Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Aussies
I am under Algae attack, the hot summer and lack of shade has proved to be brutal on my pond.
One of our fellow posters suggested mussels to assist with the problem.
My local fish shop had them for $16.50 each.
So I wanted to share this for anyone else looking to get mussels cheaper than the pet store.
NATIVE freshwater mussels (Velesunio ambiguus) on Gumtree http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1106301634
This breed is for still to slow current and native to the east coast and from what I've seen there doesn't appear to be any restrictions anywhere Australia.
Anyway it's a much cheaper alternative if your interested.
Fun fact:
Mussels can polish 10 gallons or 38liters of water per mussel per day.
They are hard workers.

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An interesting idea, I wonder if they would tolerate it in an HydroPonic system..
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would just be cruel to put them in a hydro system.


i have always had large numbers of mussels in all of my ponds, not once have i witnessed them make a dent in peasoup algae.

if they suck up stringy algae, they will clean all the fish poo, etc off and spit the algae out 100% clean.


im pretty sure its a myth that they eat algae, they certainly wont turn green water clear.

they will improve the health of the system and eat detritus.

them spawning in an AP system like is said on the gumtree ad, well that is going to be rare at best, they need certain size fish to carry thier spawn.... and are very slow growing, like all mussels

I was questioning the same thing, but... after googling a number of articles from the US environmental protection agency and various departments of natural resources... it has actually documented that the great lakes have been damaged by the introduction of zebra mussels which are so efficient in cleaning the water that the water clarity has improved drastically... to the point where other species that feed on microscopic animal/plants are threatened due to not enough food in the water to support them. Maybe try throwing some of those babies in your system (not!)

my silver perch clean the sides of the tank by eating the algae.

3 weeks ago i visited lake Victoria in central Queensland. I took home approx 300 mussels and added 200 to my system. They range in size from 50mm to 130mm in length. Since adding them to my 10000 lt tank i have definitely observed clearer water. I am able to see my fish swimming about. Prior the only time i could see them was when they were smashing food on the surface. I have 150 silvers ranging in size from 80mm to 200mm. The dissolved oxygen reading is 10.5. The mussels have most definitely had a dramatic result.

I bought a few freshwater mussels from The Fish Works in Sydney. I don't think they ship stuff but they are great if you live in the area for coldwater natives if you live in the area
https://www.thefishworks.com.au/fish-available

If you put a couple of carp in there they will take care of the algae. I have some in mine and I have seen them eating it off the sides of the tank. If I scoop some out of some other tanks and put it in there I never see it again.

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Cheers,Don.