Using slate - Aquarium Advice

Eoin · 07-19-2004, 03:18 PM

It is my understanding that limestone can have the effect of lowering the pH of the water, but I was wondering if anyone knows whether slate has any effects?

Fruitbat · 07-19-2004, 03:25 PM

Slate should have no effect on the pH of your water. I remember the days when almost all aquarium bottoms were made of slate!!!

tbonem91 · 07-19-2004, 03:44 PM

I got a bunch from a local landscaping company (about $26 for 5 or 6 large sheets) and broke it up, making several arches and ladges in my tank - it looks great! and I didn't notice any effect on water params at all.

-T

lmw80 · 07-19-2004, 03:53 PM

I have slate in one of my tanks and water parameters always read aroud the same, with or without the slate.

oscarbreeder · 07-19-2004, 05:31 PM

Slate doesnt do anything to your water parameters.
I use several in my 180gal for the Oscars to lay eggs on.

**QTOFFER** · 07-19-2004, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruitbat

I remember the days when almost all aquarium bottoms were made of slate!!!

You're dating yourself, Fruitbat!

This weekend, I was in the oldest continuously operated [acronym:732fd9ec69="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:732fd9ec69] in New York City, according to the owner. Every tank in the store was circa 1961 - with stainless steel frames and slate bottoms. The glass on the 15 [acronym:732fd9ec69="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:732fd9ec69] tanks was 1/2 inch thick - those tanks must weigh a ton empty!

Fruitbat · 07-19-2004, 07:13 PM

QTOFFER....

Just [acronym:6aa1fbcd33="For your info"]FYI[/acronym:6aa1fbcd33]....I got my first aquarium in 1963!! I'm so old that I remember when a rock band was five guys beating pieces of granite together outside the cave opening.

madasafish · 07-19-2004, 08:15 PM

[acronym:3f7f786679="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:3f7f786679].

Typically, the most reactive rocks are evaporites and biogenically-created rocks (created by organisms such as snails, clams, mussels (by precipitating dissolved ions from the water) and then agglutenated and compressed over time). Some examples include salt (Halite), Gypsum and Limestone. Slate's simply a rock made by fusing tiny particles ("clay" particles) together. These clay particles come from the rocks that make mountains, such as granite, and accumulate and compress at a river's bed.

Just [acronym:3f7f786679="For your info"]FYI[/acronym:3f7f786679].

Eoin · 07-20-2004, 02:14 PM

That’s great to hear. Slate occurs naturally around here, and I thought it would make for some nice decorations in my tank.

madasafish · 07-20-2004, 03:43 PM

Yep. It's the most reliable rock for aquaria, for sure.

"Caveat, rock hound", however...

In some cases small intrusions of other minerals and chemicals may form in slate and shale. I've heard of cyanide deposits, and have seen great amounts of iron deposits. Iron won't hurt your fish (I've used Iron-rich slate with no problems), but cyanide will. The chance of you finding cyanide-laced rock is very slim, so I wouldn't worry. But I had to mention the caveat anyway.

07-19-2004, 03:18 PM	#1
Eoin Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 40	Using slate It is my understanding that limestone can have the effect of lowering the pH of the water, but I was wondering if anyone knows whether slate has any effects?

07-19-2004, 03:25 PM	#2
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	Slate should have no effect on the pH of your water. I remember the days when almost all aquarium bottoms were made of slate!!! __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

07-19-2004, 03:53 PM	#4
lmw80 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bristol, Pa Posts: 4,805 Images: 40	I have slate in one of my tanks and water parameters always read aroud the same, with or without the slate. __________________ -Lori Join the Eastern PA/Greater Philadelphia Forum! Click here: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/groupcp.php?g=7825 Aquariums are like jello - there's always room for more.

07-19-2004, 05:31 PM	#5
oscarbreeder Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Columbia,S.C. Posts: 3,084 Images: 13	Slate doesnt do anything to your water parameters. I use several in my 180gal for the Oscars to lay eggs on. __________________ Please remember to vote for Aquarium Advice! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/kyman_33/sig.jpg

07-19-2004, 07:13 PM	#7
Fruitbat Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Garland,Texas Posts: 1,818 Images: 30	QTOFFER.... Just [acronym:6aa1fbcd33="For your info"]FYI[/acronym:6aa1fbcd33]....I got my first aquarium in 1963!! I'm so old that I remember when a rock band was five guys beating pieces of granite together outside the cave opening. __________________ Loaches: Botia almorhae, B. kubotai, B. striata, Noemacheilus triangularis, Schistura sp.aff.nicholsi, S. vinciguerre, Sinibotia robusta, Vaillantella maassi Bichirs: Polypterus senegalus, P. senegalus (albino), P. delhezi, P. sp. 'Congo', P. palmas polli, P.weeksii, P. ornatipinnis, P. palmas buettikoferi, P. retropinnis, P. endlicheri congicus, Polypterus bichir lapradei, P. palmas palmas, Erpetoichthys calabaricus Anabantids: Ctenopoma acutirostre, Ct. ocellatum, Ct. oxyrhynchum, Ct. kingsleyae, Microctenopoma ansorgii, Mct. fasciolatum, Trichogaster trichopterus, Belontia signata, B. hasselti, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Betta splendens Catfish: Dekeyseria sp. (L-052)Sturiosoma panamense, Hypancistrus inspector (L-201), Synodontis eupterus, Synodontis nigrita, Synodontis brichardi, Synodontis soloni, Anaspidoglanis macrostoma Barbs/Rasboras: Capoeta tetrazona, Rasbora borapetensis, Labeo cyclorhynchus Tetras: Phenacogrammus interruptus Other: Xenomystus nigri, Papyrocranus afer, Pantodon buchholzi, Oxymormyrus boulengeri, Protopterus annectens andPhractolaemus ansorgei

07-19-2004, 03:44 PM	#3
tbonem91 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, CO, USA Posts: 569 Images: 21	I got a bunch from a local landscaping company (about $26 for 5 or 6 large sheets) and broke it up, making several arches and ladges in my tank - it looks great! and I didn't notice any effect on water params at all. -T

07-19-2004, 08:15 PM	#8
madasafish Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NY, NY Posts: 2,260 Images: 73	[acronym:3f7f786679="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:3f7f786679]. Typically, the most reactive rocks are evaporites and biogenically-created rocks (created by organisms such as snails, clams, mussels (by precipitating dissolved ions from the water) and then agglutenated and compressed over time). Some examples include salt (Halite), Gypsum and Limestone. Slate's simply a rock made by fusing tiny particles ("clay" particles) together. These clay particles come from the rocks that make mountains, such as granite, and accumulate and compress at a river's bed. Just [acronym:3f7f786679="For your info"]FYI[/acronym:3f7f786679]. __________________ [acronym:3ff24413a5="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:3ff24413a5] is a blessing, not a disease.

07-20-2004, 02:14 PM	#9
Eoin Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 40	That’s great to hear. Slate occurs naturally around here, and I thought it would make for some nice decorations in my tank.

07-20-2004, 03:43 PM	#10
madasafish Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NY, NY Posts: 2,260 Images: 73	Yep. It's the most reliable rock for aquaria, for sure. "Caveat, rock hound", however... In some cases small intrusions of other minerals and chemicals may form in slate and shale. I've heard of cyanide deposits, and have seen great amounts of iron deposits. Iron won't hurt your fish (I've used Iron-rich slate with no problems), but cyanide will. The chance of you finding cyanide-laced rock is very slim, so I wouldn't worry. But I had to mention the caveat anyway. __________________ [acronym:3ff24413a5="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:3ff24413a5] is a blessing, not a disease.

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