Do bivalves have benefits to the reef system?

[Titleist1964]

As the title implies, he's been pretty much nonexistent until yesterday when I introduced a new frozen food for my clowns and added 3 corals. Do these ugly things have any benefits to a reef tank?

 

[ROB2005]

I mean they are pretty cool to see on your live rock as they filter feed. No real benefit to the tank imo. Depending on the species, the challenge is keeping them long term. I have a few small turkey wings and 2 bivalves embedded in my live rock that have been in my system for over 6 years now. A small pinch of reef roids once every week is what I give them.

How they survived that long is beyond me.

 

[Titleist1964]

I mean they are pretty cool to see on your live rock as they filter feed. No real benefit to the tank imo. Depending on the species, the challenge is keeping them long term. I have a few small turkey wings and 2 bivalves embedded in my live rock that have been in my system for over 6 years now. A small pinch of reef roids once every week is what I give them.

How they survived that long is beyond me.

Just wanted to make sure they won't eat my corals.

 

[ROB2005]

Just wanted to make sure they won't eat my corals.

Those are sessile creatures. They’ll stay in one place for the rest of their lives.

 

[Titleist1964]

Those are sessile creatures. They’ll stay in one place for the rest of their lives.

Not this one, I'll get a pic. This guy moves.

 

[Titleist1964]

 

[ROB2005]

How far does he move?

 

[Titleist1964]

How far does he move?

Believe it or not, I've seen him all over lately. It's a 20 gallon cube.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Bivalves are sessile, but great filter feeders. Oyster reefs in the wild are phenomenal for cleaning water.

What you have there looks like perhaps a conch. Could even be some kind of oyster attached to a conch.

Maybe Lobatus raninus?

 

[Chrisv.]

Bivalves are sessile, but great filter feeders. Oyster reefs in the wild are phenomenal for cleaning water.

What you have there looks like perhaps a conch. Could even be some kind of oyster attached to a conch.

Maybe Lobatus raninus?

I'm seeing conch...not seeing the bivalve.

 

[Labridaedicted]

I'm seeing conch...not seeing the bivalve.

Agreed. I only said there may be one attached where that wing rises up on top. It is def a conch, though.

 

[Titleist1964]

Thanks guys, so I'll assume it's a keeper, just didn't want it to start chomping my corals. When I posted it originally I was told it may be a bivalve, excuse my ignorance, I'm new and learning. Thank you.