Sea Shells

[Jane L]

I have obtained an entire Wal-Mart plastic bag full of real sea shells, all different types and sizes, really pretty. I have two questions: some have kind of sharp edges; do I have to worry about the fish injuring themselves on them, and how would I clean them to make sure they are safe for use in the tank?

 

[Teelie]

Looking at your fish, they are mostly types that prefer low pH levels and sea shells are great at raising pH levels so my opinion is none. You may also want to look at returning some of your fish. You've got several schooling ones in duos where 3-5 is the ideal minimum not to mention the clowns and plecs are going to get very, very large.

But if you want to do it anyways, or you get fish that can acclimate to a higher pH, the best way to clean them is boiling water for a few minutes. I would normally say bleach but bleach may not dry completely in the pourous nature of a seashell. Sharp edges should be filed off if possible or submerged in the substrate in case your fish rub into them.

 

[Jane L]

Sorry, I haven't updated my fish population. Both the plecostomus are gone (one died from dropsy two weeks ago and one was re-homed to my brother's 55 gallon tank.) All three clown loaches are in my 25 gallon tank and are going to be re-homed this next week to my brother's tank. That will leave the two angels in the 25 gal tank. The 10-gallon has only two sunset platys and one tiger barb and one clown loach; haven't bought any more because I cannot afford buy anymore at the present time. And I will dump the sea shells.

 

[steelhealr]

In general, sea shells are not wise to add to FW unless you need to increase your pH and...you would do it with crushed Florida coral shell. A fish that makes rapid movements theoretically COULD injure itself if the shell edge was exposed. Personally, IMO, they are sorta outta place in a FW tank unless doing up a 'marine' FW. I've read posts here where people actually do a marine theme with plastic corals and shells with colorful FW fish (cichlids). SH

 

[Sky042]

Even with all the fish you've mentioned you have here and there and are moving here and there you haven't mentioned anything that likes high ph or hard water

Don't add the seashells.

 

[john5748]

I remember reading a post some time ago saying that you could do some sort of vinegar test on sea shells and then they would be ok to put into your tank.

Would anyone care to elaborate?

 

[Teelie]

That is for rocks. Pretty much all sea shells are made of the same material; calcium, and it will buffer the pH upwards regardless of the type of shell.

 

[john5748]

That is for rocks. Pretty much all sea shells are made of the same material; calcium, and it will buffer the pH upwards regardless of the type of shell.

Ok rocks, are you sure

 

[Sky042]

That is for rocks. Pretty much all sea shells are made of the same material; calcium, and it will buffer the pH upwards regardless of the type of shell.

Ok rocks, are you sure

Very sure.

theres no getting around what they're made of and what that'll do to water when it starts to disolve in water.

 

[fish_r_great]

You can boil seashells though thats what I did for my Tang tank and I've had no problems.

 

[Sky042]

You can boil seashells though thats what I did for my Tang tank and I've had no problems.

yeah for fish that want that sort of water it's no problem to sterilize a sea shell.

 

[Teelie]

You can boil seashells though thats what I did for my Tang tank and I've had no problems.

Yeah, but African Cichlids already need a higher pH level anyways.

 

[steelhealr]

To John5748..vinegar doesn't treat shells for use in FW, it's used as a test for calcium carbonate. Vinegar reacts with calcium carbonate to produce carbon dioxide, ie, if you pour vinegar on a shell or anything with CaCO3 in it, bubbles are given off. SH

 

[Bignose]

I think the real question is what are the water conditions now? I have very hard water, pH of 8.4, GH of 23 dH, and KH of 13 dH. I would think that adding shells to my water would not do much of anything at all.

If Jane's water is hard, and the fish are acclimated to that water, the shells would not do very much at all. If Jane's water is soft and acidic, there will be significant changes.

 

[Jane L]

Both tanks ph 7.0, nitrates 0, don't have any other kits besides ammonia and nitrites. I gave the shells to my aquarium shop manager, who has tanks that shells can be put into. It's just not worth the hassle.