I was shopping around today and found some bags of sea shells and thought it would look kinda cute in my aquarium. I didn't buy them though because I'm not sure if they will effect my water quality?? I don't often see anyone's tanks with them in there as decoration so that also made me rethink it. What's the deal on these for my tank, yay or nay?
Sea shells okay for freshwater tank??
- Thread starter Juice
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tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
No. African Cichlids tank--OK. The shells will disolve in FW making water more hard and higher PH.
I actually have shells in my tank but i have goldfish and they are hardy. but you could soak them for a while if you dont mind the work.
I agree, depends on what's in the tank. I would think that it's gradual enough that it wouldn't be an issue.
higher pH and harder? Yay!
I have what has to be the softest well water in recorded history-- GH around 50 (color is between the 40 and 80 readings so I'm guessing); KH less than 80--as well as ridiculously low pH at 6.2 or thereabouts. Apparently when they said RCS liked "soft and slightly acidic" water they did not mean THIS soft or THIS acidic. I get them, they seem okay, then they molt and then they die. (Waiting to see if tigers do any better but results so far do not seem promising; half of them died the first day in the tank. Had one molt overnight and isn't dead yet so I'm hoping.)
I have a bag of seashells collected a few years ago the last time I could afford a vacation. Off to find it and plunk a few in the tank. Thanks VERY much for this tip.
I have what has to be the softest well water in recorded history-- GH around 50 (color is between the 40 and 80 readings so I'm guessing); KH less than 80--as well as ridiculously low pH at 6.2 or thereabouts. Apparently when they said RCS liked "soft and slightly acidic" water they did not mean THIS soft or THIS acidic. I get them, they seem okay, then they molt and then they die. (Waiting to see if tigers do any better but results so far do not seem promising; half of them died the first day in the tank. Had one molt overnight and isn't dead yet so I'm hoping.)
I have a bag of seashells collected a few years ago the last time I could afford a vacation. Off to find it and plunk a few in the tank. Thanks VERY much for this tip.
I use dead corals in both my African tank and in my invert tank. Without it my Ph was 6.2-6.4 and had no problems with them. Since adding the coral a month ago I have seen definite color enhancement on my RCS and better shells on the snails. It made no difference to the Africans.
No cichlids here, I have some rasboras and some pygmy catfish. My water is between 7-8 the last I checked. I know drastic changes to ph aren't good so I guess this idea is out for me. Maybe I can locate some fake "real" looking shells. I only wanted to put maybe 2 or 3 in there for a lil snazz =]