Can I put slate in a reef tank?

[bigyankfan]

I want to make a shelf to put some colonies on and I want to use slate as it is flat and fairly easy to work with. The question - will it leach anything into a reef tank that I don't want?

 

[picod]

Hi, bigyankfan,

I read this about slate and thought this may be helpful to you:
"Minerals present are quartz, sericite, chlorite, some graphite, titanium oxide, and iron oxides"

danielle

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Big why dont you give something like this a shot?

www.aquacon.com/ShelfLiveRock.html

 

[bigyankfan]

Because I can get slate pieces for a tiny fraction of those prices.

 

[Keith P]

From Randy Holmes-Farley (who I truly trust in regards to reefing):

"Slate may well be Ok, but it is not calcium carbonate. It contains a host of different minerals. The colors of slate come from metals, for example, and the origins of slate include clays and volcanic ash.

You might give it an acid cleaing first to remove some of the more easily removed metals."

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Because I can get slate pieces for a tiny fraction of those prices.

I hear ya but about now is when I believe the you get what you pay for saying comes into play.



But if you wanna go with slate- I can probably get you a bunch for free, half my family live in PA- the slate belt. Its everywhere.

 

[bigyankfan]

I only though of slate because it fractures into very flat pieces - any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Eric,don't skimp.If it indeed has Iron in it,You're looking to get dino- Flagellates.They love iron.