Clams got rid of cyano?

[Loki]

I recently added a 6+" squamosa/maxima clam. I had and issue with cyano but about a month has gone by and I have noticed that almost all of my cyano is gone. Could this be possible? Did the clam filter out enough crud in the water to rid cyano? I really don't think this is possible, but I haven't done a water change in a month.

I do have a different light fixture but it has older bulbs than what I was using. I also did change out GFO, but it was the same amount that was in there before and it didn't work then... That's it clam, light, GFO.

Tank is 120g mixed reef with a total water volume of 150 gallons.

 

[Electrobes]

No, for the most part, it may be the actions you've taken towards your filtration that little by little is helping over the course of time. Maybe you're feeding less, siphoning out the cyano as you do water changes, etc.

 

[Steelerfan747]

No, for the most part, it may be the actions you've taken towards your filtration that little by little is helping over the course of time. Maybe you're feeding less, siphoning out the cyano as you do water changes, etc.

+1 on siphoning out during water changes and lowering nutrients

 

[skinz78]

Nope, the clam didn't remove the Cyano, if that was the case then my tank wouldn't be in the state it is in now....

Care to post a pic of the clam so I could ID it for you? It sounds like you are a little unsure of the ID.

 

[Shauno]

The clam may have consumed some NO3 and PO4 which again, may have been contributing to your cyano. Without some before and after (adding the clam) tank parameter numbers, we can only guess what has occurred.

Congrats on the vanishing of the cyano.

 

[Loki]

Skinz it's the one that you were unsure of . I have heard squamosa and maxima from clam people so I have no idea. I bought it as a squamosa.

There it is. With its double mantle thing squamosa/maximaness

 

[Loki]

The clam may have consumed some NO3 and PO4 which again, may have been contributing to your cyano. Without some before and after (adding the clam) tank parameter numbers, we can only guess what has occurred.

Congrats on the vanishing of the cyano.

I have been reading that they are great filters and then this lead to my question. I found it really hard to believe that it could be possible, but thought it may be worth asking.

 

[Shauno]

Loki2902-

Can you post a pic of the byssal opening please? This is a strange one...

 

[Electrobes]

Loki, the clam idea of filtration kinda resembles the mangrove idea. You need a whole lot to make a difference... but the problem is the maintenance of them will quickly make them not worth it as a filtration method.

 

[Loki]

Loki2902-

Can you post a pic of the byssal opening please? This is a strange one...

I sure can

Here you go.

 

[Loki]

Loki, the clam idea of filtration kinda resembles the mangrove idea. You need a whole lot to make a difference... but the problem is the maintenance of them will quickly make them not worth it as a filtration method.

Okay that makes sense.

 

[skinz78]

Squamosa:wink:

I sure can

Here you go.

 

[Shauno]

Wow! That is a strange clam. Looking at the shell, the scutes, the byssal opening and the mantle - IMO you have a squamosa.

 

[Loki]

See. I had someone else swear that it was a maxima. What do you guys think about the dual mantle thing? I have been looking around and I still have yet to see another one with it.

 

[skinz78]

The mantle coloration screams Maxima but the facts are in the shell, it's a Squamosa. The weird growth in the mantle is probably due to being cramped in it's younger years and not being able to fully open so it made do with what it could.

 

[Shauno]

The mantle coloration screams Maxima but the facts are in the shell, it's a Squamosa. The weird growth in the mantle is probably due to being cramped in it's younger years and not being able to fully open so it made do with what it could.

+1 on this. Could also have been damaged (bitten, smashed, coral fell on to it, etc) and healed this way. I have seen this on a few wild maxima's but not on a squamosa. It's pretty cool.

 

[Shauno]

Loki, the clam idea of filtration kinda resembles the mangrove idea. You need a whole lot to make a difference... but the problem is the maintenance of them will quickly make them not worth it as a filtration method.

Curious why you state this? I have 12 clams in a 34g and for me, they are every bit worth the maintenance to keep...