Elk Antler in tank = BAD idea

[ecoli73]

To each his own really...In my next tank I am going to have a no fishing sign amongst my driftwood, holyrocks and custom background

 

[alexanian]

Even if it worked, will still be poor taste just like skulls, sunken ships and all the other crap people are dumping in their tanks.

Skulls and other crap like a fisherman at the bottom of the tank blowing bubbles out of his behind in the water - I agree but what's wrong with sunken ships? Of course I'm not talking about those plastic pirate ship things, but once I had a scale model of a modern battle ship destroyer and it looked really awesome in the tank

 

[Allan01230]

To each his own I guess. Me I like my bogwood for my south Americans and toffa rock for Africans. My girlfriend keeps live rock in her saltwater tank. To me antlers in a tank is lke throwing garbage in it but like I said to each his own.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

It really didnt look like an antler...I had to tell people what it was....It went along with the theme on my place so thats why I did it. Prolly just leave it as it is

 

[chris.clay11]

Elk antlers actually have a lot of blood in them. Their antlers when growing are actually porous and soft. When the antlers are soft they are known as velvet, and are harvested for different purposes. When they shed their velvet they become the antlers that are dense and rugged, but still maintain that porous interior.

I got to harvest velvet when I was younger at my grandfathers ranch in Colorado, it was a great experience.

Yeah i know about the velvet it just is crazy to see the actually bleed like that. But thanks for the info. If you still hunt shoot me a pm i am always looking for a hunting buddy and i am new to California so i need some advice on were and how to hunt here. I live in Vacaville by the way

 

[Combatshock]

Dead animals striking from beyond the grave

 

[dogofwar]

Any tank without Raiders paraphernalia isn't cool!

Matt

Even if it worked, will still be poor taste just like skulls, sunken ships and all the other crap people are dumping in their tanks.

 

[Redearsunfish]

Looks nice as is now.

 

[Oddball]

antlers rnt made of bone, they are like a fingernail, they are very biodegradeable, if they wernt than ud find them everytime u went out side

Actually, the above statement concerns mammal horns, not antlers. Antlers are composed of bone cells. And, as with bone, must be properly seasoned before incorporating them into an aquarium. I've been using deer, elk, and moose antlers in my alkaline aquariums for years to maintain level high pH values.
Yes, the antlers do eventually break down as their calcium is leeched into the water. On the same token, coral and holey rock also break down over time for the same reasons. Only not as quickly. Antlers and bone are not as dense as coral or holey rock and will break down more quickly. However, the antlers that have been in my african tanks for the last 10-12 years have shown no signs of decomposition. The decomposition can even be slowed by the addition of aragonite and/or crushed coral into the substrate. Calcium will leech to a limited level and the addition of additional sources of calcium will ease the leeching experienced by a single source.
It's been recommended earlier to boil the antlers. Not a good idea since boiling will only serve to accelerate the decomposition of bone cells.

 

[jlnguyen74]

Sorry but this needs to be said.... why not read up what to do before adding something organic like antlers to your tank, not after?

Even if it worked, will still be poor taste just like skulls, sunken ships and all the other crap people are dumping in their tanks.

You guys wouldn't want to miss any chance...