Slate

[Jimmymac]

I sourced some local slat for attaching some plants to for my shrimp tank and while cutting the slate I noticed that it had what looked like some form of metal running through it…. Would anyone know what it is and is it safe for a shrimp tank?

Cheers

 

[The grumpy one]

Not sure but I think it is iron pyrite? Are they very small cubes?

 

[MichaelJ]

sourced some local slat for attaching some plants to for my shrimp tank and while cutting the slate I noticed that it had what looked like some form of metal running through it…. Would anyone know what it is and is it safe for a shrimp tank?

Hi @Jimmymac, I do not know about slate specifically, but in the past with with rocks in mostly plant-less tanks I would give the rocks a thorough scrub and clean, let them dry and perform and acid test with white vinegar... if I didn't get a reaction such as a fizzle I would deem them suitable for my tanks otherwise I would toss them. However, with shrimps I would be much, much more careful... especially if you water is more than just slightly acidic (<7 pH). If there is any chance of slowly leaching Copper, Zinc or Nickel or even excess Iron from the slate it could potentially be lethal to your shrimps - their tolerance to especially Copper is low. I do not know if slate can leach any of these elements (besides Iron). Also worth considering with slate, is that the edges can be super sharp and potentially harm livestock. As you describe it I wouldn’t apply it to my shrimp tank.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Tim Harrison]

Not sure but I think it is iron pyrite? Are they very small cubes?

That’d be my guess too. Iron pyrites or fools gold, FeS2, is quite common in slate or sediments that form in anoxic conditions.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1814412116

 

[Jimmymac]

Thanks for everyone's reply's Think i will side on the air of caution and not bother...but out of curiosity i will try MichaelJ suggestion with a white vinegar test .

Cheers

 

[Jimmymac]

Gave it a wee soak in distilled white vinegar? And no signs of fizzing…

 

[sparkyweasel]

You could put it in a tub of water with some Daphnia, to see if it leaches anything toxic to crustaceans.

 

[Tim Harrison]

Perhaps should have mentioned, it's pretty much inert and should be safe for use

 

[MichaelJ]

You could put it in a tub of water with some Daphnia, to see if it leaches anything toxic to crustaceans.

Brilliant idea Sparky! as always. I would go with that.


Cheers,
Michael

 

[Tim Harrison]

It should be fine. But if you want complete peace of mind, don’t use it, or take up @sparkyweasel’s idea and use a daphnia bioassay.

Is this rock safe for shrimp..

I've just starting a planted tank & have some rock which I want to use to keep some red moor down. Any idea what the red/brown streaks are? I would like to add some RCS eventually.. I've done a vinegar test & there's no bubbling... Thanks in advance, Jules

www.ukaps.org

The vinegar test is just a diagnostic for carbonates. Many of the rocks used for aquascaping are composed of carbonates so that in itself shouldn’t prevent their use.

Post in thread 'Collecting your own rocks - aquarium safe?'
Collecting your own rocks - aquarium safe?