Cleaner clams

down and outman · 09/15/2007, 12:54 AM

I got a couple "cleaner clams" in a cleaner crew from saltwaterfish.com. Wasn't too sure about them, but I plopped them in, figuring they'd be crab food if they didn't make it. I guess they did as they disappeared into the sand and haven't been seen since. i read they are filter feeders and consume nitrates. Cool! Since them I noticed some littleneck clams at the grocery store, bought a couple and after acclimating them plopped them in as well. One became crab food, but the other is in the sand, hopefully doing his thing and cleaning my water. Anyone else try this?

TravelDave · 09/15/2007, 01:06 AM

I would pull it out.....it won't survive long with the conditions we keep our tanks at.

Temp too high, sand bed too shallow and more than likely nutrients too low.

da1jewfish · 09/15/2007, 02:01 AM

I started with 5 from publix. I still have 4 and that was months ago. Don't really know how much their helping but their in there chillin.

greenbean36191 · 09/15/2007, 07:43 AM

They don't do anything to clean the water. They produce nitrate, not consume it. "Filter feeder" is just a term that means their food is suspended in the water. It doesn't imply anything about what they do for the water quality. Like all animals they turn their food into poop and pee (ammonia) and then release it into the water. Only animals that also house algae can give a net reduction in nitrate, and it's the algae causing the reduction, not the animal. These animals need a lot of food to survive long term and if you're feeding it, you're only adding more nutrients to the system, not tying them up.

down and outman · 09/15/2007, 11:34 AM

Thanks, wasn't sure if they were all they were cracked up to be. My nitrates have been 0 for a while, but I have junk floating in the water. If they don't make it I'm sure my crabs will enjoy a tasty meal. Now if I could find them!

09/15/2007, 12:54 AM	#1
down and outman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 442	Cleaner clams I got a couple "cleaner clams" in a cleaner crew from saltwaterfish.com. Wasn't too sure about them, but I plopped them in, figuring they'd be crab food if they didn't make it. I guess they did as they disappeared into the sand and haven't been seen since. i read they are filter feeders and consume nitrates. Cool! Since them I noticed some littleneck clams at the grocery store, bought a couple and after acclimating them plopped them in as well. One became crab food, but the other is in the sand, hopefully doing his thing and cleaning my water. Anyone else try this? __________________ " There you go, Lad. Keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles..." Moody Blues (Thanks Homegrown for keeping me straight!) Current Tank Info: 90Gal AGA, 25 g sump, Mag 7, Koralia 4's

09/15/2007, 07:43 AM	#4
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,189	They don't do anything to clean the water. They produce nitrate, not consume it. "Filter feeder" is just a term that means their food is suspended in the water. It doesn't imply anything about what they do for the water quality. Like all animals they turn their food into poop and pee (ammonia) and then release it into the water. Only animals that also house algae can give a net reduction in nitrate, and it's the algae causing the reduction, not the animal. These animals need a lot of food to survive long term and if you're feeding it, you're only adding more nutrients to the system, not tying them up. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move

09/15/2007, 11:34 AM	#5
down and outman Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LaGrange GA Posts: 442	Thanks, wasn't sure if they were all they were cracked up to be. My nitrates have been 0 for a while, but I have junk floating in the water. If they don't make it I'm sure my crabs will enjoy a tasty meal. Now if I could find them! __________________ " There you go, Lad. Keep as cool as you can. Face piles of trials with smiles..." Moody Blues (Thanks Homegrown for keeping me straight!) Current Tank Info: 90Gal AGA, 25 g sump, Mag 7, Koralia 4's

09/15/2007, 01:06 AM	#2
TravelDave Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chester County, PA Posts: 55	I would pull it out.....it won't survive long with the conditions we keep our tanks at. Temp too high, sand bed too shallow and more than likely nutrients too low.

09/15/2007, 02:01 AM	#3
da1jewfish Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 898	I started with 5 from publix. I still have 4 and that was months ago. Don't really know how much their helping but their in there chillin.