Using sea shells to increase water hardness?

I have Nettie snails and I think their shells are eroding by the look at the pic below. They were somewhat eroded when I got them but I did pay attention to if they were eroding more since they always hide so I can’t see them often. But when I saw them it looked worse and I don’t want them getting any worse than it is. I am at the beach and I wanted to know if sea shells will increase the hardness. There is also oyster shells if those work better. I don’t really see any coral or else I would get that. Thanks! Also is that pink on the shell the inside of the snail? Also will it heal? Thanks again!

 

coral, limestone, seashells, cuttlefish bone, it's all calcium carbonates, and all will be ok to supplement shell building. However, crushed sources of calcium and carbonate are more readily available sources than solid forms and the finer, the more readily available. most shells are calcite, sea shells from saltwater are argonite. it's roughly the same product, calcium carbonate about 95% of the shell composition.

HOWEVER, if you suspect there is a serious deficiency that can be backed up by GH and KH testing of your water I suggest you go to a health food store, buy powdered pure calcium carbonate supplement for like $5-$10 and add one teaspoon (a teaspoon is 4.2 grams.) per 25 gallons (95 liters) of tank water this will raise GH and KH by 1/2 a degree each (1 degree is 17.9mg/liter or 17.9ppm), calcium will raise the GH, Carbonate will raise the KH.
I went with both measuring methods and the smallest I could really break it down withotu it getting complicated.
if it's a 10 gallon tank and you dosed the above measure it would raise by 1.25 degree and there wouldn't be any trouble.

I would check for a deficiency in testing the water first, if it really is that low on the readings for GH and KH, or you are unsure if calcium is present in the GH but the KH is fine, add some shell, but do a powdered or liquid supplementation for more immediate effect and availability.
If it's just GH being low or maybe the GH isn't calcium and mostly magnesium instead, then buy a powdered pure calcium supplement instead of Calcium carbonate and only add calcium. and the shells can act as a lowly dissolving buffer to maintain it.

they do sell liquid products and dry versions for supplementation of calcium and carbonates and all other nutrients in the aquarium hobby also for this type of thing, it's a bit more expensive than just buying the pure supplements in powder forms, just saying liquid form would be even a bit more available than powdered form.

but this all kind of hinges on your source water, your tank might deplete over time and water changing can fix that, but not if the source water is screwed up from the start.
I'd suspect since it was noticed from the store, it might have been them, so you might not have a problem at all and it's just going to take time for them to build with your water to recover the shells.
Maybe the store and you both have the same issue with the source water being GH or KH low, or only calcium deficient and otherwise a normal GH and KH readings on a test.
Testing is the only real way to find out.

Adding shells won't hurt, they will eventually break down. however if the snails are deficient it's not going to have an immediate effect to correct it.

 

coral, limestone, seashells, cuttlefish bone, it's all calcium carbonates, and all will be ok to supplement shell building. However, crushed sources of calcium and carbonate are more readily available sources than solid forms and the finer, the more readily available. most shells are calcite, sea shells from saltwater are argonite. it's roughly the same product, calcium carbonate about 95% of the shell composition.

HOWEVER, if you suspect there is a serious deficiency that can be backed up by GH and KH testing of your water I suggest you go to a health food store, buy powdered pure calcium carbonate supplement for like $5-$10 and add one teaspoon (a teaspoon is 4.2 grams.) per 25 gallons (95 liters) of tank water this will raise GH and KH by 1/2 a degree each (1 degree is 17.9mg/liter or 17.9ppm), calcium will raise the GH, Carbonate will raise the KH.
I went with both measuring methods and the smallest I could really break it down withotu it getting complicated.
if it's a 10 gallon tank and you dosed the above measure it would raise by 1.25 degree and there wouldn't be any trouble.

I would check for a deficiency in testing the water first, if it really is that low on the readings for GH and KH, or you are unsure if calcium is present in the GH but the KH is fine, add some shell, but do a powdered or liquid supplementation for more immediate effect and availability.
If it's just GH being low or maybe the GH isn't calcium and mostly magnesium instead, then buy a powdered pure calcium supplement instead of Calcium carbonate and only add calcium. and the shells can act as a lowly dissolving buffer to maintain it.

they do sell liquid products and dry versions for supplementation of calcium and carbonates and all other nutrients in the aquarium hobby also for this type of thing, it's a bit more expensive than just buying the pure supplements in powder forms, just saying liquid form would be even a bit more available than powdered form.

but this all kind of hinges on your source water, your tank might deplete over time and water changing can fix that, but not if the source water is screwed up from the start.
I'd suspect since it was noticed from the store, it might have been them, so you might not have a problem at all and it's just going to take time for them to build with your water to recover the shells.
Maybe the store and you both have the same issue with the source water being GH or KH low, or only calcium deficient and otherwise a normal GH and KH readings on a test.
Testing is the only real way to find out.

Adding shells won't hurt, they will eventually break down. however if the snails are deficient it's not going to have an immediate effect to correct it.

Ok thanks! I tested it and my GH is zero basically. So what would you add to increase both calcium and magnesium? What are carbonates? How do I know if I have calcium or not since GH tests 2 things? Thanks!

 

You don't know which one you have or don't have unless you get individual calcium and magnesium tests. the GH test is overall. it could be all calcium or all magnesium or none of either if GH is zero.

I think you can use seachem equilibrium to raise GH and both Calcium and magnesium at appropriate levels, following the directions on the bottle by 1dGH per dose.

Carbonates are you KH, this buffers acids that are created from co2 and nitrogen.

the question really is, Why is there no GH though? and is there also no KH?
What is the testing of your source water, the water you use for water changes?

 

Do you have pest snails in your tank Fishowner24 ?

Because that is one way to feel the long term effects of your waters calcium level. Picking up a pond snail with your fingers will soon tell you what your water has to offer a snail. If the pest snails shell feels like paper and crushes as you try to pick it up you have an issue with your water.

I suggest you google images of Nerite snails. What you see in the centre of the snail is in most pictures.

Are you sure that is something to be concerned about?

 

You don't know which one you have or don't have unless you get individual calcium and magnesium tests. the GH test is overall. it could be all calcium or all magnesium or none of either if GH is zero.

I think you can use seachem equilibrium to raise GH and both Calcium and magnesium at appropriate levels, following the directions on the bottle by 1dGH per dose.

Carbonates are you KH, this buffers acids that are created from co2 and nitrogen.

the question really is, Why is there no GH though? and is there also no KH?
What is the testing of your source water, the water you use for water changes?

Sorry I have been busy and haven’t been able to respond. I live in Washington and if you have seen aquarium coop the water quality here is basically RO water so there is like no GH but there is Kh I am not home to check the Kh but I am pretty sure it is good. Thanks!

Do you have pest snails in your tank Fishowner24 ?

Because that is one way to feel the long term effects of your waters calcium level. Picking up a pond snail with your fingers will soon tell you what your water has to offer a snail. If the pest snails shell feels like paper and crushes as you try to pick it up you have an issue with your water.

I suggest you google images of Nerite snails. What you see in the centre of the snail is in most pictures.

Are you sure that is something to be concerned about?

Idk it looked eroded on the tip but idk. They don’t get a lot of calcium though and my tank doesn’t have a lot of calcium. Is there any food I can feed them that has calcium? I have cuttle bone if that will work. I have pest snails in my other tank and there water quality between the tanks is basically the same so I will try to pick up those. Thanks!

 

It has said that green vegetables have lots of calcium . You can buy liquid calcium from the salt water section of aquarium fish stores.


The shell grows from the largest part near the foot not from the centre of the spiral. I have seen the centre section myself on the Australian native Nerite.

 

Feeding foods like zucchini, spinach and romaine lettuce provide some calcium. The easiest way to raise your calcium levels would be adding unflavored cuttlebone imo, yes they sell supplements for aquariums but they are usually more expensive.

 

It has said that green vegetables have lots of calcium . You can buy liquid calcium from the salt water section of aquarium fish stores.


The shell grows from the largest part near the foot not from the centre of the spiral. I have seen the centre section myself on the Australian native Nerite.

ok thanks! Sorry I haven't been able to respond I have been working on getting back from vacation and have been busy. So it is normal for the top to look like that? Thanks!

Feeding foods like zucchini, spinach and romaine lettuce provide some calcium. The easiest way to raise your calcium levels would be adding unflavored cuttlebone imo, yes they sell supplements for aquariums but they are usually more expensive.

ok I will throw some cuttlebone in thanks!

 

I don’t know if normal is the word I would use ? But it’s common to see them look like that.

 

I don’t know if normal is the word I would use ? But it’s common to see them look like that.

ok thanks!

 

Those look like they fell and broke the tip a bit. My zebras have that too. I would look more for white spots or flecks on the flat shell area for erosion problems.

 

Those look like they fell and broke the tip a bit. My zebras have that too. I would look more for white spots or flecks on the flat shell area for erosion problems.

yeah they have that to but they came like that. Thanks!