9 Most Important Things: Can you put Seashells in a fish tank?

Can you put seashells in a fish tank? Yes and no – they are bad for aquarium health!

Putting seashells in a fish tank is not a good idea.

This is because the salt content of seawater is high.

As a result, your aquarium’s pH balance may be thrown off, increasing the risk of fish mortality.

with the introduction of harmful ammonia levels into the aquarium environment.

Furthermore, since most seashells are made of non-organic materials, regular usage will cause your filter to clog and your tank to leak oil.

Long-term exposure to this can also hurt you because it causes toxins to leak from the shells into the water column.

How do you prepare seashells for a freshwater aquarium?

Shells are not suitable for freshwater aquariums, despite what you may have seen in their natural habitat.

Shells will leach calcium to the water and many types of algae also thrive well in calcium-rich water, feeding off the shells.

These types of aquatic life can lead to your tank crashing or becoming heavily stocked with undesirable species during a cycling period.

Will seashells raise pH?

Yes, seashells have a high amount of alkalinity and can raise pH levels.

Seashells produce a lot of calcium carbonate (a base that lowers pH),

and they produce it at roughly the same time as they’re eliminating sodium carbonate,

which also has probabilistic effects on pH levels.

So you would get more sodium ion activity in surrounding solutions if you began to dissolve shells,

and consequently an increased rate of dissolution of limestone (OH-).

From this we know that the seashell solution would make for a less acidic environment due to all the factors active within it;

but because there is still some acidity left behind,

we couldn’t say how much the shell solution raises the pH just by looking at the seashells.

Can you put seashells in a fish tank from the beach in my saltwater aquarium?

If the shell is from a “beach” then I would say it’s safe to put it in your saltwater aquarium.

Other products of the ocean that are more likely to cause harmful problems,

such as fecal material or sea life that ingested this refuse and later died,

may not be safe for introduction into your tank.

Shells from an estuary might have been washed with other forms of pollution and should be avoided.

Just make sure you break them up so they don’t seem appealing on their own before adding them to the water.

How do you clean aquarium shells from the beach?

Do not clean or wash the shells with tap water.

This will dissolve the natural glue that keeps the shell together, which will not reform.

Some suggest gently scrubbing shells with a toothbrush and dish soap to remove debris from hard-to-reach places.

Boil the shell for 10 minutes to kill off any possible leftovers of bacteria or fungi found on your walk along the beach.

Rinse thoroughly before use in an aquarium tank.

Others suggest putting them in a bucket,

filling it up halfway with cold room temperature water,

and adding about 2 tablespoons of salt per gallon of water (recommended ratio is 1 tsp/gallon).

You can also add some lemon juice or vinegar to help remove sand if you wish;

Can you put seashells in a betta fish tank? 

There are many considerations to make before adding seashells to a Betta Fish tank.

Seashells not only emit carbon dioxide (CO2) but also emit ammonia if the shell breaks down,

which mixes with nitrates in the water and can form deadly carcinogens that are harmful to your Betta Fish.

Another thing to consider is if the seashell will be big enough for your fish to hide under or around.

The best materials for pieces of décor should be natural rocks, plants,

or sunken treasure chests filled with sand so your Betta Fish has plenty of hiding places where he can feel safe. 

A good alternative would possibly be plant too because plants don’t release any toxic gases into the water but they do need light,

so if you’re not sure if your tank gets enough natural sunlight you might want to skip the shells and go for the plants.

Remember to always research what type of plants would be best for your tank and whether they need direct or indirect sunlight.

Boiling seashells for aquarium

Many people mistakenly believe boiling seashells for aquariums is something to do with desiccating them to make them less attractive to marine predators.

The reason for this mistaken belief is that shell-boiling often leaves the shells more porous,

which does make them less attractive. However,

there are many other more benign (and effective) methods of de-shelling or removing shells from ecosystems successfully without damaging or otherwise affecting their functionality in any way whatsoever.

How to clean seashells for aquariums?

  1. Remove any organic materials, such as slimy bits and pieces leftover from the sea.
  2. Brush off any remaining debris and rinse in plenty of freshwaters to remove salt and chlorides if needed.
  3. The shells should be damp before proceeding to the next step – not dry or wet.
  4. Remove unneeded parts such as spines by scraping with a blunt knife or spoon handle, then wash again in plenty of freshwaters.
  5. If the shell is painted, scrub the surface with soap and brush clean, then rinse in fresh water.
  6. Check that all animals have been removed from inside openings of shells before using them for an aquarium – you can dump some running water through some openings just to be sure.

Can you put seashells in a saltwater tank?

Yes, but be careful with delicate shells.

Establishing a saltwater environment may take some time, so I hope you have enough of it.

For the first few months, you’ll need to add liquids that contain many phosphates and nitrates- these products are often called “live rock.”

To avoid the risk of adding the wrong types of bacteria at any point,

you should also get a product called wet-dry sand or a biota pail with good bacteria in it.

When your tank is stable enough to keep alive,

there is another option for feeding them your favorite foods which dissolve easily in water.

Yet another way to make this fun!

Can I put seashells in my goldfish tank?

It is not recommended that you put seashells in your goldfish tank as this may lead to toxins leaching into the water and harming the fish.

But, if it must be done, don’t use any citrus-based cleaning products and do so at your own risk.

Are seashells safe for aquariums?

Seashells are often recommended by pet stores because they can provide some natural elements that many aquariums lack, but they also pose one big risk.

They may be safe for the most part, but seashells do contain the acidifying agent calcite.

When placed in an aquarium,

they release their calcite and can thereby decrease the pH of the water.

Acidic water conditions are not healthy for tropical fish or most other aquatic life.

The ideal pH range is around 7-8 with no less than 7.5 being just fine for even delicate saltwater fish.