We went to a stone beach and I found some great bits of slate and stones. What is the best way to make sure they are clean? I read that boiling them can cause them to explode. Does any one else use things from the beach?
Slate and stones off the beach
- Thread starter BECKIN1507
- Start date
Some stones have a small pocket of air in the middle this may expand and explode.
Myself for what little it costs to buy stones and slate from your LFS I cant see the point of collecting stones and slate to save a few £
Myself for what little it costs to buy stones and slate from your LFS I cant see the point of collecting stones and slate to save a few £
Guess thats the problem Bob not all LFS shops are cheap and often want £5-£10 for a little peice of slate.
Cheap is relative a fish worth £5 killed by a stone that would have cost £50 would to some seem worth the risk to get the stone free (Saved £50) For me its the death not the money saved. I guess its all down to how you manage your fish keeping.
Any thing I use must be as safe as possible so buying from a reputable LFS seems the best way. naturally I am not daft and do understand that shop brought items are not 100% safe but for me it is narrowing the odds in favor of the fish.
Any thing I use must be as safe as possible so buying from a reputable LFS seems the best way. naturally I am not daft and do understand that shop brought items are not 100% safe but for me it is narrowing the odds in favor of the fish.
I think the risk is goingto be with the person who picks up these stones and slate, as it is unsure what it has absorbed or what possible impurities they might have. I would always soak stone and driftwood found in natue in a large bucket with water conditioner for at least 3months with regular water changes. I would however caution anybody on this as there is always a risk of introducing a foreign bug or chemical etc. Is it worth the risk or for saving money? The choice is yours as all members will give a possible different view. I however can say that in Australia or me at least get my slate through a forum member, even though I do have it on beaches etc down south, however our Ls are much for expensive so I would not take that risk. cheers jk :thumbup:
I picked up quite a few pebbles from a beach a couple of years ago as they looked nice and also free. (just don't be seen doing it as it is illegal)
I boiled them in a large pot for a few hours, then soaked in a bucket for a couple of days, then boiled again.
They then went into my tanks and have been in there since with no problems.
I boiled them in a large pot for a few hours, then soaked in a bucket for a couple of days, then boiled again.
They then went into my tanks and have been in there since with no problems.
Illegal!!!
Around 8 years ago I made loads off trips to the beach collecting largish stones
to go around my shed.my girlfriend at the time lived next to the beach and said it was ok.
Didn't know it was illegal.
Around 8 years ago I made loads off trips to the beach collecting largish stones
to go around my shed.my girlfriend at the time lived next to the beach and said it was ok.
Didn't know it was illegal.
Might sound a bit stupid but Where do the lfs get their supplies from? Surely it has to come for a beach or something simular? I can't find any nice bits of slate in my lfs, I'm currently using old roof tile things, thought the beach 1's would be a bit better and they're so much nicer. This beach has a notice up saying you can take fossils (i know it's slate not a fossil but hoping it was ok) as long as they are loose and you're not using a hammer and things to remove them.
by all means you can use it, but realise that slate is pouros and might have impurities and salt in it. soak it for a while in water. Maybe after 8weeks check the water for PH etc and if you feel good use it. With high tide oils and stuff might leach into the slate so look at that as well. just be wary and monitor the fish. LFS have supplies from a lot of places like slate mines etc.
cheers jk :thumbup:
cheers jk :thumbup:
Hi all,
Just make sure they are really hard rock, as long as it is you can just soak them in fresh water for a couple of weeks (a bucket in the garden should be fine). Which beach was it? I should be able to tell you what sort of rock it is likely to be as we should have geological maps for most of the SW of the UK.
cheers Darrel
Just make sure they are really hard rock, as long as it is you can just soak them in fresh water for a couple of weeks (a bucket in the garden should be fine). Which beach was it? I should be able to tell you what sort of rock it is likely to be as we should have geological maps for most of the SW of the UK.
cheers Darrel
i have found wood to be more likely to cause problems in an aquarium...
i firstly soak them in tap water first... and even add a little chlorine as well to kill all the bugs/bacteria.... wash them off... then boil them for an hour... then soaked in water for another day... then dryed... then into a tank of cheap fish for a week before they go anywhere near the good fish!!!!
i firstly soak them in tap water first... and even add a little chlorine as well to kill all the bugs/bacteria.... wash them off... then boil them for an hour... then soaked in water for another day... then dryed... then into a tank of cheap fish for a week before they go anywhere near the good fish!!!!
That would be great, it's Kilve beach. Loads of slate and nice looking stones there. I have some creamy white ones with dark lines through, I'd love to use them if they're safe. I can take some pics if that will help?
Where would I beable to buy chlorine from? How much do you add? Do you just add it to the water with the stones in?
Hi all,
I actually know Kilve and Lilstock fairly well. The beach is quite complex, you've got shales in the cliffs, these will look a bit like slates, but will be softer. You can use these as they contain oil. The beddded brown and white rocks in the cliff are Lias limestones ("Blue Lias"), and they are unsuitable as well. On the beach a lot of the boulders are Old Red Sandstone (ORS), these have been swept along the coast from the Quantocks, these will be fine, but they will all tend to be a bit rounded.
cheers Darrel
I actually know Kilve and Lilstock fairly well. The beach is quite complex, you've got shales in the cliffs, these will look a bit like slates, but will be softer. You can use these as they contain oil. The beddded brown and white rocks in the cliff are Lias limestones ("Blue Lias"), and they are unsuitable as well. On the beach a lot of the boulders are Old Red Sandstone (ORS), these have been swept along the coast from the Quantocks, these will be fine, but they will all tend to be a bit rounded.
cheers Darrel
Thank you. Is there slate aswell? Or is it all shale? How would I tell the difference? I'll have a look for some ors boulders then. Thanks again