freshwater mussels or clams

Ive heard that mussels and clams are a good natural way of filtering my
pond, i am wondering what the pro`s and cons are, my pond is 24000 lts
with running water from a water fall, I would be greatful if someone
could help with my quiery.
Thanx john

"fish" wrote in message
ps.com...
Ive heard that mussels and clams are a good natural way of filtering my
pond, i am wondering what the pro`s and cons are, my pond is 24000 lts
with running water from a water fall, I would be greatful if someone
could help with my quiery.
Thanx john
===================
What are you trying to filter out? Please let us know if they live and
work out if you try them.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }((((* ~~~ }{{{{(ö ~~~~ }((((({*

"fish" wrote in message
ps.com...
Ive heard that mussels and clams are a good natural way of filtering my
pond, i am wondering what the pro`s and cons are, my pond is 24000 lts
with running water from a water fall, I would be greatful if someone
could help with my quiery.
Thanx john

Clams are probably out, because they need to be buried or partially buried.
Mussels can be attached to rope that's suspend in the pond (just like in a
commercial farm).

Mussels are filter feeders, they'll feed on particulate matter suspended,
such as algae, microorganisms, etc in the water. But particulate matter
suspended in the water is a symptom of a ill maintained pond, not the cause.
Plus mussels release the same type of waste that fish do, namely nitrogen
compounds.

That isn't to say there isn't room for experimentation, but it's my
understanding that mussels need fast moving cool water. The consensus in
this group is that an ideal filter setup involves a particulate filter,
using a filter media, a biological filter to assist in converting the
nitrogen compounds in fish waste into safer compounds, and finally a plant
(veg) filter to convert nitrogen compounds into a plant.

-S

If I remember correctly swan mussels are used, the big quoted danger
with them is the pollution associated with their decay when they die, I
also seem to remember thay have odd breeding requirements involving one
species of fish.I have an unintentionally introduced shell fish
population in at least one of my ponds but they are half the size of my
little finger nail and rather delicate, they would never contibute to
filtration.


Do not use zebra mussels or any non native shell fish, zebra mussels
are causing 'havoc' in Irish water ways and have definately
contaminated Lough Erne and have been founnd in Lough Neagh, I think
they are in the Shannon too.




--
sean mckinney

On 18 Sep 2006 12:40:02 -0700, "fish" wrote:

Ive heard that mussels and clams are a good natural way of filtering my
pond, i am wondering what the pro`s and cons are, my pond is 24000 lts
with running water from a water fall, I would be greatful if someone
could help with my quiery.
Thanx john

Depends on what kind of pond, what is in it. Mussels & clams can be
intermediate hosts to fish parasites. ~ jan
-----------------

Also ponding troll free at:
http://groups.google.com/group/The-Freshwater-Aquarium