Sea Shells?

[DewDropFay]

I'm breeding my bettas, not for the first time, and I've heard some things that I'd like to test out, but I'd also like to get some things clear first.

First, I'm doing a science experiment for my school fair, and the title of my lab will be "Effects of pH on Betta Gender." Needless to say, I'm testing Ph, lol. I heard on Wayne Schmidt's site that someone had told him that water that has a relatively acidic pH produces more males than water with a more basic pH. However, I haven't heard it anywhere else.

What I'm really posting about, however, is the effect of seashells in a freshwater tank. I have some small shells I collected, and I'm currently soaking them in hot water to rid them of bacteria, excess salt, sand, etc.

I've also heard that they raise the pH of the water, but, if so, how significantly does it raise it? I'd like to use them as both hiding places and a way to naturally create more acidic water so I don't have to keep a ton of chemicals in the house.

Ponder, ponder, ponder lol

[giypsy]

Shells will raise your calcium and make your water less acidic,
not the other way 'round. When a tank is too acidic, one remedy
is crushed coral in the filter media box/bag.
I cannot give percentages of effect without knowing much more
about your water chems over a period of time.

What I can tell you is my experience when I first got FredFish.
I have some shells that are in an apothecary jar, been there forever.
I selected two shells, washed them, put them in FredFish's bowl,
next morning my water was about 20% cloudy.
I took them out, did a full wc and did not have that problem
again.
Let us know how your paper goes.

[DewDropFay]

Thank you very much, I realized my mistake like three hours after I had posted and I had reviewd the research I had done >.< lol
But thanks, I added some shells last night and I haven't had a problem.