Shells from the beach

[rresper]

Hello,
I picked some shells up from a local beach in NYC. Are these shells ok to put in my tank? Also my tank is still cycling. Thanks in advance.

 

[iiinadav]

I've used shells in a couple of my tanks. I always soaked them in freshwater then saltwater for a few days and rinsed them really well.

 

[triga22]

I would boil them first.

 

[robsw]

i would be carefull. some materials from the beach leach phosphates. maybe not immediatly but over time. i have a friend who used a sand from the beach called coquina. his tank cycled but two months later his phosp. jumped and killed everything.
boiling the shells first may help

 

[sinaloa213]

i got some shells from a beach in la over the summer
put them in my tank like 3-4 days after didnt harm a thing