Cleaning Algae From Seashells in a Saltwater Aquarium

A fully established saltwater aquarium is full of life, including an array of microorganisms. In fact, your fish and invertebrates won̵7;t survive without certain bacteria, and many aquarium animals obtain most of their food from the tank. Among the microorganisms that can become a nuisance, though, is algae. Free-floating algae, otherwise known as phytoplankton, in excess turn the water green and can reduce oxygen levels. Other types form a green coating over everything. Although this sort of algae provides a useful food source for some aquarium denizens, you might find it annoying on your best decorations. Assuming the seashells are empty, your main consideration when cleaning is to not introduce harmful chemicals to the tank.

  1. Effects

    • Seashells look like appropriate decorations for a marine tank, and they certainly can be. In fact, if you keep hermit crabs, you̵7;ll need a supply of shells. Bear in mind that seashells slightly increase the hardness and the pH of the water, making it more alkaline. Obviously, the more shells you add, the greater the effect. Because it is difficult to precisely gauge the degree shells will increase the hardness and alkalinity of the water, it is better to use specific products, such as crushed coral, for this purpose. If you have creatures that prefer acidic or soft water, use different decorations.

    Equipment

    • To remove algae from the shells, assemble a few basic items. You̵7;ll need one or more buckets, a bowl and a clean toothbrush. The buckets are for dechlorinating the rinsing water. Dechlorinate the water by leaving the buckets exposed to air for a day. Alternatively, use your normal dechlorinator. The quality of this water is not particularly important; you just need to remove harmful chlorine and chloramine.

    Procedure

    • Rinse and dry your hands, taking care to remove any traces of moisturizer or soap. Remove the shells from the aquarium and place them in a clean, dry bowl. Scrub away the algae with a toothbrush before rinsing the shells with the dechlorinated water. Finally, shake off the excess water droplets and replace the shells in the aquarium.

    Considerations

    • If the shells belong to living mollusks, such as snails, never remove them from the tank. In fact, it is best not to disturb them at all, as the algae is unlikely to be causing problems. Avoid using household cleaning products on aquarium decorations. Traces of the products may remain no matter how much you rinse; the chemicals these products contain could kill your fish. Don̵7;t use seashells as decorations in freshwater tanks -- they may dissolve too quickly, changing the water chemistry more rapidly than fish can cope with. Be careful about buying seashells for any purpose. Some of those sold in souvenir stores come from endangered species that were killed for their shells.