shells from the Beach

happypappy

Can you use shells from the beach in an aquarium. I know you need to clean with vinegar, but are there any risks of contamination?

Nilet699

I dont think its recommended, but Ive seen people who have done it.

But if you do it, there are several things you need to consider. Such as, is it clean? You will want to boil any seashells before adding them to the tank. This will reduce the risk of anything hitchhiking into your tank. Another thing is, what type of fish do you have? If you have community fish that are meant to be in low pH soft water, I would not add shells.Basically, as shells decompose in your tank, they will release minerals, calcium, etc into your water, making it hard(and I think it wilk raise your ph too???) You will also want to consider the safety of your fish. If there are any sharp edges on the shell, or if a fish may become trapped under or in the shell, I would not advise to add it.I am sure there are other reasons not to add them. But there are a few to think over. Someone cleverer than me will pop in with a beastly answer soon though