Sea Shells

Mark3 · Mar 31, 2016

Kids pick up a sack of shells when we go to the beach...is there a good use for these shells? I was thinking of putting them in the sump. I boiled them for 20 minutes so they are clean.
Would there be any advantage/disadvantage to sea shells in the sump?

Kawasaki213 · Mar 31, 2016

Raise calcium I would not put in!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 31, 2016

Mark3 said:
Kids pick up a sack of shells when we go to the beach...is there a good use for these shells? I was thinking of putting them in the sump. I boiled them for 20 minutes so they are clean.
Would there be any advantage/disadvantage to sea shells in the sump?

Aside from providing a small amount of surface area for growing bacteria, I do not think they will be of value.

Duke4Life · Mar 31, 2016

Have any hermits? Could always be used for them 2 swap shells out.

DeniseAndy · Mar 31, 2016

My kids use them to decorate boxes and such.

Mark3 · Mar 31, 2016

yes...but they collect a bag full of shells each trip to the beach....I was just wondering if they would be beneficial in the sump? maybe if I crush them into sand?

d2mini · Mar 31, 2016

I've added shells to the tank before for hermits.
Other than that, or looking pretty for a while (they will get covered in coralline) there is no real benefit.

Paul B · Mar 31, 2016

They are of no benefit but you can put all of them in there if you like. They make some gravel out of crushed shells. Many beaches on mangrove Islands are just shells. This mangrove Island is all broken shells, no sand.