Sea Shells
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25845
Printed Date: July 23 2025 at 4:58am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sea Shells
Posted By: MrViper
Subject: Sea Shells
Date Posted: May 18 2008 at 8:25pm
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My daughter has some sea shells and piees of old coral that she has collected over the years that she wants to add to the tank. They have been cleaned and have no left over inhabitants. I do not see a problem placing decorative shells and pieces of coral, but then again you never know. What do you al think? ------------- Vipers look cool at a distant, but be careful of the bite..its a killer! Still to many cool stuff not enough money |
Replies:
Posted By: SSpargur
Date Posted: May 18 2008 at 9:05pm
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I would boil them in a pot of water with a cap full of bleach first, let dry, then add back to your tank. Best be safe than sorry. ------------- Sean Spargur West Valley, UT |
Posted By: MrViper
Date Posted: May 18 2008 at 9:09pm
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Thanks for the info. I will let her know. I do know that the shells have no inhabitants. They have been sitting on a shelf for a few years and some in jars. But I will have her do that. ------------- Vipers look cool at a distant, but be careful of the bite..its a killer! Still to many cool stuff not enough money |
Posted By: SSpargur
Date Posted: May 18 2008 at 9:23pm
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It's not because of inhabitants, it's because of possible bacteria that you may be introducing into your system. You never know. ------------- Sean Spargur West Valley, UT |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: May 18 2008 at 11:34pm
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They will eventually cover up with algae and lose their pretty color too.
Mike -------------  |
Posted By: superman1981
Date Posted: May 19 2008 at 1:28pm
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I tossed a bunch in my 125 after rinsing them in tap water, I haven't noticed any issues with them, but as Mike said they do cover in coraline algae... I also picked up a bunch of shells on the beach in Cali last year and tossed them in my tank. No ill effect that I have seen.
------------- Sure you are, you are Crappy Reef Club Member #1 -Chk4tix 6 gal nanocube 65 gal http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=78639&title=tims-65-gallon-build" rel="nofollow - build thread |
Posted By: IdahoReef
Date Posted: May 20 2008 at 7:12pm
"Cali?" Sounds exotic. Never heard of such a place. OH!!! You mean CALIFORNIA. ------------- Beginner Steven Build Thread http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 - http://idahoreefs.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1295 |
superman1981 wrote:Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: May 22 2008 at 11:11am
| They will also eventually start to dissolve since they are made up of calcium carbonate. They will look cool for a while, but over years they will slowly disappear. |
Posted By: MrViper
Date Posted: May 22 2008 at 6:30pm
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will that be beneficial or detrimental to the tank? ------------- Vipers look cool at a distant, but be careful of the bite..its a killer! Still to many cool stuff not enough money |
Posted By: SSpargur
Date Posted: May 22 2008 at 6:48pm
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Releasing calcium carbonates into the tank is beneficial. It helps maintain your calcium levels, but it does so very very slowly. The disolving of shells, rock, and sand is extremely slow at the alkalinity we keep our tanks at, but it does happen slowly. *note* this does NOT eliminate the need for dosing or testing of calcium. ------------- Sean Spargur West Valley, UT |
Posted By: Mike Savage
Date Posted: May 22 2008 at 7:17pm
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Well put Sean.
Mike ------------- |
Posted By: Will Spencer
Date Posted: May 24 2008 at 9:51am
| Sean is right, it disolves very slowly, but I just wanted to make the point that a beatiful shell will not be so beautiful after a few years in your tank even if you take it out and clean the algae and coraline growth off it. |
Posted By: Cameron
Date Posted: May 27 2008 at 3:23pm
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Now that we are on the topic of calcium carbonate dissolving, and doing so slowly, i thought I should bring this up...http://www.livingreefs.com/forums/reef-talk/13956-deep-snad-bed.html ------------- [COLOR="Red"](801)664-4240 |