Planted Or Mussel Seeded Filter?

[Wanda]

I've been considering having a go at a biological filter/water feature using
nutrient hungry plants or mussels in a resin rapid leading into the main
pond. I was wondering if anyone had particular thoughts or opinions on this?
I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks effective. I thought it might
be attractive to frogs & damselflies/dragonflies.

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

> I've been considering having a go at a biological
> filter/water feature using nutrient hungry plants or
> mussels in a resin rapid leading into the main pond.

I've made some experience in keeping European Cold Water
Mussels in tank and summer pond.

> I was wondering if anyone had particular thoughts
> or opinions on this?

Several mussel species I know produce a huge number of
larva(e) that settle in a parasitic way on fish (skin
and_or gills).

> I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks
> effective.

Absolutely. Mussels are very effective in filtering water
crystal clear. Relating to the tank or pond size and the
natural organic input you might be "forced" to add mussel
food.

> I thought it might be attractive to frogs &
> damselflies/dragonflies.

The most mussel species I know are walkers. Half dug in sand
or mud they are used to walk around and damage (sometimes)
plant roots..

Attention:

Mussels are bio filters and should be "used" _instead_ of
technical filters..

--
cu
Marco

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

Marco Schwarz wrote:


> > I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks
> > effective.
>
> Absolutely. Mussels are very effective in filtering water
> crystal clear. Relating to the tank or pond size and the
> natural organic input you might be "forced" to add mussel
> food.

Which reminds me of a story my zoology Prof used to tell in his lecture
on bivalves (mussels for you and me): In the gulf of Biscaya there are
oyster farms right next to outlets for untreated sewage. When he
complained to health authorities, the answer was: "Well, we test the sea
water quality regularly, and there was never a problem". Does anybody
have oysters for dinner today?

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Wanda > wrote:
>I've been considering having a go at a biological filter/water feature using
>nutrient hungry plants or mussels in a resin rapid leading into the main
>pond. I was wondering if anyone had particular thoughts or opinions on this?
>I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks effective. I thought it might
>be attractive to frogs & damselflies/dragonflies.

Papyrus works well that way.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[Wanda]

"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Wanda > wrote:
>>I've been considering having a go at a biological filter/water feature
>>using
>>nutrient hungry plants or mussels in a resin rapid leading into the main
>>pond. I was wondering if anyone had particular thoughts or opinions on
>>this?
>>I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks effective. I thought it might
>>be attractive to frogs & damselflies/dragonflies.
>
> Papyrus works well that way.

It's bigger than what I had in mind. Do you know of any groundcover perhaps,
or small spreading plants that could suit? The place that I saw it done had
something herbaceous as the plant filter. The spot I'm thinking of putting
it in receives maybe a couple hours of light in the morning at the most.

[Wanda]

"Dr Engelbert Buxbaum" > wrote in message
...
> Marco Schwarz wrote:
>
>
>> > I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks
>> > effective.
>>
>> Absolutely. Mussels are very effective in filtering water
>> crystal clear. Relating to the tank or pond size and the
>> natural organic input you might be "forced" to add mussel
>> food.
>
> Which reminds me of a story my zoology Prof used to tell in his lecture
> on bivalves (mussels for you and me): In the gulf of Biscaya there are
> oyster farms right next to outlets for untreated sewage. When he
> complained to health authorities, the answer was: "Well, we test the sea
> water quality regularly, and there was never a problem". Does anybody
> have oysters for dinner today?

erk. no. :-P~

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Wanda > wrote:
>
>"Richard Sexton" > wrote in message
...
>> In article >,
>> Wanda > wrote:
>>>I've been considering having a go at a biological filter/water feature
>>>using
>>>nutrient hungry plants or mussels in a resin rapid leading into the main
>>>pond. I was wondering if anyone had particular thoughts or opinions on
>>>this?
>>>I've seen it done at a pond store & it looks effective. I thought it might
>>>be attractive to frogs & damselflies/dragonflies.
>>
>> Papyrus works well that way.
>
>It's bigger than what I had in mind. Do you know of any groundcover perhaps,
>or small spreading plants that could suit? The place that I saw it done had
>something herbaceous as the plant filter. The spot I'm thinking of putting
>it in receives maybe a couple hours of light in the morning at the most.

Hydrocotyle. You can find it in stores or growing wild in the US and
Canada. Grows very well at thre waters edge, emerse. A weed in fact.

--
Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home page: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net