Using Slate In Tank

[Clbrtwewill]

My tank has a natural ph of 7.6. It's a bit high but the entire time the fish have been it its been a steady 7.6 I've not had any tremendous problems or losses.

So I got a ton of natural slate this past weekend while camping, boiled it twice when I brought it home (mom has a canning jar cooker and she let me use it, thank goodness for her patience ).

I then submerged it for a week in the spare ten gallon tank and let it sit, checked the pH tonight and it's still a constant 7.6.

Does this seem like a go-ahead or is there anything else I need to do/try before using it in the tank? I'm planning on making a cave out of it and am pretty excited at the find, I've been after natural rock for awhile =)

Oh if it's any help I have a 20 and a 25/30 gallon fish tank with the following fish between the two (I rearrange them occasionally, they all get on with one another):

2 angel
3 rasbora
3 black neon
2 huge bleeding heart tetra
1 opaline gourami
1 powder blue gourami
2 bronze cory
3 khuli loach
1 clown pleco
1 male betta (yes, he gets on with the others and is oldest inhabitant)

 

[Geoff1991]

Put a few drops of vinegar on it. If it fizzes its no good.

 

[Clbrtwewill]

Put a few drops of vinegar on it. If it fizzes its no good.

Oh forgot to mention that...
That's the first thing that I tried when I brought it all inside, none of them fizzed.

 

[Geoff1991]

Its fine then. Boil it and give it a clean then put it in the tank without hesitation.

 

[Clbrtwewill]

How long would it take for a pH spike to occur, given I already have a higher than norm pH?

 

[Geoff1991]

It shouldnt spike...

 

[Clbrtwewill]

Some of what I've read online makes it look like the rock might still cause the pH to rise. Hopefully it won't. Thanks.

 

[mixmaster jay]

ive got about 60kilo of slate in my tank in 3 huge pieces (was 2) that make a big cave for my 18" clarias and ive not had any probs with any stats from it at all i think slate looks great in an aquarium

 

[Clbrtwewill]

Nice pics. Those fish look gigantic in the first one. My pieces are much smaller, I posted in the members' fish forum though. The kuhli loaches are enjoying themselves in it so far.

 

[mixmaster jay]

lol kuhlli loaches are cool but they would be a tasty snack in my tank . the catfish is a marbled clarias she is 18" at the mo the plec at the front is a gibbiceps and thats 12" and the common plec in the background is 13" and the fish on top is a synodontis its about 4"and the dull eyed royal plec L191 stuffed in the crevis is 4" . all my fish seem to like it ive got a few smaller pieces around the tank too the cichlide like to make burrows under them lol

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Clbrtwewill

You're lucky to have found the slate. I can't even find any to buy these days. Just be sure to smooth any rough or sharp edges on it.

 

[KieranP]

I got a load of slate from a slate mine in the Lake District! the owner let us just pick a load up!
Boiled it a couple times, then put it in and i've had no problems at all.

 

[saltynay]

Slate may contain copper compounds which may slowly raise copper levels in the tank causing problems for inverts apart from that slate is safe in the aquarium. Simple way to check is to put the slate in a bowl of water for a couple of days then bring a sample to your LFS to check with a copper test kit.