[SECRETREEF]

can someone explain to me how do clams or mussles reduse nitrate. i have heard this but don't get it. do they use nitrate for food or do they clean the water while filter feeding and this way nitrate is reduse. please let me know.

[pogodzib]

Clams filter the water while feeding and use the chemicals that they pull out of the water as food. One catch is that the water needs to be good to start with though or they won't survive so you can't just start adding clams to a tank with high nitrates because they will die. However, if the nitrates in the water is minor (<10ppm) then they can help lower it.

[SECRETREEF]

thank you for your reply. is this true of other shell fish not just clams? would mussels and oisters do the same thing? i was wondering because i have found some mussle at the beach and was thinking of making a refuge for them and some mangrove. would this help to maintain nitrates low? they are low already but just to help maintain them and to have something different in my refuge. does anyone know a website, referense or book that has this information on their nitrate redusing probabilities?

[jimw369]

That information is contained in the same clam forum you just posted in. Do a search and Im sure you will find more of what you are asking