Is this real coral?

[i3k]

OK, I admit I know nothing about coral and never had it in any of my tanks. About 6 years ago I purchased an aquarium on ebay and since the seller was local I went and picked it up. He included a bucket of misc goodies with the tank. Some fake plants, some power heads and a bunch of other stuff. I was digging through this stuff today and there is actually a nice size coral that looks to be real...but I have no idea if it's artificial or a real dead coral. As you can see a few pieces broke off...is that bad?

Here are some pictures

If it's real coral, will it change my water chemistry? The tank I want to put it in has a pH of 7.6 - 7.8 and I don't need it to go any higher.

Good idea? bad idea? cause I have no idea :-|

Thanks all!

 

[mgamer20o0]

looks like real dead coral to me. it will raise the ph and hardness of your water.

 

[i3k]

Will it raise the pH a lot? the tank I want to put it in has few rainbows, 2 botia loaches, 1 pleco and 1 red tail shark. They do fine in the 7.6-7.8 pH...though not sure if they will like it any higher than that. That piece would probably look good in the tank, but if it will raise the pH by a lot, I won't bother with it.

 

[mgamer20o0]

it will prob end up around 8ph. if you really content to using it you could coat it so it cant break down and raise the ph.

 

[i3k]

Hmm interesting. What can I safely coat it with?

Thanks.

 

[mgamer20o0]

there is aquarium safe clear epoxy. i assume krylon fusion would work on it too.

 

[i3k]

Cool deal. I will look into that. Thanks for your help.