Ok to add dead coral, sea shells, sand dollars from the wild?

Morrisons · 11/02/2014, 11:35 AM

We're setting up our first Salt Water Aquarium and are wondering if its ok to use our families collection of nice sea shells, dried coral, dried sand dollars as decoration in the tank. Or will those items cause some unwanted problems?

Thanks in advance!

Mike & Jade

gone fishin · 11/02/2014, 12:15 PM

As long as there are not any preservatives like lacquer it should be fine. They will eventually get covered in coralline most likely.

Just make sure you rinse them off. Good luck

Clownfish Chris · 11/02/2014, 12:47 PM

I would like to see a picture of the new tank. Are you planning a FOWLR or Reef?

I have never been a proponent of collecting from the wild for a multitude of reasons however, sea shells and sand dollars pose no threat if rinsed well in DI water.

Frantz · 11/02/2014, 12:58 PM

If you're doing a reef you'll find that you'll have coral growth soon enough and it would be a waste of family keepsakes. If you are just looking for deco for a fish only tank then just as was said above.

Sk8r · 11/02/2014, 01:17 PM

They'll ultimately dissolve as the salt water gets thrown calcium-short by corals and clams who are alive.

Morrisons · 11/02/2014, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish Chris

I would like to see a picture of the new tank. Are you planning a FOWLR or Reef?

I have never been a proponent of collecting from the wild for a multitude of reasons however, sea shells and sand dollars pose no threat if rinsed well in DI water.

Ok... Just looked up the definition of FOWLR and I guess that's what we are targeting. Before your post we had thought we could just add everything that we've seen while snorkeling or diving...

We definitely want Clown Fish. Our tank is 60 gallons and our home made sump is 20 gallons. Right now we're looking for rock (live or dry) on craigslist or ebay. So any advice in that area would be helpful too.

Thanks!

-Mike

peasofme · 11/03/2014, 08:08 AM

put them in a bucket of tap water and keep changing the water till it's clear. i didn't do this and turned my water yellow and killed everything in the tank. it leaked ammonia. i'd do this for a few days to make sure all the ammonia is released.

redheadedgirl · 11/04/2014, 08:09 AM

Boil everything from the beach for 5 mins. I didn't do this and it cost me my first rock hermit crab. He molted and changed shell to a "new one from the beach" and he ended up covered in a furry nastiness rolling around on the sand bed out of his shell. My husband had to kill it to put it out of its misery.

After that awful experience my LFS told me I MUST boil all shells and pebbles from the beach for 5 mins.

gone fishin · 11/05/2014, 05:43 AM

Just as a precaution be extremely cautious when actually boiling anything. Some things can give off toxins and be put off into the air from the steam. They can make your or others in the house very ill.

JPG77373 · 03/28/2016, 08:39 AM

I have a 65gal that has been established about 8 months with 3 Damselfish (2-5 months 1-3months), 2 tiny hermits(3 months), and a turbo snail(5 months), over live rocks and live rock substrate. While at the beach in Galveston, we collected a few shells. Once at home I boiled them for about 15 min in fresh water, allowed them to dry, then added them to my tank. All three Damselfish were dead this morning within 48 hrs of adding the shells. In a frenzy I checked everything Ammonia-0 Nitrite>0.1 Nitrate~2 PH 8.0 and I maintain a temp of 81F.

I am puzzled about what happened, but after months of smooth sailing, I just had my first crash. I am now considering a 50% water change or greater, since the only creatures left are the hermits and snail.

Needless to say I am also devastated, primarily since I had been careful and patient about everything.

Could it be the shells? I boiled them well.

Reef Frog · 03/28/2016, 01:52 PM

They may lose their decorative appeal. In time these shells & coral skeletons will acquire a film on the surface. As the tank matures you may also go through an "algae phase" as well. All of this is normal, but you may or may not like the look of it.

gone fishin · 03/28/2016, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPG77373

I have a 65gal that has been established about 8 months with 3 Damselfish (2-5 months 1-3months), 2 tiny hermits(3 months), and a turbo snail(5 months), over live rocks and live rock substrate. While at the beach in Galveston, we collected a few shells. Once at home I boiled them for about 15 min in fresh water, allowed them to dry, then added them to my tank. All three Damselfish were dead this morning within 48 hrs of adding the shells. In a frenzy I checked everything Ammonia-0 Nitrite>0.1 Nitrate~2 PH 8.0 and I maintain a temp of 81F.

I am puzzled about what happened, but after months of smooth sailing, I just had my first crash. I am now considering a 50% water change or greater, since the only creatures left are the hermits and snail.

Needless to say I am also devastated, primarily since I had been careful and patient about everything.

Could it be the shells? I boiled them well.

I would be inclined to say it was not the shells as long as they were just shells, nothing dead inside of them. Did you notice any discolorations, sores or anything unusual about the fish's appearance before they died?

CindyBrownBair · 04/21/2016, 05:14 PM

Thank you for this thread about old shells. I'm a 6-month newbie to reef tanks, having had freshwater for years. I'm rabid about everything being quarantined.... and I check water parameters way too much.... and my LFS owners are fabulous with info but probably a bit tired of me....

In a fit of insanity, or maybe during a stroke or something, I put old marine shells into my tank. Wow! Watch me live on the edge!

And now I have brown algae on my substrate. The only other change is the addition of an open brain coral around the same time.

Years ago when I collected the shells I cleaned them with a toothbrush, soaked them in bleach water, rinsed several times, and left them to dry outside for days. Just before adding the shells I soaked them overnight in clean saltwater.

Is my brown algae a result of the shells? And what do I do about it?

11/02/2014, 11:35 AM	#1
Morrisons Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 70	Ok to add dead coral, sea shells, sand dollars from the wild? We're setting up our first Salt Water Aquarium and are wondering if its ok to use our families collection of nice sea shells, dried coral, dried sand dollars as decoration in the tank. Or will those items cause some unwanted problems? Thanks in advance! Mike & Jade

11/02/2014, 12:15 PM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	As long as there are not any preservatives like lacquer it should be fine. They will eventually get covered in coralline most likely. Just make sure you rinse them off. Good luck __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

11/02/2014, 01:17 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	They'll ultimately dissolve as the salt water gets thrown calcium-short by corals and clams who are alive. __________________ 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%.

11/05/2014, 05:43 AM	#9
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Just as a precaution be extremely cautious when actually boiling anything. Some things can give off toxins and be put off into the air from the steam. They can make your or others in the house very ill. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

03/28/2016, 08:39 AM	#10
JPG77373 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1	I hate to revive an old thread, but I must add.... I have a 65gal that has been established about 8 months with 3 Damselfish (2-5 months 1-3months), 2 tiny hermits(3 months), and a turbo snail(5 months), over live rocks and live rock substrate. While at the beach in Galveston, we collected a few shells. Once at home I boiled them for about 15 min in fresh water, allowed them to dry, then added them to my tank. All three Damselfish were dead this morning within 48 hrs of adding the shells. In a frenzy I checked everything Ammonia-0 Nitrite>0.1 Nitrate~2 PH 8.0 and I maintain a temp of 81F. I am puzzled about what happened, but after months of smooth sailing, I just had my first crash. I am now considering a 50% water change or greater, since the only creatures left are the hermits and snail. Needless to say I am also devastated, primarily since I had been careful and patient about everything. Could it be the shells? I boiled them well.

11/02/2014, 12:47 PM	#3
Clownfish Chris Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 179	I would like to see a picture of the new tank. Are you planning a FOWLR or Reef? I have never been a proponent of collecting from the wild for a multitude of reasons however, sea shells and sand dollars pose no threat if rinsed well in DI water.

11/02/2014, 12:58 PM	#4
Frantz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pennsylvanian Posts: 109	If you're doing a reef you'll find that you'll have coral growth soon enough and it would be a waste of family keepsakes. If you are just looking for deco for a fish only tank then just as was said above.

11/03/2014, 08:08 AM	#7
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	put them in a bucket of tap water and keep changing the water till it's clear. i didn't do this and turned my water yellow and killed everything in the tank. it leaked ammonia. i'd do this for a few days to make sure all the ammonia is released.

11/04/2014, 08:09 AM	#8
redheadedgirl Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 24	Boil everything from the beach for 5 mins. I didn't do this and it cost me my first rock hermit crab. He molted and changed shell to a "new one from the beach" and he ended up covered in a furry nastiness rolling around on the sand bed out of his shell. My husband had to kill it to put it out of its misery. After that awful experience my LFS told me I MUST boil all shells and pebbles from the beach for 5 mins.

03/28/2016, 01:52 PM	#11
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	They may lose their decorative appeal. In time these shells & coral skeletons will acquire a film on the surface. As the tank matures you may also go through an "algae phase" as well. All of this is normal, but you may or may not like the look of it.

04/21/2016, 05:14 PM	#13
CindyBrownBair Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 4	Thank you for this thread about old shells. I'm a 6-month newbie to reef tanks, having had freshwater for years. I'm rabid about everything being quarantined.... and I check water parameters way too much.... and my LFS owners are fabulous with info but probably a bit tired of me.... In a fit of insanity, or maybe during a stroke or something, I put old marine shells into my tank. Wow! Watch me live on the edge! And now I have brown algae on my substrate. The only other change is the addition of an open brain coral around the same time. Years ago when I collected the shells I cleaned them with a toothbrush, soaked them in bleach water, rinsed several times, and left them to dry outside for days. Just before adding the shells I soaked them overnight in clean saltwater. Is my brown algae a result of the shells? And what do I do about it?