Do clams need nitrates?

So I've been reading about clams for the last few months. I've read that they actually consume nitrates and ammonia. So if they are placed in a tank with undetectable levels of nitrate will they thrive? I have 6 x 54W T5s with individual reflectors.

 

Should be fine. Many people have them with SPS, and with SPS you can't have any of those levels detectable. The vast majority the food for the clams comes from photosynthesis.

 

Thanks LCP. That's what I figured. Never thought I'd have to ask if undetectable nitrate was a problem.

 

lol

they should be fine in a good quality tank. but they can also live in harder times. when i had high NO3 my clam grew, he was the only thing that do but ohh well

 

I have 2 clams in my tank with no detectable nitrates at this point. I'm seeing good growth on both.

 

Clams don't need nitrates but do filter them out of the aquarium. They don't feed off of ammonia. Smaller clams under 3 in. need to be supplementarily feed by providing some sort of filter feeder food. After about 3in. they rely almost totally on light and photosynthesis.