams.. I read it's a good idea to put them in your FUG, but I don't see any reason you can't put them in your DT. I have a couple. They came with a clean up crew. You don't ever seem them though. They just burry themselves in your sand bed...
jerthunter
Active Member
I am fairly certain that they don't actually eat the nitrates directly, I believe they eat the phytoplankton and indirectly reduce the nitrates..
As far as cleaner clams in the display I tried it, they lasted for awhile until a hermit (or something else maybe) ripped them open so they should be safer in your sump.
As far as cleaner clams in the display I tried it, they lasted for awhile until a hermit (or something else maybe) ripped them open so they should be safer in your sump.
azfishgal
Active Member
Originally Posted by Jerthunter
I am fairly certain that they don't actually eat the nitrates directly, I believe they eat the phytoplankton and indirectly reduce the nitrates..
As far as cleaner clams in the display I tried it, they lasted for awhile until a hermit (or something else maybe) ripped them open so they should be safer in your sump.
Well, I have hermits in my refuge so that wouldn't work. I don't have hermits in my DT so maybe the best place would be my DT. But I do have emerald crabs.
I am fairly certain that they don't actually eat the nitrates directly, I believe they eat the phytoplankton and indirectly reduce the nitrates..
As far as cleaner clams in the display I tried it, they lasted for awhile until a hermit (or something else maybe) ripped them open so they should be safer in your sump.
Well, I have hermits in my refuge so that wouldn't work. I don't have hermits in my DT so maybe the best place would be my DT. But I do have emerald crabs.
azfishgal
Active Member
Originally Posted by ninjamini
I have used these to some success. If you really want to reduce nitrates then get some cheato.
I have it and it's growing like crazy, need to harvest it again. For some reason I'm having a battle with Nitrates right now. I did notice my skimmer was looking pretty gross and the sponge was really bad, so I did clean it out along with a water change and got it down to 10. But a week later it's back up to 20.
All my corals and fish are doing fine, Ammonia and Nitrites are at 0. I'll keep doing water changes until it gets down, but was trying to see if something else out there would help with reducing nitrates.
I have used these to some success. If you really want to reduce nitrates then get some cheato.
I have it and it's growing like crazy, need to harvest it again. For some reason I'm having a battle with Nitrates right now. I did notice my skimmer was looking pretty gross and the sponge was really bad, so I did clean it out along with a water change and got it down to 10. But a week later it's back up to 20.
jerthunter
Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
Well, I have hermits in my refuge so that wouldn't work. I don't have hermits in my DT so maybe the best place would be my DT. But I do have emerald crabs.
I really doubt an emerald crab would hurt them, I wouldn't think most hermits would hurt them either generally unless they were really hungry and the clam was already weakened...
Well, I have hermits in my refuge so that wouldn't work. I don't have hermits in my DT so maybe the best place would be my DT. But I do have emerald crabs.
I really doubt an emerald crab would hurt them, I wouldn't think most hermits would hurt them either generally unless they were really hungry and the clam was already weakened...
fishieness
Active Member
yeah, a cleaner clam would be safe and able to protect itself. it probably died and then came up to the surface and opened, because that is what they do.
as far as tridanca species using up nitrates, yes, it is true. per square inch, tridanca speccies have as much as 10X the amount of zooxanthellae as most corals. so they need a lot more light. as the symbiotic algae uses the light, it reproduces and therefore, does, in fact, use nitrates. however, i wouldnt put a clam in my tank for the soul purpose of removing nitrates. i dont think they work THAT efficiently where you woudl notice much of a difference. lol
as far as tridanca species using up nitrates, yes, it is true. per square inch, tridanca speccies have as much as 10X the amount of zooxanthellae as most corals. so they need a lot more light. as the symbiotic algae uses the light, it reproduces and therefore, does, in fact, use nitrates. however, i wouldnt put a clam in my tank for the soul purpose of removing nitrates. i dont think they work THAT efficiently where you woudl notice much of a difference. lol
azfishgal
Active Member
Originally Posted by ninjamini
What size tank? What fish? What/how often do you feed? How long have they been elevated? Add anything recently?
125 gallons, started back in February with a 20-30 gallon sump.
Fish List: 2 False Perc Clown, 2 Bangaii Cardinals, Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Blue Hippo Tang (she was added about two weeks ago). Fish were added once a month.
I was feeding twice/day but have moved it to only once a day about three weeks ago when I noticed the nitrates were elevated. (And that was before I added the Blue Hippo Tang, which is only about 3" long.)
I was only doing my water changes every two weeks, so I have bumped it up to every week and we'll see what that does. And like I said my skimmer was pretty dirty and the sponge was full of nitrates I'm sure. That has since been cleaned though.
I did use two tests to make sure it wasn't my test kit, both the Red Sea and Tetra test came out the same, even when it went down.
I did a small water change yesterday as I didn't have much RO water left. That's the other thing, my filters in my RO system need to be changed so I'm waiting for my filters to come in. So I've been having to make runs to the Water and Ice store.
And yes, I did test my RO water to make sure Nitrates were at 0 and they were.
I now have 15 gallons of saltwater mixed and will do another water change today. I'll do my test before the water change and then again tomorrow to see if it made a difference.
What size tank? What fish? What/how often do you feed? How long have they been elevated? Add anything recently?
125 gallons, started back in February with a 20-30 gallon sump.
Fish List: 2 False Perc Clown, 2 Bangaii Cardinals, Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Blue Hippo Tang (she was added about two weeks ago). Fish were added once a month.
I was feeding twice/day but have moved it to only once a day about three weeks ago when I noticed the nitrates were elevated. (And that was before I added the Blue Hippo Tang, which is only about 3" long.)
I was only doing my water changes every two weeks, so I have bumped it up to every week and we'll see what that does. And like I said my skimmer was pretty dirty and the sponge was full of nitrates I'm sure. That has since been cleaned though.
I did use two tests to make sure it wasn't my test kit, both the Red Sea and Tetra test came out the same, even when it went down.
I did a small water change yesterday as I didn't have much RO water left. That's the other thing, my filters in my RO system need to be changed so I'm waiting for my filters to come in. So I've been having to make runs to the Water and Ice store.
I now have 15 gallons of saltwater mixed and will do another water change today. I'll do my test before the water change and then again tomorrow to see if it made a difference.
mx#28
Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
Do clams really use up Nitrates? I thought I read this or someone told me, can't remember.
Yes, clams are accomplished filter feeders that will appreciate and remove some dissolved organics from your water. I’ve even heard of clam farmers that drip ammonia and nitrate as fuel for faster growth. However, don’t expect a clam to make a drastic difference in your nitrate levels – it sounds to me like you need to figure out why your levels are climbing so fast. You may want to cut back on the feeding, add scavengers to help clean up, inspect and clean your filters, etc.
Also, I think that some of the clams we know as “cleaner clams” come from colder water and may not fair so well in a tropical aquarium. I am aware of at least a couple of instances where cleaner clams added to nitrate problems because they died unnoticed in the refugium.
Do clams really use up Nitrates? I thought I read this or someone told me, can't remember.
Yes, clams are accomplished filter feeders that will appreciate and remove some dissolved organics from your water. I’ve even heard of clam farmers that drip ammonia and nitrate as fuel for faster growth. However, don’t expect a clam to make a drastic difference in your nitrate levels – it sounds to me like you need to figure out why your levels are climbing so fast. You may want to cut back on the feeding, add scavengers to help clean up, inspect and clean your filters, etc.
Also, I think that some of the clams we know as “cleaner clams” come from colder water and may not fair so well in a tropical aquarium. I am aware of at least a couple of instances where cleaner clams added to nitrate problems because they died unnoticed in the refugium.
azfishgal
Active Member
You read my mind, as I'm going to the lfs to add some more clean up crew. But I also need to get the Nitrates down before I do that because I know inverts are sensative to Nitrates, which would explain why I lost two of my emerald crabs.
I'm thinking I should also clean out my return pump and line. Couldn't hurt.
I'm thinking I should also clean out my return pump and line. Couldn't hurt.
mx#28
Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
You read my mind, as I'm going to the lfs to add some more clean up crew. But I also need to get the Nitrates down before I do that because I know inverts are sensative to Nitrates, which would explain why I lost two of my emerald crabs.
I'm thinking I should also clean out my return pump and line. Couldn't hurt.
Nitrates @ 20ppm can discolor and kill sps, but shouldn't cause any problems for any motile invertabrates.
Yes, I would clean the filters, etc and then be careful about what goes into the tank. Also, I like to change 1/3 of the water every two weeks which will help make more headway when reducing nitrates.
You read my mind, as I'm going to the lfs to add some more clean up crew. But I also need to get the Nitrates down before I do that because I know inverts are sensative to Nitrates, which would explain why I lost two of my emerald crabs.
I'm thinking I should also clean out my return pump and line. Couldn't hurt.
Nitrates @ 20ppm can discolor and kill sps, but shouldn't cause any problems for any motile invertabrates.
Yes, I would clean the filters, etc and then be careful about what goes into the tank. Also, I like to change 1/3 of the water every two weeks which will help make more headway when reducing nitrates.
mx#28
Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
What about adding more live rock, would that help? I have 160 lbs at the moment.
Live rock will primarily only help to convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. You can look into deep sand beds and anaerobic bacteria to 'eat up' nitrate, but I would reccomend just finding a better balance of what goes in the tank and changing water.
What about adding more live rock, would that help? I have 160 lbs at the moment.
Live rock will primarily only help to convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. You can look into deep sand beds and anaerobic bacteria to 'eat up' nitrate, but I would reccomend just finding a better balance of what goes in the tank and changing water.
coral keeper
Active Member
Hey azfishgal, go read a thread called "Cleaner Clam Questions" and it will tell you everything about cleaner clams.
azfishgal
Active Member
Originally Posted by MX#28
Live rock will primarily only help to convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. You can look into deep sand beds and anaerobic bacteria to 'eat up' nitrate, but I would reccomend just finding a better balance of what goes in the tank and changing water.
This morning my Nitrates were down to 12.5, so that's good. I did a small water change yesterday as well as added some Amquel+. I know some people don't beleive in adding things like that, but when it's an emergency I use it. IMO having nitrates at 20 was an emergency. My saltwater wasn't at 1.025 this morning so I had to add a little more salt, so I'll do my 15 gallon water change tomorrow morning. Now that the nitrates are at 12.5 I feel a little better.
I think it's time to get a brittle star.
Live rock will primarily only help to convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. You can look into deep sand beds and anaerobic bacteria to 'eat up' nitrate, but I would reccomend just finding a better balance of what goes in the tank and changing water.
This morning my Nitrates were down to 12.5, so that's good. I did a small water change yesterday as well as added some Amquel+. I know some people don't beleive in adding things like that, but when it's an emergency I use it. IMO having nitrates at 20 was an emergency. My saltwater wasn't at 1.025 this morning so I had to add a little more salt, so I'll do my 15 gallon water change tomorrow morning. Now that the nitrates are at 12.5 I feel a little better.
I think it's time to get a brittle star.
puffer32
Active Member
Originally Posted by azfishgal
This morning my Nitrates were down to 12.5, so that's good. I did a small water change yesterday as well as added some Amquel+. I know some people don't beleive in adding things like that, but when it's an emergency I use it. IMO having nitrates at 20 was an emergency. My saltwater wasn't at 1.025 this morning so I had to add a little more salt, so I'll do my 15 gallon water change tomorrow morning. Now that the nitrates are at 12.5 I feel a little better.
I think it's time to get a brittle star.
My trates are at 20 also, but hasn't hurt any of my coral. They were up to 40 at one time and i did a 50% waterchange and the trates came down to almost 0. But i do overfeed my tank, so they were back up to 20 in a short time, but i just don't worry about it anymore.
This morning my Nitrates were down to 12.5, so that's good. I did a small water change yesterday as well as added some Amquel+. I know some people don't beleive in adding things like that, but when it's an emergency I use it. IMO having nitrates at 20 was an emergency. My saltwater wasn't at 1.025 this morning so I had to add a little more salt, so I'll do my 15 gallon water change tomorrow morning. Now that the nitrates are at 12.5 I feel a little better.
I think it's time to get a brittle star.
My trates are at 20 also, but hasn't hurt any of my coral. They were up to 40 at one time and i did a 50% waterchange and the trates came down to almost 0. But i do overfeed my tank, so they were back up to 20 in a short time, but i just don't worry about it anymore.