Sea Shells In Tank

[Sunshine]

I have about a quarter of my tank with nothing but sea shells. Is that OK for the sandiggers and snails to go thru the sand under the shells ? And can I put Polyps and soft corals in the shells or do they have to be in the rocks ?

 

[sen5241b]

I have a lot in my tank also. I always cure shells just like I would LR and I make sure there is nothing living on them when I do so. YOu don't want parasites from the ocean getting into your tank. Shells will cover with coralline eventually and I think they add calcium too.

 

[Sunshine]

Yes, I always boil them first. I just got another basket full tonight that I boiled and was going to put them in the tank. Just wanted to make sure the snails can still burrow through the sand under them to clean it.

 

[dcantucson]

Can't a lot of detritus get under them and pollute your water quality? That would be my main concern.

 

[RyanG]

I'm with Dan on this one. Makes sure your cleaning them well in your water changes. They are big time detrious traps

 

[sen5241b]

I've not had problems with detritus getting in them except for an 8 or 9 inch tall conch shell I have in my tank. The water inside the shell tends to stagnate along with some detritus. When I use a turkey baster to blast water into it the detritus shoots out. But I thought stagnant water is good for nitrifying bacteria?

 

[Melosu58]

Can't a lot of detritus get under them and pollute your water quality? That would be my main concern.

That`s a good question and the answer is yes it can. They can trap fish waste and cause nitrates to rise dramatically.

 

[Sunshine]

When I do water changes, I always take a spatula and wave it on the rocks and shells to stir up the stuff on them. Will that help or should I take them out ?

 

[yote]

Personally,I'd take em out.
When you stir the cud up,theres still no way of getting it all out of the tank,unless your doing a 100% changes.