quick question about slate rock...

magic_marty

Hi all..
Today i got some red slate and some rainbow slate as well as a couple of rainbow stones.My question is will adding these rocks to my aquarium affect my PH level? Cause i don't want to mess with the PH levels in the tank..

Thanks a bunch..

Donut

I have a 30gal with about 30lbs of black slate in it. I also have a 10gal planted tank with no rock. Both have the same pH.

From experience, I'd say no it won't affect it.

Lupin

I agree with Donut. Slates are perfectly safe.

magic_marty

the rainbow stones if i rub them when they are wet the make a chalky film on my fingers..Is this going to be a problem you think??

I scrubbed them with a brush in very hot water and also let them soak in a bucket of hot water for about a hour...

Donut

As with all rock (and really anything you put in your tank), you should rinse them off before you put them in. They suggest you boil some things, but if it's slate you bought from a lfs, you're probably ok to just rinse it off to remove all of the rock dust.

Edit: Ooops... shoudl probably read your whole post. You probably loosened parts of the rock with the brush.

musho3210

rinse and scrub the dust and rubble off, boiling is reccomended as was stated earlier, take some vinigar and place a drop of it on the rock, if it fizzes then dont use it as it will effect the PH, if it doesnt fizz then place it in your aquarium

magic_marty

ok thanks, i had forgotten about the vinigar test.The vinigar i have is kind of old, prolly 2 years or so will that matter?

daisycutter

slate is basicly fossiled mud and sometimes it may disintergrate into small particles but it still remains inert

magic_marty

3 of these rocks i don't think are slate, but that is what they were labeled as.
I'll take a picture and post it here and maybe it will help..

magic_marty

ok, here is a good picture of the stones with a ram posing for the shot...