Removing shells from tank

[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.

[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?

[kinoble]

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?

[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?

[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?

[soras]

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.

[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?

[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?

[heroix]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna siphon them out this weekend. Appreciate the help!