Red Slate Safe For Aquarium?

[jeej]

I got a load of Red Slate given to me for my tank. I had to scrub a load of clay off it first, but it seems to leak an orangey substance when I scrubb it and seems a bit brittle.

Maybe I've answered my own question, but does anybody have any experience with this slate and knows whether or not it is ok for my tank?

It isn't completely red in colour, but a normal greyish slate colour with some rusty reddish colouring through it at parts.

 

[jennybugs]

Have you tried pouring vinegar on it to see if it fizzes?

 

[jeej]

Yeah, it didn't fizz, but I am concerned that it might still turn my water cloudy orange! Right now I'm just gonna leave it to soak for a while, scrub it some more, then boil it. See how I go.

Looking at pics on Google Images, this isn't like the New York red slate, really it isn't red at all, apart from these markings at certain points. They vary from piece to piece, but some might have just one side a reddish colour, or a more marbled colourway etc...

 

[chr15_8]

you got any pics of it?

silly questions here does it look purple?

also rust isint a good sign as it means it has some sort of metel in it.


chris

 

[jeej]

you got any pics of it?

silly questions here does it look purple?

also rust isint a good sign as it means it has some sort of metel in it.


chris

No not purple, here you go...

They don't seem to be giving off the orange murky stuff so much now, but they are a bit brittle around the edges.

Also, this is the huge bit of driftwood that turned my tank red...

 

[jeej]

Anybody else got any thoughts or advice?

 

[jeej]

I'm still unsure bout this stuff. I've soaked it and boiled it, but it is very brittle. Bits just break off. If it lies absolutely still and remains undisturbed, then it seems fine, but move it or touch it and bits just fall off. God knows what it is.

 

[celaeno]

it might be red shale.

 

[jeej]

And is that stuff meant to be ok in tanks? I've stuck a small piece in an empty 5 gallon tank I have running, I'll keep my eye on it.

 

[celaeno]

soak the piece of red slate/shale in a container of warm water overnight or for a few days.

if you see any oil on the water surface afterwards, the rock is shale and is no good for aquarium use.