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Removing shells from tank
Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 11:27 pm
by heroix
I've got a bunch of empty shells in my 55 gallon tank from snails that didn't make it. Should I remove them or leave them? Worried they might mess with the water params.
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 11:50 pm
by bluemuse
I'd take 'em out. They can break down and spike your calcium levels, which might throw things off if you've got sensitive fish. What's your substrate like?
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 12:44 am
by kinoble
bluemuse wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 11:50 pm
I'd take 'em out. They can break down and spike your calcium levels, which might throw things off if you've got sensitive fish. What's your substrate like?
Agreed. Shells can also trap detritus, leading to ammonia spikes. I'd siphon them out during your next water change. What's your current ammonia reading?
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 1:10 am
by fuzzybrook
I left a few in my tank for a while and noticed my pH crept up. Not a huge deal, but if you're keeping soft water fish, it's something to watch. How often do you test your water?
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 1:51 am
by fluttermold
Shells are basically calcium carbonate, so they'll slowly dissolve and raise both pH and hardness. If you've got a buffering substrate or driftwood, it might balance out, but otherwise, I'd remove them. What's your tank stocked with?
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 2:22 am
by soras
fluttermold wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 1:51 am
Shells are basically calcium carbonate, so they'll slowly dissolve and raise both pH and hardness. If you've got a buffering substrate or driftwood, it might balance out, but otherwise, I'd remove them. What's your tank stocked with?
Yep, that's been my experience too. I've got a mix of tetras and corys, and the shells made my water too hard for them. Had to do a bunch of water changes to fix it.
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 3:15 am
by southbreeze
If you're gonna leave any, maybe keep one or two for the aesthetic, but definitely not a pile. They can look cool but aren't worth the hassle. What's your filtration setup?
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 3:45 am
by medic_1
I've seen shells cause issues with impaction in bottom feeders too. Not worth the risk, imo. How often do you vacuum your substrate?
Re: Removing shells from tank
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 4:07 am
by heroix
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna siphon them out this weekend. Appreciate the help!