Slate in an aquarium?

[fisharefishy99]

Hello, I have some slate I wanted to put into my fish tank but I heard it may leach iron since I think this type of slate can rust. Is this a bad thing? I heard iron was good for plants and I have a few but I don't know about fish. Is there any way I can check if it's bad? Also this type of slate "sparkles" almost which I think means it is metallic. Thank you for reading this post in advanced.

 

[WhiteDevil]

take a magnet to it?


Lead is the bad stuff, Iron I dont think matters too much unless its like a huge OD of it.

Think about it, ships are made of iron, alot of them have sunk and sustain life not destroy it.

Soak it for a week or two or three in a 5g bucket.

 

[FishEggs]

well the ocean does have a gabizillion gallons of water to dilute those old rusty ships.

 

[RazorbacksFan]

well the ocean does have a gabizillion gallons of water to dilute those old rusty ships.

This is a very good point the amount of iron from shipwrecks and etc. is minuscule when compared to the vast volume of the oceans.

 

[fisharefishy99]

I took a magnet to it and I don't think that there was any attraction at all. And if there was it was very very very faint. Is there anything else I can do? Or should it be safe?

 

[RazorbacksFan]

You can always do they dipping in vinegar test, if it fizzes don't put it in the aquarium.

 

[fisharefishy99]

I did the vinegar test in like 1/2 an inch of vinegar and it was only the base of the rock in the container. And nothing happened, no fizzing and it has been sitting for about 5 minutes. Does that mean it's safe?

 

[fisharefishy99]

Do I need to break a piece off to do the test or should that have worked?

 

[RazorbacksFan]

I would feel more safe with a full dip but that can be a lot of wasted vinegar.

 

[fisharefishy99]

I decided to pour the vinegar all over the rock and nothing happened either, it all ran off of course but at least there was no fizzing lol

 

[thominil]

A bottle of vinegar is cheap compared to a tank full of dead fish.

 

[RazorbacksFan]

I'm no expert but I think it should be safe.

 

[fisharefishy99]

Is there any other tests I should do before putting it in my tank?

 

[RazorbacksFan]

A bottle of vinegar is cheap compared to a tank full of dead fish.

Too true my friend, too true.

 

[thominil]

I'm no expert but I think it should be safe.

+1

 

[fisharefishy99]

I took a sledge hammer to the rock and broke a few small pieces off and did the vinegar test and nothing happened. Should that mean it passes that test?

 

[RazorbacksFan]

I took a sledge hammer to the rock and broke a few small pieces off and did the vinegar test and nothing happened. Should that mean it passes that test?

I would think so and way to improvise you sound like a man after my own heart when in doubt grab the biggest damed hammer you find lol.

 

[fisharefishy99]

Lol well thank you for all the help

 

[RazorbacksFan]

Lol well thank you for all the help

Glad to help.

 

[fisharefishy99]

It's called sydney peak flagstone. http://www.valleybuildingmaterials.com/images/flag_sydney_peak_zm.jpg Just figured the picture might help a little bit lol