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I have a couple of coconuts from the local supermarket which I bought to eat. Would the shells be okay to turn into caves and how should I treat them before putting in the tank. I'm very worried about pesticide residues so would rather not take any risks

Yes, they work well as caves. All you have to do to prepare them is pop open the shell carefully, then remove all the flesh and inner shell (the flimsy stuff attached to the flesh). A good rinse should be enough to make it aquarium safe. Note that they decay in tanks, so they have an effect on pH and will disappear eventually.

Rusty

Note that they decay in tanks, so they have an effect on pH and will disappear eventually

true, but it takes about a dozen years and a herd of Pleco's to make them disappear....i've used them for years and years!

warning: often people drill holes in the three softspots of the nut to pour out the cocomilk.
the half with the tiny holes should NOT be used in tanks with "eely" fish! those get stuck in the holes and will die, when attempting to break the shell.....
I lost my first Mastacembelus that way when I was 12, and it took the poor beastie about 6 hours to die....needless to say, I was pretty upset back then. (it got a nice burial in the garden, though).

lost a few really fat Kuhli loaches too that way.

just a hint.

In what way did the coconut shell change the water conditions?
Why did you not use slate and make a cave ? This info could be helpful with my breeding program.

Wall

Hi!

if you dont care on how the nut breaks open: drill 2 holes into it, empty the milk and put it into the oven for about 15-20 minutes at 200°C. It will break open in some way and its very easy to remove the internal stuff. My fish dont care if the whole is round or not. Btw my woodeater plecos love the outer stuff on the nut.

Hi,
Caol_ila, could you elaborate on your pl*ecos? Is this a substitute of wood for panaques, do they get any nutritional value of it or is to give them something to do?
I ask because I'm going to set up a biotope(correct up to the exact types of woods it will encounter) for a Royal.

Rusty, you recommend to remove the flesh and the inner shell? I'f you remove the shell, won't you be left with nothing?

Are you guys talking about fresh(drinkable water and tender flesh) or dry(brown with hard flesh) coconut?

Sorry for hijacking, but I tink it still relates to the topic.

THanks,
Eduardo

Someone mention that it will cause a change to the pH, may i know if it's going to make the water more alkaline or acidic?

Acidic. Tannins and organic acids are going to leach out of the shells.

I cut my shellks in half put them in the microwave for 2 min and the meat came out real easy with a spoon. then I boiled the coconut shels for 15 min to kill any parasites. My mollies love them specially the fry.