The use of shell fish for green algae control

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: The use of shell fish for green algae control
From: George Booth <booth at hpmtlgb1_lvld.hp.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 09:35:35 -0600
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Wed, 24 Jul 1996 03:39:02 EDT." <199607240739.DAA15634 at looney_actwin.com>

> From: Stephen.Pushak at saudan_HAC.COM
> Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 13:22:16 PDT
> 
> Has anyone used freshwater clams or mussels in aquariums? These might
> be good to help control green water. Are they difficult to keep? How
> do you feed them?

I've never kept them but I've heard about keeping them.  They are
"filter feeders" so your water needs microorganisms (like in an algae
bloom) for them to feed on.  I'm not sure if a closed system like an
aquarium could generate enough micro critters on an on-going basis to
feed a fairly large thing like a mussel.

Also, they tend to die, possibly due to the rapid depletion of food
sources.  Since they bury themselves and look much the same dead or
alive, only the most alert aquarist would recognize when one has
expired.  Since they have a decent mass, a dead one can foul the water
fairly quickly.

Or so I've heard. 

George in Hot then Rainy then Sunny then The Sky Falls Colorado