Substrate Question-- Any one used oyster shells?

If the shells are clean, go for it. Anything from the ocean will buffer the pH.
 
I wouldn't use them for a buffer, you would be better off using sea shells and crushed coral as a buffer and just add the oysters as a display decoration.. Mussels and oysters shells are not great buffers as one would think.. this is just my opinion..
 
Pittbull said:
I wouldn't use them for a buffer, you would be better off using sea shells and crushed coral as a buffer and just add the oysters as a display decoration.. Mussels and oysters shells are not great buffers as one would think.. this is just my opinion..
Click to expand...

What makes you say that? :1zhelp:

If that's true I really want to know... Oyster shells are easy, but I live at the beach...
 
Compared to amounts of substrate.. Oyster shells will indeed raise the Ph but in large quantity so depending on size of aquarium you are going to have to fill the tank with some oyster shells for this to aid.. PFS is a silica sand with no PH or hardness value as a buffer.. In theory if you have a lower hardness / PH value from the Tap and if you want to achieve a higher Ph / Hardness a small amount of oyster shell with pool filter sand will not render the values much..

Now if you had aragonite or crushed coral with oyster and or sea shells than i would say your PH / Hardness values will climb pretty steady and more than likely you will achieve your goal..
 
I wanted to edit my last post.. I found this paper posted that falls into this subject. If the readings are right this is a pretty good starting point.

I think I will see what I can come up with if I use oyster shells...

Paper on Oyster Shells as a pH Buffer
 
Cool, it touches on the amount as well of oyster shell..
 
Did you read the conclusion on last page? It says that oyster shells are a potential pH buffer; specifically for acidic solutions.
 
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