Cleaning shells

[zarmalar]

So I have these super pretty shells in my bathroom and I'm thinking about adding to my tank. They for sure have soap scum on them and not tank ready. How can I get them tank ready?

 

[Fishie]

Wash them REALLY good off with baking soda or just wash it off to get soap scum off. I do clean mine off with baking soda and none of my fish died in my tank yet.

 

[VioletEmber]

My landlord threw away some giant conch shells (!!) and I rescued them from the dumpster.

I scrubbed them - someone had put glitter glue on one! And you'll want to get all of the soap off for sure. Then I would boil them- depending on the type of shell they'll have that inside spiral and boiling would get in there where you can't reach.

For some rocks I found I also soaked them in a diluted bleach solution. Then I rinsed them off and soaked them in a bucket of tank water. The bleach has to be completely gone and I figured doing it in tank water wouldn't hurt the process.

I haven't had any problems after doing this and putting them in the tank.

 

[zarmalar]

Here are pics, they are so pretty but icky, how long would you boil?

 

[VioletEmber]

Maybe someone else might have a better answer but I suppose it depends on how paranoid you are! I'd do it for for 5-10 minutes--- then do a bleach soak and then boil them again to get all the bleach off. Anyone else?

 

[zarmalar]

I rinsed then boiled for 6 mins or so and it was squeaky clean, no residue. Looks awesome

 

[VioletEmber]

Pretty! Are those live or fake plants?

 

[zarmalar]

Fakety fake, but I love em they are pretty

 

[ashleynicole]

Don't they need to be tested with vinigar to make sure they don't leach calcium carbonate into the water? It seems I remember if they bubble with vinegar then they shouldn't be used in freshwater.

 

[VioletEmber]

Don't they need to be tested with vinigar to make sure they don't leach calcium carbonate into the water? It seems I remember if they bubble with vinegar then they shouldn't be used in freshwater.

Heading off to test my shells in vinegar now!

 

[zarmalar]

... I thought just rocks needed to be tested with vinegar

 

[ashleynicole]

... I thought just rocks needed to be tested with vinegar

Not sure. I thought it was shells or rocks, but I could be wrong.

 

[zarmalar]

I know rocks are recommended to be tested, but never seen anything about shells. But I do know shells can raise ph