I have a recently set up cichlid tank that is a little lacking in decorations. There's some rockwork and fake rockwork for them to hide in but I plan to add a lot more slate and rocks as I can afford it.
I live in a very old house that's been in my famiy for generations. Some 50/60 years ago they removed a slate roof and replaced it with shingles. Most of the slate was simply tossed off and left along one side of the house that's heavily shaded with pretty much nothing but some ivy and leaves.
My question is, do you think this slate could be safe for use in my tank? No sort of yardwork is done over there due to the shade choking out any grass and most weeds. Some hostas and lily-of-the-valley bulbs are the only other plants and they've been left alone for decades.
Before the slate was tossed my great grandfather used to toss compost over there since nothing grows.
Thoughts? Any way I can test/check it without putting it in with the fish?
My only other idea was to setup a tank with some cheap fish and see what happens but I don't want to do that.
I live in a very old house that's been in my famiy for generations. Some 50/60 years ago they removed a slate roof and replaced it with shingles. Most of the slate was simply tossed off and left along one side of the house that's heavily shaded with pretty much nothing but some ivy and leaves.
My question is, do you think this slate could be safe for use in my tank? No sort of yardwork is done over there due to the shade choking out any grass and most weeds. Some hostas and lily-of-the-valley bulbs are the only other plants and they've been left alone for decades.
Before the slate was tossed my great grandfather used to toss compost over there since nothing grows.
Thoughts? Any way I can test/check it without putting it in with the fish?
My only other idea was to setup a tank with some cheap fish and see what happens but I don't want to do that.
