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I have collected several pieces of sandstone to put in my new tank. I read online sandstone is ok to put in your tank.
Is that right?

Also I need to boil it first right, how long?
Thanks

The only sand stone I know is a soft stone and can be used in the building trade. I personally would not use it one basic reason I think it would break down very quickly.

I have "had" pieces in the garden and they just wasted away.

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Keith

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Hi,
It is the "cement" that holds the sand grains together
that you should be concerned with. Normally it is a
silica (SiO2) and that is not water soluble, does not
affect the water, and is perfect.
In some cases the grains can be held together with a
Carbonate (CO3)2 "cement." That bond is water soluble
and as it dissolves into the water it will change your
KH and pH. Also, the sandstone will crumble into
clumps of grains.
The way to tell, is to test a piece of the stone with some
acid. Scrape the surface of a piece of the stone with
something to get a fresh surface. Then drip a couple of
drops of vinegar on it. If the vinegar bubbles it is the
CO2 escaping from the carbonate, and I would not use it.
If it just sits there and does nothing, then the bonds
are a silicate and the rock is "safe" to use in the tank.

Frank


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