is it okay to add store bought shells into my tank?

[kamuii]

basically as the title says! i just went to walmart and i bought a pack of sea shells.. i've been soaking them in a bucket of saltwater from my tank for about 10 minutes now.. i tried googling it but i only found it for freshwater and i wasn't sure if it applied to salt... sorry for such a silly question! i just don't want to add anything bad to my tank..


also i have no fish yet! just some LR and bristleworms lol

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's fine to add. Just look to see if they're shiny like they have been clear coated. Then I'm not sure.

 

[kamuii]

It's fine to add. Just look to see if they're shiny like they have been clear coated. Then I'm not sure.

thanks! and nope, no clear/shiny coat here.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Perfect!

 

[Snookin]

I am blunt and upfront and I feel most people on this forum disagree with me. But, I would never add pre-packaged Wal-Mart shells to my reef tank. Unfortunately you already have an answer of "Perfect!" Which is IMO is "Terrible!" advice. You also mentioned soaking them for ten minutes....which means nothing. This is a hobby of patience and taking your time. You just joined the forum Saturday and I welcome you but please take your time and don't buy on impulse like you have already done moving forward. You bought the shells first then looked for validation not quality info on what's right per purchase. Now I'll get hammered for this post but whatever. Slow and steady wins the race, I can't say that enough. I wouldn't add the shells. It will also not look natural. It will look like you added a bad of walmart shells.

 

[leahfiish]

I am blunt and upfront and I feel most people on this forum disagree with me. But, I would never add pre-packaged Wal-Mart shells to my reef tank. Unfortunately you already have an answer of "Perfect!" Which is IMO is "Terrible!" advice. You also mentioned soaking them for ten minutes....which means nothing. This is a hobby of patience and taking your time. You just joined the forum Saturday and I welcome you but please take your time and don't buy on impulse like you have already done moving forward. You bought the shells first then looked for validation not quality info on what's right per purchase. Now I'll get hammered for this post but whatever. Slow and steady wins the race, I can't say that enough. I wouldn't add the shells. It will also not look natural. It will look like you added a bad of walmart shells.

Can you elaborate on why they might be bad? From your post it sounds like you disagree just because you think a bag of Walmart shells might look "cheap"? And I think the op was asking more about the safety of it, rather than looks.

I think if they aren't painted or coated with anything bad then they should be safe to add.

 

[Snookin]

Can you elaborate on why they might be bad? From your post it sounds like you disagree just because you think a bag of Walmart shells might look "cheap"? And I think the op was asking more about the safety of it, rather than looks.

I think if they aren't painted or coated with anything bad then they should be safe to add.

Just add them. Post your outcome, let us know if it worked.

 

[Rb9]

@saltyfilmfolks knows what he's taking about. In two years the rest of us will have moved on.

 

[Caseyoidae]

Agree with salty, Probably not going to hurt anything.

 

[eatbreakfast]

As long as they are not coated with anything or have a 'perfumey' smell, they should be fine. They are real shells, so originally came from the sea.

I added a shells from a craft section of a store for a colony of jawfish when I first started keeping saltwater fish. I would add a handful once the jaws used the ones I previously added. There were no issues.

 

[Paul B]

Throw them in.

 

[Shep]

Yep as long as they are not painted or coated in anything, you will be fine.

 

[Imnyifan]

A suggestion, cure the shells just like you would with any new rock.

 

[Katrina71]

I use them in my tank for hermits. I boil them in ro/di. No problems. I do the same for land crabs.

 

[OnlyTono]

I've used the shells from the various craft stores many time. It's hard not to - they are just regular shells and you can pick up a whole bag for 4 to 6 bucks, VS one or two shells for near $1 a piece.

And as others have stated as long as they are not coated, or have some sort of perfume on them they'll be just fine.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I put shells and sand dollars from the ocean in my tank without doing anything to them.

I put a frag on this sand dollar a couple months ago.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I put shells and sand dollars from the ocean in my tank without doing anything to them.

I put a frag on this sand dollar a couple months ago.

I didnt realize sunset montipora were another weed coral btw. The one in the other tank is bigger.

 

[kamuii]

holy cow! i had no idea i had so many replies to this thread! i ended up adding the shells, and i've been testing to see if they had any affect, which they didn't lol, they don't have anything coated on them(clear coat/paint) and they have no smell.

thanks for all the feedback everyone! and i'm sorry i didn't get back to this thread sooner lol, i had no idea i would get this many replies + i haven't been checking any of my threads lol

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Sorry. We were having fun without you.

 

[kamuii]

Sorry. We were having fun without you.

it's ok, i'm kinda shocked at how much discussion shells can make lol!