Quote:
Originally Posted by graveyardworm  I would like to add that these clams do not directly take nitrates from the water. They indirectly help lower nitrates by removing Dissolved Organics, and other small particulate matter from the water column. |
Sorry for bringing this thread back to life, but was referring it to another and wanted to add to this....
What you say above is true, the clams do take in the dissolved organics by way of filtration. However, they also take up and utilize
Ammonia (easily), and
Nitrate (somewhat hesitantly),
phosphate, etc. and use Ammonium
Nitrate (along with
phosphates, sulfates etc.) and convert into amino acids (alanine for instance) and other good stuff. This happens right at "absorption zero", the mantle.
Well.. to be honest, the
zooxanthellae do the work, but, you get the drift. The quick uptake of
ammonia is very much involved in the reduction of total
nitrates, but again, the clam will take in
nitrates (especially if
ammonia is low).
When this process happens, it happens both utilizing surrounding nitrogen sources, and those created as a byproduct of the clams "biological activity". The clam, in turn, benefits from the passing of said compounds because the
zooxanthellae then utilizes and passes along its waste, in the form of carbohydrates (i.e. glucose, glutimate, aspartate, etc.) to the clam.
Nice agreement eh? No wonder they are "happy as a clam".
Dave
