Thursday, January 12, 2012

Can I put old ocean sea shells in Brackish tank as ornaments after rinsing off?

Or would this mess with levels ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc.?

Can I put old ocean sea shells in Brackish tank as ornaments after rinsing off?
Since yours is a brackish tank which should have a higher pH and hardness level, yes you can - it's just not recommended to use these in freshwater as the shells will change these parameters. Just be certain that the shine is natural, not a result of any polish or shellac/lacquer painted on which may peel/dissolve in the water.



I don't know if the shells have sentimental value to you, but being in water (tapwater) these will slowly dissolve over time, although using marine salt to buffer the water will slow the process, so over time they will lose the shine.
Reply:it will raise your ph level

depends on which kind of

fish your going to have in

there i would stay away

from shell . if you find

fish that like high alkaline

maybe but i wouldn't risk it
Reply:They won't hurt your ammonia, nitrites or nitrates. They may increase your PH however it sounds to me like they have been polished. Polished shells don't really leach so the PH should be fine. Give them a good wash, no need to boil. Add only one at a time a few days apart and test the PH. Since you need a higher PH in brackish water there should be no harm.
Reply:i was just asking my fishstore man about how to cure driftwood to put in my tank, i don't know if this will help you, i do have molly's in my tank and other fish that are considered brackish fish. he told me to take 2 gals of water and put 1 tblsp of chlorine in it. that will kill anything that will cause probs with the tank, leave it to soak for 48 hours. drain and rinse and then put it in another 2 gals of water with the chlor out solution and leave it for 48 more hours. after that dump and rinse and if there is still a chlorine odor to use the second step again. hope this helps.
Reply:Very unlikely to give off ammonia unless there's decaying stuff inside them. It's more likely they'll leech dissolved solids into the water. Watch your pH and hardness.
Reply:I agree it may raise your pH a little but definitely boil it first to kill anything that may harm your fish because they will not be used to anything out of the ocean. Like when Columbus came to America they made the Indians sick because they had not built up immunities to sicknesses like they had.
Reply:i would bleach them lightly and after rinsing very very well, let them set out in the sun a couple of days before putting in tank.
Reply:i would biol then first just to be sure any hitchhikers are dead.



it would mess up your tank, it's help it. it would give it the proper hardness that BW tanks need



if they have been polished with anything, don't do it. it might dissolve in the water and who knows what havoc that can reak.


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