seashells in tank - safe?

[Gix]

Hi all,
I was down at the beach a little while back, and noticed some seashells (mostly large, old whelk shells w/ holes) that looked just right for fish that like hiding spots (I have 3 young clown loaches). The shells being from a saltwater environment (the ocean...), I figure I should do something to prepare or clean them before trying them out.
Will soaking them for a week or so do it?
Should I try the vinegar test?
Should I even try to do this at all?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[Lateral Line]

Shells are made largely of Calcium Carbonate, as such, they will harden your water and raise it's pH. For the average tropical freshwater tank, they are not suitable. Rift tanks would be the most obvious exception.

 

[dead_letters]

ive got sea shells in both of my tanks,tropical and coldwater and the waters fine.Make sure you wash them and soak them in water for a while though if you decide to use them.

 

[Zenn]

Yeah, because i remember about 3 years ago i went to the beach in the east angela, and there were some of the biggest oster shall there and i brough aload home, i washed them, soaked them and made them sqeeky clean, and now they are in my tank and if anything, it gives that really nice feel to the tank, a nice soft look as if a cross between a weedy lake bottom to a coral reef with the shells and all the weeds (plastic) that i have in my tank

 

[BigLou]

For just about anything I put in my tank, I boil them first. I've got a few in my 10 gal with angels and platies, and they're fine. They raised the pH just a little, but not to the point to do any damage.

 

[Yenko]

Not a good idea.

 

[Aquascaper]

As mentioned before, sea shells will increase the KH & pH of your water (even if it's only slightly) as they are calcium carbonate and will slowly deteriorate. As for the 'safe' issue, as long as they are stripped of all organic matter (seaweed, dead flesh, etc.) and boiled properly and thoroughly that should kill off any harmful bacteria that may be present. There is the question of trace toxins that may have been present in the sea water but that's the chance you take.

HTH

 

[mwm]

I did a test on this. I tested my PH it was 6.8 i took some water in a 1g tube i put 2 shells in it then tested it again the next day and it was like 7.4 When i did this one time my angel fish died, the first thing the guy at my lfs said was "do u have shells in ur tank" so i just try to aviod em

 

[a1wonder]

I agree with the eariler statements I was tempted to put a couple of shells in my 33 but I tested it first in my empty 10gal at the time and within a week or so my water par. were changing.

 

[jflowers]

I have two big shells in my tank and my kribs have used the largest as a spawning cave (its about six inches across) . The other shell is home to my khuli's. Havnt had any water changes, but that may be as these shells were bought cleaned and sealed, not collected from the beach.

Jon

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> and sealed

That would make a difference.

 

[Dragonscales]

I have shells in a few of my tanks, mostly for my shelldwellers. If the water is too acidic the shells will eventually dissolve until there is nothing left. They can be helpful as a buffer for alkaline tanks but if used in acidic tanks, try not to use too many so the water ph isn't driven up too high and be ready to replace them every 6 months or so. I would, however, be sceptical of the source you obtain them from, alot of beaches are prone to be drenched in all sorts of polution and this can be leeched into your tankwater, effectively killing all your livestock. Personally, I buy all my shells, I don't buy the varnished ones though, as I don't trust these leeching chemicals into the water either. Best advice is to be careful of the source, watch your parameters carefully for a while and be ready to pull them out and do at least a 30% water change if your water parameters start going awry (this depends on the exact prob though ).

 

[Gix]

So...if I want to put some calcium in the water and raise the pH, like you do if you're keeping some apple snails, shells would be a great idea right? Assuming they're purchased and clean and all that.
I'm thinking of using my currently empty 20 US gallon to keep some apple snails, so I was thinking about doing this.