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I know not just any slate is safe to put in a fish tank. But i have heard that if its been out of the ground it came from for a long time it is safer. I have slate (that i will add a photo of later) that is years old, has been just laying around my mums garden. If i clean it good and even soak in boiling water will it then be safe for a tank.

pointpleco wrote: 18 Jun 2018, 20:01 I know not just any slate is safe to put in a fish tank. But i have heard that if its been out of the ground it came from for a long time it is safer. I have slate (that i will add a photo of later) that is years old, has been just laying around my mums garden. If i clean it good and even soak in boiling water will it then be safe for a tank.

Perhaps more important: does the slate have streaks of other minerals in it? These can't really be boiled out, but they are what I hear is dangerous in slate.

Also, boiling rocks has the potential to make them explode, so be careful and think about where the bits would ricochet if that happened. They won't have a lot of energy, but I wouldn't stand right over the pot.

Ok thanks for the info, i will look for the mineral streaks and also get a photo today to post later tonight.
Haha that would be bad in the kitchen, i was only going to clean really well in boiled water from kettle.

I still have a slate bottom aquarium made in the 1950s. Slate is very safe to use. Old slate roofing tiles are great for aquascaping, making caves, etc.
-Shane

I've also used plenty of slate, for caves, and just decoration for years. I buy it from a local garden centre, it's much cheaper than an aquatic store.

As mentioned look out for streaks of different colours, the only one I have come across is a rust coloured streak which is iron deposits and seems fairly common in slate around here.

I scrub the slate in a bucket with a stiff brush to get any loose bits off then soak in boiling water for 5 mins. I'm not sure if the boiling water is necessary though.

I finally found some time to get a few pics. I think a few of them that are thinner and better for what i want look very good and clean. Some of the bigger bits have the rusty colour that i worry about.
I have added a few pics and if anyone knows if they look ok or not.

Thanks for the replies and info, i did think similar things like a good clean with hot water also.