Old Unused Snail Shells

bryan47caveman · 2024-09-29T23:33:50-0400

Any issues with collecting the unused shells in my tank, smashing, and spreading amongst the sand? I don’t think there should be but haven’t found much of an answer online, also isn’t that part of what the sand is composed of anyways?

Cichlid Dad · 2024-09-30T00:08:51-0400

What are you trying to accomplish?

bryan47caveman · 2024-09-30T00:53:01-0400

Honestly, trying to clear up some more available sand space but maybe adding some calcium back to the tank. Estimator may not work, but at least the sand won’t look like it’s cluttered with empty sand shells.

shcrimps · 2024-09-30T00:55:34-0400

bryan47caveman said:
Honestly, trying to clear up some more available sand space but maybe adding some calcium back to the tank. Estimator may not work, but at least the sand won’t look like it’s cluttered with empty sand shells.

can’t do any harm imo
i take empty shells or unsightly ones to the beach since we have hermits here
but dead coral skeletons I usually crush up and mix them in

Cichlid Dad · 2024-09-30T00:56:08-0400

In a normal reef tank small snail shells are left in the tank hole so hermit crab can find a new home when they get bigger. Smashing Shell and adding back to the Reef won't add calcium.

bryan47caveman · 2024-09-30T00:56:09-0400

It’s a 40 gallon breeder with a bunch of rock and limited sandscape, I have a scooter blenny and a bunch of inverts, I want to clear up some space for him to roam along the available sand, but I don’t want to have a bunch of shells hanging around outside the tank. I figured I could pulverize them and mix them back in with the sand.

Cichlid Dad · 2024-09-30T00:59:35-0400

bryan47caveman said:
It’s a 40 gallon breeder with a bunch of rock and limited sandscape, I have a scooter blenny and a bunch of inverts, I want to clear up some space for him to roam along the available sand, but I don’t want to have a bunch of shells hanging around outside the tank. I figured I could pulverize them and mix them back in with the sand.

Just throw them away, or if they are big offer them as hermit crab shells for free on offer up

fishguy242 · 2024-09-30T01:08:13-0400

IME , crush em ,add em back, same as putting coralline in a blender...

A snail's shell, which is made up of primarily calcium carbonate, begins forming during the snail's gestation period.