can you put sharp, dead coral with freshwater fish?

[SunshinePuppies]

My mother wants to know if you can put fossilized/dead sharp coral with a freshwater tank. She's plannig on keeping angels and a pleco with a couple of other smaller fish.
How safe would it be for her to put the coral with them?

 

[MTiffany]

I would say it's not a good idea. Coral skeleton is made of calcium carbonate. In the tank, the calcium carbonate will gradually dissolve, raising the hardness and the pH of the water, creating an alkaline environment. Angelfish prefer slightly acidic waters. So the environment that the coral would create would be opposite to what the angelfish needs.

A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is not to mix freshwater and saltwater things. Coral doesn't belong in a freshwater tank any more than peat moss substrate belongs in a saltwater tank.

 

[tanker]

I too would not for the same reasons Tiff said.

 

[jm1212]

dont forget that it is sharp...thats just asking for trouble in a tank with bottom dwellers.

 

[Hebily]

That is an all around bad idea. While fish will generally adapt to water conditions, it is not a good plan to adjust your water further away from what your fish would prefer. Both angels and plecos (generally) prefer acidic, low tds water. Also, pleco+sharp=cut

 

[SunshinePuppies]

thanks. I relayed the messages and she said she won't do it. I didn't think it was a good idea either.