shells

[daniel364]

Ok, just a quick question from me today. Are shells that you pick of the beach ok for the aquarium as long as you boil them for 10 minuits?

Thanks
Dan

[tetramoon13]

Hmmm, I have read that you probably shouldn't do this because the shells leach calcium into the water, raising your KH, which may or may not be a good thing for your tank, depending on what your parameters are like. I have heard of people adding crushed coral to their filters to do this, but not sure what effect the shells would have. I would wait for a few others to chime in on this, as I'm not 100 percent sure.

[daniel364]

anyone else for a second opinion?

[sarcare]

I have heard this as well--shells change the water chemistry so people put them in if they want harder water for certain types of fish.

If you wanted shells for looks, you could buy fake ones, or cover them totally with epoxy so they were sealed. That way they wouldn't breakdown in your tank.

[daniel364]

ok thanks i might try the epoxy thing one day like you said.

Thanks

[iktomiwicasa]

It depends on your water. If your ph and kh are high it might not be a problem. My water is quite hard and alkaline and adding shells doesn't change the water chemistry. It's just too hard to disolve anything.

[daniel364]

having trouble trying to find epoxy. if i coat the shell with varnish, will that seal the shell? or would that just make things worse?

[daniel364]

anyone

[plah831]

well, like iktomiwicasa said, if you have hard and slightly alkaline water, the shell won't dissolve and affect anything. You can get the fish store to test these for you, pH and GH (General hardness). Let us know what these are, but most municipal water tends to be on the hard side (don't know about UK, tho :) )

[daniel364]

if i coat the shell with varnish, will that seal the shell? or would that just make things worse?

If not im not to sure i want to have shells in my tank that bad but is this the same with pebels?

[rosita]

DO NOT coat the shell with varnish or shellac or anything like that. As an artist and former wife of a cabinetmaker, I've learned alot about the qualities of these various sealants. They are not permanent, and can chip off or just flake off, especially in a continual water environment. It would take a thick baked on epoxy or enamel to be safe. They are all toxic.

[daniel364]

right, only in my book it say you can vernish bamboo with suitable varnish??
anyway i think ive given up on having shells in there now.

what about natruel pebels and wood that you pick up at the the beach or in you backgarden?