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Hi all,
I've been out of Aquaria for about a year now, and just started up my long dormant 29gal. On looking back, I should have checked this slate for issues. I know it has a high Iron content. Beyond checking regular water parameters and looking for signs of staining, am I running any big risks here? The stones were purchased at a reputable LFS BTW. Oh and I cleaned them gingerly with a scotchbrite pad till the sink I was washing them in was clear.
Thanks!

As far as I know slate is slate the colour variations can depend on the location it came from. It is far cheaper coming from floor tiling and garden suppliers. Just give it a good soak and wash it down to remove any loose pieces.

It could easily change colour in the tank as it ages.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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Truth be told Keithgh, Slate is very flaky stuff and this reminds me more of a sandstone. Not at all like the slate I used to skin my knees on as a kid in NJ. Now that I think about it, it's definately more of a sandstone than slate. Hmmm and I wish I could find anything worth putting in my tank in Miami, maybe busted roofing tiles is about it. No streams down here for Rock picking!

Sounds to me that what you have is Shale and not Slate. You'll have to check with Frank about that though, he's our resident geologist.

If you can post a pic on photobucket or the like then link to it in your post that'd be helpful.

Don't go busting up your neighbors roof, check with your local landscaping supply company they often have some busted up pieces they might sell you at a discount.

^_^

My N. brichardi tank has around 10 lb of slate that was leftover and broken up from when my parents tiled the floor. I bet if you find a flooring contractor that does slate floors, they'd give you their broken tiles for free!

Here's my mom's (a geologist by education) input on the slate vs. shale thing (and there aren't really any other similar rocks that would be flaky)

Shale: dull in appearance (hard to tell if it's underwater/wet), and you should be able to flake bits off by lightly scratching with your fingernail (your scotchbrite pad probably would have taken some off).

Slate: often has a sheen, you can pry it apart by hand if you find a fracture line, but you would actually have to be trying.

><>

Hi,
Slate is metamorphosed Shale. That is, it has been
buried, compressed, baked, and changed, from shale
into slate.
In that process pretty much anything that will affect
your water is taken care of. The exceptions are some
iron pyrite that could form and I'd not put that in the
tank.

Shale can contain kerogens that will pollute the tank.
Scratch it with a knife and then smell that spot. If
if smells like fuel oil or gasoline, then do not put it
in your tank as the kerogens will leach out into the water
and pollute it.

Frank


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