I've just been looking through ebay because I've got an odd few pounds in my Paypal account that I may as well spend. I came across a piece of East African Mushroom Coral:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/East-African-1970s-p...1QQcmdZViewItem

Can I put this sort of thing in with my Comets? Does coral have any positive or negative effects on the tank in the way that driftwood does?

Coral will raise the ph so check that first. Also it may catch the scales as the fish swim over it.

Thanks Sandy. That's exactly what I needed to know. I already have a slightly high PH and if the coral would damage my fish in any way I'm definitely not getting it

Mushroom Coral will only thrive in a saltwater marine aquarium.It isn't suitable for being in a freshwater tank.However I do believe from ebay add that the coral is dead.

It's a good job I posted on here before buying it then! I don't want the wrong decorations in my plants, especially if they're dead. I had no idea that collecting corals was illegal in the UK. I suppose its to protect them against people who would sell them until there was nothing left

Bringing dead coral into UK from abroad is illegal along with snake skin bags etc.Its all to do with protecting natural reefs from being destroyed to provide people with ornaments like the one on ebay.

Quote from customs and excise rules in UK


endangered species, including birds and plants, whether alive or dead (this includes items such as fur, ivory, skins and coral). In addition, meat and poultry, and most of their by-products including bacon, ham, sausages, pate, eggs, milk and cream are illegal to import.

Oh I see... I'm glad I'm a member of Koko's, otherwise I wouldn't have known any of this