sea shells from dollar store

Lynnmw1208 · 03/24/2011, 11:39 AM

So I got some sea shells from the dollar store for my hermits, a whole pack for $1!! not all are snail shells but a lot of them look great! Right now I am bathing them in a distilled vinegar/water solution and they are bubbling... Do I just leave them there until they're done? These don't look artificial but the real thing from the ocean. Thoughts?

Whisperer · 03/24/2011, 11:42 AM

The vinegar will slowly dissolve the shells. Those shells are coated with shellac or something similar making them shiny.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/24/2011, 11:45 AM

they're actually not shiny at all, but they were powdery when I was taking them out. That's why I figured I could use them. They just look like cleaned shells from the beach.

steelhead77 · 03/24/2011, 11:48 AM

I would be leery. You never know what these were treated with. Are you willing to put your tank at risk with these shells? They would probably be ok with a good boiling, but still.... Your best bet is to go to your LFS and see if they have any. The ones in my area always have a bunch they either give away or sell for a buck a handful.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/24/2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhead77

I would be leery. You never know what these were treated with. Are you willing to put your tank at risk with these shells? They would probably be ok with a good boiling, but still.... Your best bet is to go to your LFS and see if they have any. The ones in my area always have a bunch they either give away or sell for a buck a handful.

see that's the problem... my LFS sells one small shell for $2!! it's ridiculous around here! Plus theirs are shiny which I didn't like. I would think they'd be ok for land hermits, but not SW. This is why I'm asking though. Anyone else use these?

Whisperer · 03/24/2011, 11:58 AM

If they are not shiny, they may be fine. Shells of cowries and conchs are the ones usually coated. No need to use vinegar. You might end up with kalkwasser if you fall asleep.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/24/2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whisperer

If they are not shiny, they may be fine. Shells of cowries and conchs are the ones usually coated. No need to use vinegar. You might end up with kalkwasser if you fall asleep.

lol I just wanted to be sure they're clean! I'll go take them out of the dip now

stingythingy45 · 03/24/2011, 12:14 PM

I tossed a few of them in my tank years ago.
No ill effects that I've ever noticed.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/24/2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingythingy45

I tossed a few of them in my tank years ago.
No ill effects that I've ever noticed.

awesome! I just took them out of the vinegar/water bath and they still smell like the beach

I guess that's a good thing!

steelhead77 · 03/24/2011, 12:32 PM

Well....I've got probably $3000.00 worth of corals and fish in my tank and I would not be willing to risk that with a couple dollars worth of questionable shells. YMMV, of course.

stingythingy45 · 03/24/2011, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnmw1208

awesome! I just took them out of the vinegar/water bath and they still smell like the beach

I guess that's a good thing!

I would soak them in saltwater for a couple days.
I don't keep crabs in the tank anymore.They have a tendency to kill a lot of snails.

pmrossetti · 03/25/2011, 01:43 AM

fwiw,

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/search....21&search.y=15

Lynnmw1208 · 03/25/2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmrossetti

fwiw,

http://www.saltwaterfish.com/search....21&search.y=15

oh cool! I wonder if they have any cerith shells as that's what my little hermits are in and the zebra is in a snail shell. the ones I got seem ok though. they still had some barnacles on them and stuff like someone just found them all on the beach.

Dino · 03/25/2011, 09:15 AM

I used to buy the little packages of sea shells from Michael's (the craft store) all the time. Keeping in mind I was quite a bit less knowledgeable back then but I didn't even used to rinse or boil them or anything. Just tossed them right in, absolutely no ill effects.

Since I no longer keep any hermits I've busted up quite a few of the bigger shells up as rubble for my pistol shrimp.

Sk8r · 03/25/2011, 10:02 AM

If it smells like bleach, don't put it in your tank.

Hermits are pretty specific about which species of snail they prefer, so it's doubtful they'll cooperate.

Lynnmw1208 · 03/25/2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

If it smells like bleach, don't put it in your tank.

Hermits are pretty specific about which species of snail they prefer, so it's doubtful they'll cooperate.

i said they smell like BEACH not bleach lol. so you think the small ones will only take cerith shells? I have some but not a lot in there. the other shells are astrea shells

Lynnmw1208 · 03/27/2011, 07:46 PM

after coming the conclusion that I could see nothing wrong with these shells, 2 days later and my biggest zebra hermit has changed into one

so glad the hermits took to them!

03/24/2011, 11:39 AM	#1
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	sea shells from dollar store So I got some sea shells from the dollar store for my hermits, a whole pack for $1!! not all are snail shells but a lot of them look great! Right now I am bathing them in a distilled vinegar/water solution and they are bubbling... Do I just leave them there until they're done? These don't look artificial but the real thing from the ocean. Thoughts? __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/24/2011, 11:42 AM	#2
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	The vinegar will slowly dissolve the shells. Those shells are coated with shellac or something similar making them shiny. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

03/24/2011, 11:45 AM	#3
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	they're actually not shiny at all, but they were powdery when I was taking them out. That's why I figured I could use them. They just look like cleaned shells from the beach. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

03/24/2011, 11:48 AM	#4
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	I would be leery. You never know what these were treated with. Are you willing to put your tank at risk with these shells? They would probably be ok with a good boiling, but still.... Your best bet is to go to your LFS and see if they have any. The ones in my area always have a bunch they either give away or sell for a buck a handful. __________________ This really isn't rocket science - it's more like marine biology. Current tank info: 180 gallon AGA, 40 gallon custom sump, AquaC EV240 skimmer, PM calc reactor, 3x 250w DIY MH, PCI CL-650 Chiller, 2x Koralia 4's, 2x Koralia 2's

03/24/2011, 11:58 AM	#6
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	If they are not shiny, they may be fine. Shells of cowries and conchs are the ones usually coated. No need to use vinegar. You might end up with kalkwasser if you fall asleep. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

03/24/2011, 12:14 PM	#8
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	I tossed a few of them in my tank years ago. No ill effects that I've ever noticed. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

03/24/2011, 12:32 PM	#10
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	Well....I've got probably $3000.00 worth of corals and fish in my tank and I would not be willing to risk that with a couple dollars worth of questionable shells. YMMV, of course. __________________ This really isn't rocket science - it's more like marine biology. Current tank info: 180 gallon AGA, 40 gallon custom sump, AquaC EV240 skimmer, PM calc reactor, 3x 250w DIY MH, PCI CL-650 Chiller, 2x Koralia 4's, 2x Koralia 2's

03/25/2011, 01:43 AM	#12
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	fwiw, http://www.saltwaterfish.com/search....21&search.y=15

03/25/2011, 09:15 AM	#14
Dino Freak of Nature Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Finding my way back to the boondocks Posts: 11,048	I used to buy the little packages of sea shells from Michael's (the craft store) all the time. Keeping in mind I was quite a bit less knowledgeable back then but I didn't even used to rinse or boil them or anything. Just tossed them right in, absolutely no ill effects. Since I no longer keep any hermits I've busted up quite a few of the bigger shells up as rubble for my pistol shrimp. __________________ Cody I will love and miss you until the last beat of my heart Harley & Rusty.

03/25/2011, 10:02 AM	#15
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If it smells like bleach, don't put it in your tank. Hermits are pretty specific about which species of snail they prefer, so it's doubtful they'll cooperate. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/27/2011, 07:46 PM	#17
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	update after coming the conclusion that I could see nothing wrong with these shells, 2 days later and my biggest zebra hermit has changed into one so glad the hermits took to them! __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

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