crushed shells

[always learning]

Hello,
I just got back from florida about a 2 weeks ago, and I brought a bunch of shells with me from the beach. I also brought a cupple bottles of little shells and crushed shells that were by the water. I was wondering if I should do anything to the shells before I put them in my tank. I heard they were having a bad red tide this year so I'm a little edgy. I've heard before that you should let the water sit for a few weeks before putting into the tank and there was a little water with them too but it's been like 2 weeks so it should be good.
Someone told me that I should boil them but it's a lot of shells and a lot of little shells so it's not fun.
Please tell me what to do.
thanx,
always learning.

[VoodooChild]

I'd bleach them for a couple of hours and then let them soak in a dechloranation solution for a couple more hours.

[always learning]

Would clorox bleach be alright?
and what kind of dechlorinator would you use?

Thanx,
always learning.

[VoodooChild]

Anything that's bleach, and just bleach. Clorox should be fine. Actually I think that that's what I use...hmmm. Anyways, any dechlorinator is fine. They're all the same. I use Stress Coat cause it comes in gallon jugs, but anything is fine.

[kreblak]

I use prime, since I can get really good deals on it. Just make sure to soak it in dechloinator for twice as long as you bleach it.

[Ray Pollett]

I would actually take a two set process with them just to be on the safe side.

I would put them in water and boil for a minute then let cool naturally. Then put in a bleach solution as reccomended. To get rid of the bleach, set outside in the sun and wind for a few days.

Ray