Live Oysters and rocks as a Sub. for "Live Rock"

[GladBag]

I went to the store to get a price on "Live Rock" Wow it's gone up from when I first knew
about it being used in the early 90's. well I just a poor University student so I thought I might go down to the ocean were I know Oysters grow on rocks and get some and use them as a substitute for Live Rock. can any one tell me the pros-and-cons of using this
method of filtration, being as they are the natural filters of the water any way.

Thank you for your time and responce.

[jenglish]

One always runs a risk of intorducing pathogens with anything from the ocean (as we do with bought live rock as well but hopefully with some safeguards). Depending on where you are geographically you may not have a oyster that will thrive in a tank (most like colder water than we keep our tanks) I know people that use clams as a filter for their tanks so it is a valid concept. What are you wanting to keep in your tank? Have you looked at dry base rock online? It is much cheaper and can be seeded with a small live rock that will contain all the biodiversity you will ever want.

[cerobbins]

I also imagine that the oysters are going to want cooler water than just room temperature. Probably in the high 60s to low 70s.

[Mr.Peanut]

I have 6 clams, they live under the sand. I have had them since October. No problems. I also tried Mussels they were dead in 2 days. Never tried oysters. But you would need a heck of alot of oysters as a substitute for live rock.

[OneDummHikk]

You can order dry base rock from marcorocks.com for a dollar a pound.

Issues with oysters? Aside from whats already been mentioned, when the oyster eventually dies, everything it has ever eaten will be released right back into the water column. If you remove them occassionally, you have the issue of having to replace them. Simply get some base rock, give it 6 months or so, it will be live rock.

And, you don't have to worry with the oysters. I wouldn't use the shells for substrate either. As close in as they live in the ocean to society, they are going to be phosphate loaded among other things, be hard to keep clean, just a lot of issues with using them for that (I have asked about using the shells for substrate before).