Is Sandstone Safe?

Discussion in 'D.I.Y.' started by mattlamm, Aug 28, 2014.

  1. mattlamm
    Offline

    mattlamm Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    51%
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Messages:
    343
    Likes Received:
    171
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Durban
    Hi guys, was wondering if anyone knows if sandstone is safe to use in the aquarium? I am wanting to build some caves for my plecos and found sandstone cladding that will save me the mission of having to cut up slate. I like the rough look on the one side, which would be the outside of the caves while the inside is smooth.

    I did some reading online to see if sandstone is safe and got mixed opinions. Some said yes it's fine, others said no because it will affect the pH too much, while someone else said they only saw their pH go up by 0.5.

    Any opinions or experiences with sandstone? Here's what I bought.

    20140827_131624.jpg
     
  2. shihr
    Offline

    shihr Administrator Staff Member

    • Super Admin
    23%
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2007
    Messages:
    8,863
    Likes Received:
    1,786
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Edenvale
    i dont think it will harden your water? to my knowledge, sandstone is made of..sand.. which is made of quarts grains.. which doesnt harden your water..

    i would be wary of using soft sand stone though as it may disintegrate over time in your tank..
     
    Luis Embalo likes this.
  3. F1refly
    Offline

    F1refly Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2014
    Messages:
    387
    Likes Received:
    92
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Smithfield, Free State
    I have some Sandstone in my tank and if affected the pH minimally. But I guess it depends on the piece itself. Some have a lot of calcium left in them, others have been washed by rains and stuff for years...
     
  4. JP01
    Offline

    JP01 Moderator Staff Member

    • Global moderator
    73%
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    6,091
    Likes Received:
    559
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Location:
    Benoni
    Just check that the glue they used is invert and aquarium safe.

    Best is to check in a bucket and test before and after, those rock used for cladding is sometimes not sandstone and is much harder
     
    Luis Embalo and shihr like this.
  5. Lmcloete
    Offline

    Lmcloete Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2014
    Messages:
    186
    Likes Received:
    59
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Johannesburg
    Should be fine... it is basically just quartz, feldspar, minor amounts of mica with possibly some carbonates in the cement... At worst it will raise your pH very slightly....
     
  6. Luis Embalo
    Offline

    Luis Embalo Valued Contributor

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2010
    Messages:
    5,342
    Likes Received:
    1,184
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Elsies River - Cape Town
    The water is SA is normally very soft, so you should be fine, even with the light increase in hardness. :)
     
  7. mattlamm
    Offline

    mattlamm Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    51%
    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Messages:
    343
    Likes Received:
    171
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Durban
    Hi guys. Thanks for the responses. Sounds like it's Ok to use then. Think I'll do a bucket test before just to be safe. Other than pH what else should I test for? Just hardness? What test kit would I use for that? Think I'll do the old vinegar test too. Regarding the glue they used, I plan on breaking the pieces apart and then sticking together with silicone. So I'll clean of the glue they used.
     
  8. Shaun
    Offline

    Shaun Plant menace

    • APSA Member
    10%
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2014
    Messages:
    1,466
    Likes Received:
    178
    Trophy Points:
    73
    Location:
    Bloemfontein
    You can use Pratley white If yo want it in place for eternity those stones should be safe in yor tank I see no veins etc in it so no visible iron etc
     
  9. shihr
    Offline

    shihr Administrator Staff Member

    • Super Admin
    23%
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2007
    Messages:
    8,863
    Likes Received:
    1,786
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Edenvale
    hmm.. not so dude.. many parts of sa have hard/harder water such as pta, centurion, jhb..

    @mattlamm, we normally test for hardness as this affects your plant growth. so we prefer inert rocks. a bit of hardness is also not a bad thing. some of the ADA rocks make your water slightly harder too. we dont test for poisons because we dont have a means to. some rocks are just poisonous.. mainly the rocks with a copper chemical/mineral make up.
     

Share This Page