old shells

[NYreefNoob]

what do you guys do with the old shells in your tank ? asking cause as i am close to switching to new tank was thinking of putting empty shells in my sump { they are covered in coraline } plus it will work as a surface area for filtration. anyone doing this or opinions, ty rick

 

[Davidl919]

I normally leave a few old shells behind for the crabs just in case they outgrow their old shells. As far as the old shells in the sump I wouldn't keep them there if they have deep holes, So that stuff will not build inside of them and your Nitrate spike. If I were you I would keep them since they are filled with coraline and use them in the new tank to help you in the process of regrowing your coraline.
When I started my first tank I had 0 coraline and it took at least a month too grow some but my second tank I started from scratch a bunch of neww stuff and that one took longer (about 2 months for coraline growth). My latest tank grew coraline in less than 3 weeks due to me bringing everything I could from the old tank.

 

[NYreefNoob]

shells

yea im down gradin gand going bb and mh, maybe ill scratch the coraline off into the tank, and keep a few shells of different sizes

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I keep them for the crabs. If they are too small I toss them.

 

[Deanos]

Honestly, you might as well dump crushed coral into your sump as well, if you plan on using empty shells as an aid to filtration. Both will provide a surface area for bacteria and both will trap detritus to help raise your nitrate levels. Most coraline algae will die in a sump which is typically only lighted so the reefer can see what he/she is doing in there.

 

[meschaefer]

In my 65 I used them to make a "pod pile".

 

[Deanos]

In my 65 I used them to make a "pod pile".

I leave them in my tank as well for this purpose. Empty shells have the "place" in my tank, but not as filtration.

 

[meschaefer]

Empty shells have the "place" in my tank, but not as filtration.

Agreed.