Oysters

magnon · 01/08/2007, 02:14 PM

Has anyone tried using oysters as a part of their live biology in their tank? Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay, I always heard of the almost miraculous way they filter the water. I can get local oysters cheap but am concerned about possible pollutants etc from coastal waters

AllenFord_SC · 01/08/2007, 02:24 PM

I would personally stay away just because of pollution concerns.

kipher · 01/08/2007, 03:10 PM

Not only that but it is my understanding that Oysters come from slightly cooler waters than a tropical reef...the may not do so well.

greenbean36191 · 01/08/2007, 05:13 PM

The miraculous way they filter the water is by consolidating particulates in the water and eating all the phytoplankton from it. Unless you have high turbidity and phytoplankton bloom they aren't going to do anything good for your tank. In fact, to keep them alive you would have to add large amounts of phytoplankton which would be worse for the tank than if they weren't there at all.

magnon · 01/08/2007, 05:47 PM

Thanks Greenbean! That makes sense. Thats the first logical explanation I've heard

mildew · 01/08/2007, 09:41 PM

When I got my FL live rock 18 months ago I stripped off all the clams, mussels, oysters that I could find before the rock was weighed. I didn't have to pay for all that trash. Apparently I missed what is pictured above; oyster? It is still alive 18 months later. I do watch it closely just in case it dies, but so far so good. However, I think east coast oysters come from cooler water and wouldn't survive in a tropical reef tank.

Ti · 01/08/2007, 10:13 PM

oysters r DIRTY, but tasty.

greenbean36191 · 01/09/2007, 11:29 AM

Mildew, that is an oyster, but not one of the edible species. Crassostrea virginica, which is the oyster you find in Chesapeake Bay probably wouldn't have too much of an issue with reef temps. Down here the temps where you find the oyster beds are in the mid 70's to upper 80's for most of the year. Feeding is the biggest issue for keeping them.

Sk8r · 01/09/2007, 11:48 AM

Best and most viable, if you have good lighting [mh] get a crocea clam. They're larger than many oysters and just as efficient. Mine's been an excellent companion for the corals, besides being big and colorful: needs a lot of calcium and phyto.

fishyvet · 01/09/2007, 11:52 AM

I have a few turkey wings in my tank that my LFS gave to me. They are doing well over the month I've had them. Not much to look at to most ppl, but I just like bivalves

01/08/2007, 02:14 PM	#1
magnon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 58	Oysters Has anyone tried using oysters as a part of their live biology in their tank? Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay, I always heard of the almost miraculous way they filter the water. I can get local oysters cheap but am concerned about possible pollutants etc from coastal waters

01/08/2007, 02:24 PM	#2
AllenFord_SC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ridgeland, SC Posts: 703	I would personally stay away just because of pollution concerns. __________________ We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl..... Roger Waters, Pink Floyd Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Mixed, 55 Gallon sump, 35 gallon fuge

01/08/2007, 03:10 PM	#3
kipher Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edwardsville, IL Posts: 429	Not only that but it is my understanding that Oysters come from slightly cooler waters than a tropical reef...the may not do so well. __________________ Brian SEASL & SLASH member For the Best of both Worlds!!!! Current Tank Info: 75G reef, 95 lbs LR, 29g tank as my DIY fuge/sump w/ Quiteone Model 3000 (780gph) return pump, ASM G-2 Skimmer, 1 - 170gph Penguin 660 PH , Seio 2600, 2500gph MJ Mod, Typhoon III RO/DI, 2x250W MH (10K XM's) & 2-36" 96W VHO Actinic

01/08/2007, 05:13 PM	#4
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	The miraculous way they filter the water is by consolidating particulates in the water and eating all the phytoplankton from it. Unless you have high turbidity and phytoplankton bloom they aren't going to do anything good for your tank. In fact, to keep them alive you would have to add large amounts of phytoplankton which would be worse for the tank than if they weren't there at all. __________________ 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 and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

01/08/2007, 10:13 PM	#7
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	oysters r DIRTY, but tasty. __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/08/2007, 05:47 PM	#5
magnon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Va Beach, VA Posts: 58	Thanks Greenbean! That makes sense. Thats the first logical explanation I've heard

01/08/2007, 09:41 PM	#6
mildew Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 255	When I got my FL live rock 18 months ago I stripped off all the clams, mussels, oysters that I could find before the rock was weighed. I didn't have to pay for all that trash. Apparently I missed what is pictured above; oyster? It is still alive 18 months later. I do watch it closely just in case it dies, but so far so good. However, I think east coast oysters come from cooler water and wouldn't survive in a tropical reef tank.

01/09/2007, 11:29 AM	#8
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	Mildew, that is an oyster, but not one of the edible species. Crassostrea virginica, which is the oyster you find in Chesapeake Bay probably wouldn't have too much of an issue with reef temps. Down here the temps where you find the oyster beds are in the mid 70's to upper 80's for most of the year. Feeding is the biggest issue for keeping them. __________________ 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 and haven't had the time or money to set them back up

01/09/2007, 11:48 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Best and most viable, if you have good lighting [mh] get a crocea clam. They're larger than many oysters and just as efficient. Mine's been an excellent companion for the corals, besides being big and colorful: needs a lot of calcium and phyto. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/09/2007, 11:52 AM	#10
fishyvet Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gainesville FL Posts: 463	I have a few turkey wings in my tank that my LFS gave to me. They are doing well over the month I've had them. Not much to look at to most ppl, but I just like bivalves