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Hi guys, Can you put collected Sea Shells in a freshwater Tank? I have been considering this, but am concerned over the effects it might have on water Chemistry. So I thought I would ask you guys. thanks in advance.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Hi,
First, an assumption. You are only going to put a
couple, two, three, or so in the tank, and, they are not
going to be the huge 8 inch conch shells.

Yes, you can put them in the tank. Yes, they might make
a difference, over time, in the pH. However, regular water
changes should maintain the pH at a stable overall level.
If you are going to put alot in the tank then they will
affect the pH.

The main problem with using self collected sea shells
is the possible contamination from food, decaying
meat, etc. in the way back reaches of the whorls of
the shells.
Commercially sold shells from a LFS are prepared and
cleaned out.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

The shells that I have are all under 2 inches, and I was thinking 3 or 4, they have no whorls more more like clam type shells. I would also clean them with boiling water, scrubbing. just as I do with the rocks I collect. Thanks Frank.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Sounds great...Have at it!
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Definitely boil them and rinse them well afterwards.

As for the ph and stuff, the shells are almost pure calcium. The calcium, over time, will leach into the water causing a buffer and eventually increasing your ph. But only to around 8.0 give or take. And if your water ph is around 8.0 already, it will do no change. If your ph is lower, then with weekly water changes though, it will not have a strong enough affect on the water, as it takes time to work. And the hard compactness of the shells will make it take a lot longer to leech into the water column.

Just a note here, in a year or several years, you may notice the shells becoming very thin and even falling/breaking apart. The calcium leeching into the water is the cause of it.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Thanks that is good to know. A while back I had a problem with PH of 8.0 or higher, when I have a community Aquarium,PH of 7.0. I added in some Driftwood, and now I have the reverse. PH of around 6.0-6.4 Maybe the Calcium in the shells will help balance it out.

mts.gif" border="0"> I vote do you?
My Tanks at Photobucket

Yeppers, the drift wood probably released tannins, they will lower the ph. The shells will help to raise it back up a bit and definitely help to hold it up there, in other words buffer it.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

For a detailed discussion of the pros and cons vis-a-vis the effects upon water chemistry, visit this earlier thread on the subject.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Hi Calilasseia,
You might do some checking on your link. I clicked on it
and came up with a "Page not found" response.
Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Just clicked on it Frank, and it worked OK for me ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

It doesn't work for me either.

---

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West