Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

"Mussels are filter feeders, siphoning plankton, organic matter and nutrients from the water. This feeding process also acts as a natural filter for the stream, cleansing the water of nutrients and toxins"
not sure i'd ever attempt this since i like veggies more than mussels but it's crazy to think about

Aussieponic bought some freshwater mussels for his system. I don't know how they are going though

The Dr. John Todd's oceanarks site had plans that involved mussels in one or more of the "cells" in that design. Can't find the exact link though. It involved four tanks in a circulating system, one with algae and other stuff, another with bottom feeders, around to tilapia etc. then back again to the first cell.

http://www.oceanarks.org/index.php

http://www.toddecological.com/ecomachines.html

WARNING! Do not click this link if you are offended by inspirational ecological design.

i believe part of their life cycle is parasitic to fish

Correct, Mrgrackletx. However, each type of mussel has its preferred host fish. So theoretically, you could mix incompatible mussels and fish and not have fish problems. I'm not sure how damaging/long the parasite phase is, either. Might work out OK even if you did stock compatible species.

Not that long, and generally not harmful to the host fish...

ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WHMI/WEB/ ... sJan16.pdf

I've read that it's not usually harmful to the host fish but what about in a recirculating system? Also, if you used incompatible fish then you might not be able to breed your own mussels. I say try it though!

Heck, I guess you could just add a few of whatever their preferred host fish species is to your tank. If the mussels treat those fish badly it won't effect your food fish. Fish make good fertilizer for the dirt garden

I have a mussel as an ornamental, and I can tell you that their cleaning abilities are highly overrated. That being said, they are interesting and far more mobile than you would expect.

Additionally, freshwater mussels are inedible. I don't know if you are referring to saltwater varieties, but either would be more trouble than they are worth.

are they inedible because of their feeding habits or for other reasons? purging them would take care of a lot of feed related tastes

As far as I am aware they are edible, just not much flavour and the texture of rubber bands.
Aboriginies used to eat them.

Yep, definitely edible. Ate them as a kid out of our dam. Boiled in a billy, the 'muscle' part is as chewy as, but the guts part is okay.