Mussel posing a risk?

[Nopy117]

I've got a new 20g peninsula setup, been up for about two weeks, upon buying and adding the live rock, I noticed about 4 mussels on the live rock, didn't think much of it until someone told me they can nuke and "taint" the tank and its livestock if they die. Florida rock btw.

Thoughts? attempts to remove them were futile.

 

[Auquanut]

I inadvertently imported 2 muscles when my biocube 29 was young. I managed to keep them alive for about a year, but eventually they both died. Fortunately it was not both at the same time and there was no ill effects to the tank. I don't think that a single muscle death will necessarily "nuke" the tank, but if it were me, I'd probably try to get them out.

 

[mtfish]

First, congrats on getting real live rock. I really like to see all the stuff that comes with it. Second, how big are the mussels. There is nothing inherent that can nuke your tank if they die but if the bioload is big enough it could outpace your clean up crew, possibly causing water quality issues. Mussels are filter feeders and if you do not have enough suspended food they will not live long term. With a 20 gallon tank, if they did die I would think a good water change would solve any problem.

 

[Nopy117]

First, congrats on getting real live rock. I really like to see all the stuff that comes with it. Second, how big are the mussels. There is nothing inherent that can nuke your tank if they die but if the bioload is big enough it could outpace your clean up crew, possibly causing water quality issues. Mussels are filter feeders and if you do not have enough suspended food they will not live long term. With a 20 gallon tank, if they did die I would think a good water change would solve any problem.

about 2"-3", the only other issue is aiptasia, lots of smaller ones i cannot remove manually, gonna try to employ a peppermint shrimp for that.