shells in aquarium?

[platycrazy19]

Is it possible to use shells I collected from the ocean in my freshwater tank, if they are cleaned well? If so how would I go about cleaning them?

 

[jetajockey]

Yes you can use them, they may raise your pH/hardness a bit but it probably won't be noticeable. Hot water and a good scrub and it should be ready to go.

 

[uh.oh...]

i might raise the ph quite a bit, depending on the shells. I'd just put them in a bucket of old aquarium water for a week first, and test it pretty regularly to see what will happen