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I was at the stone and rock company and saw all types of slates and flagstones. But I'm wondering how I can tell if they are fish/pleco safe. Is there a way I can test them. A lot of the slates had rust stains on the edges and I was concern that they may have a high metal or iron content. Anyone have any suggestions or experience. The slate at the stone yard is around 30 to 40 cents a pound whereas the local fish stores sale slate for 3 dollars a pound. Any help would be great.

Pour some Vinegar on it. If it Fizzles then it's no good.




G.

Actually, if it fizzles, use it in a Rift lake tank.

I was concern that they may have a high metal or iron content. Anyone have any suggestions or experience.

Hi Ken.

I would also be interested in a response to your question. As another person who lives in Texas, I'm sure Ken knows limestone 'fizzle".

Here is a piece I recently got thinking to use for a photo tank. Of course, for the short term it would be used for, I wouldn't worry. But....it would look nice in a display tank also!

Hi Dave,

Yeah, limestone definitely will fizzle. I'm trying to get slate at a cheaper price instead of buying them at the fish stores. The only problem is that there are probably a dozen or so different types and colors of slate and flagstones and trying to figure out what will work is not easy. I can't match the stuff I buy at the fish stores with anything at the stone yards. I tried using diluted muriatic acid (hydrochoric acid) this afternoon and no fizzing. I'm more concern about metals than calcium in the slate and stones. The slate at the stone yard tend to have a lot of glittering material/ shine and I'm not sure if it has metal or if it might be a quartz type of material.

You could try a home improvement store for raw slate tile. This is unglazed and comes in boxes covering a range of areas. Colors range from black to grey to blue with the odd rust colored piece. Upside is that a box contains a variety of rectangular sizes which makes it easy to cut on a tile saw. Ten bucks gets you at least ten square feet, which is quite a bit.

Alternatively, you can check smaller tile stores who may discount broken boxes. I've picked up freebies by approaching the shop owner for advice on slate, ten minutes of chat equals five sqaure feet of free leftovers.

Sorry, lost the thread there, stuck in breeding cave mode....

I can speak to rocks in the NE, but this yankee has no idea of what you are seeing in Texas. However, I got better results talking to stone dealers when I mentioned ponds instead of aquariums. A decorative stone dealer claimed to know nothing about aquarium applications but changed his tune when I moved the conversation to backyard ponds with fish and fountains, etc...he had quite a bit of experience with contractors and the stone that they used. He also put me onto a pond guy who provided some information.

pl*co_farmer wrote:Alternatively, you can check smaller tile stores who may discount broken boxes. I've picked up freebies by approaching the shop owner for advice on slate, ten minutes of chat equals five sqaure feet of free leftovers.

I work in one of the big-box home improvement stores, and I guarantee that if you found a box of broken slate tile on the shelf, took it to a flooring associate and asked for a discount, they'd give you a good markdown on all of it you wanted especially when they find out you want it that way. Heck, if you came into my building I'd probably give it to you for a buck just to get rid of it.