Sea shells in a reactor

[Edan_l]

What are the pros and cons for using sea shells as a media in a calcium reactor?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

They may have a lot of phosphate, depending on where they came from and how they were processed. Perhapos other imnpurities. They may also be calcite, so can be harder to dissolve.

Do you have a source of ground shells of appropriate size that is less expensive than the commercial media?

[Edan_l]

Hi Randy,

These are the shells in question.
http://reef-center.com/modules/coppermine/albums/user/10025/DSC02845.jpg
They were collected from the coast of the Mediterranean.
Some one mentioned to me that sea shells release or contain Radon gas which is a product of Radioactive fading of Uranium and Thorium that is found in Granite, Shells and Phosphates.

Does this make since at all? If so, could we be poisoning our tanks?

The shells were boiled prior to use.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Nom, the radon concern makes no sense to me. It is not a reason to avoid the shells. :)

If they dissolve without the tank pH getting too low and phosphate does not rise too much (or algae increase), they are likely fine. :)

[Edan_l]

Thanks Randy.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out. :)