Old Unused Snail Shells

[bryan47caveman]

Any issues with collecting the unused shells in my tank, smashing, and spreading amongst the sand? I don’t think there should be but haven’t found much of an answer online, also isn’t that part of what the sand is composed of anyways?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

What are you trying to accomplish?

 

[bryan47caveman]

Honestly, trying to clear up some more available sand space but maybe adding some calcium back to the tank. Estimator may not work, but at least the sand won’t look like it’s cluttered with empty sand shells.

 

[shcrimps]

Honestly, trying to clear up some more available sand space but maybe adding some calcium back to the tank. Estimator may not work, but at least the sand won’t look like it’s cluttered with empty sand shells.

can’t do any harm imo
i take empty shells or unsightly ones to the beach since we have hermits here
but dead coral skeletons I usually crush up and mix them in

 

[Cichlid Dad]

In a normal reef tank small snail shells are left in the tank hole so hermit crab can find a new home when they get bigger. Smashing Shell and adding back to the Reef won't add calcium.

 

[bryan47caveman]

It’s a 40 gallon breeder with a bunch of rock and limited sandscape, I have a scooter blenny and a bunch of inverts, I want to clear up some space for him to roam along the available sand, but I don’t want to have a bunch of shells hanging around outside the tank. I figured I could pulverize them and mix them back in with the sand.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

It’s a 40 gallon breeder with a bunch of rock and limited sandscape, I have a scooter blenny and a bunch of inverts, I want to clear up some space for him to roam along the available sand, but I don’t want to have a bunch of shells hanging around outside the tank. I figured I could pulverize them and mix them back in with the sand.

Just throw them away, or if they are big offer them as hermit crab shells for free on offer up

 

[fishguy242]

IME , crush em ,add em back, same as putting coralline in a blender...

A snail's shell, which is made up of primarily calcium carbonate, begins forming during the snail's gestation period.

 

[bryan47caveman]

Just throw them away, or if they are big offer them as hermit crab shells for free on offer up

Why would you just throw them away but not reuse for your tank? Curious to hear your thoughts, almost a year in.

 

[bryan47caveman]

IME , crush em ,add em back, same as putting coralline in a blender...

A snail's shell, which is made up of primarily calcium carbonate, begins forming during the snail's gestation period.

That’s what I think but wanted to throw it there to the experts incase there was something I missed.

 

[fishguy242]

Nope ,all good , you can throw in sump as pod hotels, in 4-5 years will be able to pulverize most with just your hands...

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Why would you just throw them away but not reuse for your tank? Curious to hear your thoughts, almost a year in.

I stated reuse the small Shells as new hermit crab homes in your tank, I said throw away or give away large shells to people that have the large pet hermits. Crushing the shells wouldn't add back calcium so no reason to add back. Just extra work not needed to be done. If they are large chunks Coraline algae will grow in them and look unattractive. Why go through the work with no benefits unless you like the look of crusted coral.

 

[Jimbo327]

Do whatever you like. If you want to crush them and add it back into that, it's totally fine.

I usually just leave them all in. But I understand how it can look like rubble and not sand. I have some loose mushrooms, and they like to attach to the empty snail shells.

 

[McPuff]

I pull them out when I notice they are empty. Then I just throw them away.