Can I Add These To My Tank?

[razer121]

ok guys heres one for you....my daughter has just come back from holiday and bless her little heart she bought me some seashells for 50p each (she really emphasized this lol) anyway she wants me to add them to my tank...now of course ive said yes she is only 3 years old how could i say no lol, but im unsure if they are safe to add? heres the picture of them...

so ive thought about soaking them in water and all but i remember somewhere reading about using vinegar or something to test them but i dont know how to do this so could anyone possibly point me in the right direction? thanks!

 

[meguro]

You put the vinegar on a cloth/papertowel and rub the shell with it, or you simply pour a few drops onto it. If it bubbles then it's no good.

But I'd assume the shells couldn't be added to a tropical freshwater tank. They're most likely calcareous and will eventually decay and leech into the water increasing both pH and hardness.

Unless your tank is an african rift lake type?

 

[razer121]

no just a normal tank, is it best i dont add these then?? or should i just have a blast with the drops of vinegar?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

They may bump the pH up a bit. Not really a big problem with regular water changes.

 

[Bobtastic]

Yeah, sea shells a like crushed coral, they will release stuff (can't remember the exact name...) into the water which will add GH/KH into the water. It will buffer the water if your levels are low or increase the pH if they are high. That being said it wont happen very quickly, unless the start to get chipped away.

Regular water changes should keep the pH at it's normal level.

 

[razer121]

ok guys, well i will be doing a weekly water change of roughly 25% but the shells are chipped, and to be very honest i dont want to risk the shells killing my fish lol, i think they can sit "around" the tank instead

 

[Curiosity101]

Perhaps you could set up a second tank 'Especially' (emphasise this) for the shells.

Say they were too nice that you didn't want to risk the fish damaging them.

You could always buy a small pet carrier and an apple snail and pop it in there with the shells, maybe a plant too.....
I don't know, how much do 3 year olds understand? Would she even be bothered if they weren't in the tank?

 

[bagu]

nice shells

should be fine! just give em a good good clean, test them with vinegar.

Should be fine though!

 

[razer121]

Perhaps you could set up a second tank 'Especially' (emphasise this) for the shells.

Say they were too nice that you didn't want to risk the fish damaging them.

You could always buy a small pet carrier and an apple snail and pop it in there with the shells, maybe a plant too.....
I don't know, how much do 3 year olds understand? Would she even be bothered if they weren't in the tank?

shes very "simple" minded like most other 3 year olds so props wouldnt understand me not putting it in the tank....im going to put them in a bucket and see what effects they have on the water, hopfully they wont have to much effect thanks for all the help though guys i needed it lol

 

[meguro]

What fish do you have? You could probably just throw them in and as long as you do weekly water changes of 25-50% or higher, it will be fine.

 

[Ficious]

those look like shells you buy hermit crabs. are they coated with a clear coat? if they do have a laminate over them id assume they will never break down in your tank. also adding two or so shells isnt going to do anything to the tank. crushed coral is often added by 25 lb bags...soo yaaaaaa

 

[drobbyb]

A few shells won't drasticailly change your pH. They will make it rise, but it takes about 2 weeks to see the full effect. You should be fine adding a few shells.