How Can I Make Roof Slates Safe For The Tank

[shelaghfishface]

i managed to talk a local builder into making my fish very happy with some slates he had just taken off a roof.... ( charm of course lol)
anyway he let me have 2 ( tight bugger lol) i want to put them in with my oscars but i dont spose its a good idea to jusr rinse `em and chuck `em in is it?? theres no moss or anything they are clean
what about the edges tho? do i have to do something about them, or just bury them down??

shelagh xxx

 

[Helen G]

I have just used some stones that I found in my tank today. I just scrubbed them with plain hot water, then bunged a few kettles full of boiling water over them. There is a link on here for using stones/slate and stuff, I'll try and find it for you.

H x

 

[ox5477]

yep, just scrub it and then boil the slate for an hour or so (or maybe less) to kill anything livign on it.

 

[tim1]

It takes a max of 10min of boiling water to kill anything that is living.

 

[shelaghfishface]

ok tim thankyou. i will get on to it in the morning

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Oh yeah-keep your fish happy but what about the poor lichen! LOL

 

[dave1987]

scrub them with a wire brush that would get rid of all the dirt and stuff on it then boil it for a while

 

[shelaghfishface]

Oh yeah-keep your fish happy but what about the poor lichen! LOL

wots a lichen? pmsl must be very close yo ur heart wotever it is paul

 

[Helen G]

It's the little skanky stuff you find on rocks and pavements. thats all i know.

 

[shelaghfishface]

awww paul... ill pm u my address and u can come round and collect the posh dirt ok ?? and dont think of it as me scrubbing it with a wire brush, more of gentley brushing its hair pmsl

shelaghxxxxxxxx

(some people worry me a LOT lol)

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Worst of it is, is that i have lots of big bits of slate in my garden which i break up for fish tanks but you are just too far away honey!

 

[SJ2K]

It takes a max of 10min of boiling water to kill anything that is living.

Not true, certain bacteria (such as that found in rice) can live quite happily in water over 120 degrees C Thats why boiling rice is no sure way of making it safe

That aside, within reason boiling it will make it safe yes im just being picky Go Food safety certificate!