I got some flagstone a while ago, and I was uncertain of it being aquarium safe. So while I was on a month long trip I soaked it in a bucket of water. The ph in the bucket has dropped below 6(totally normal with my tap water), and the rock looks almost like sandstone. I'm assuming that since the rocks don't buffer the water it's safe to add to my tank, so long as they've been scrubbed. Is this correct?
Soaked Flagstone
- Thread starter carsona246
- Start date
Howdy,
Drip some acid (e.g. vinegar) on it and see if it slowly bubbles. If so, the binder in your flagstone is carbonate, which might add to water hardness. Acid is a better test than water pH IMO. Or you could measure hardness of the water you soaked it in vs tap. And even if it contains carbonates, it depends on the fish you keep if this is a problem or not. Might also contain iron. Make sure to test the water you soaked it in for FeII as well as FeIII (more important). That's generally measured with the same kit, but different procedures.
Good luck,
HarleyK
Drip some acid (e.g. vinegar) on it and see if it slowly bubbles. If so, the binder in your flagstone is carbonate, which might add to water hardness. Acid is a better test than water pH IMO. Or you could measure hardness of the water you soaked it in vs tap. And even if it contains carbonates, it depends on the fish you keep if this is a problem or not. Might also contain iron. Make sure to test the water you soaked it in for FeII as well as FeIII (more important). That's generally measured with the same kit, but different procedures.
Good luck,
HarleyK
I did the acid test before the soak, and no bubbles, i probably should have included that. I don't have an iron test kit, but I do have a plant filter. Should I go out and get a test kit just to be safe, or do you think that any iron that would leach into the water would be consumed by the plants enough to make it safe?