Slate Rock
Also sold as Slate
Synonyms Black slate · Flat stone · Slate stone · Slate tile
Slate Rock is an aquascaping rock sold by the piece, typically around 16 × 4 × 10 cm (6.3 × 1.6 × 3.9 in). In the water it leaves the water chemistry alone, does not tint the water, and sinks straight away.
Try it in a tank
Put Slate Rock in a 3D tank at your size and see how it sits with everything else. Free with an account.
At a glance
| Material | Rock |
|---|---|
| Raises hardness | No |
| Tannins | None |
| In the water | Sinks right away |
| Edges | Sharp |
| Prep | Rinse |
| Default size | 16 × 4 × 10 cm (6.3 × 1.6 × 3.9 in) |
Shapes · No two pieces look the same. Pick a shape to see it.
Before it goes in
- Slate Rock is inert: it will not move KH, GH or pH, so it is safe in a shrimp tank and in soft water.
- Before it goes in, rinse it.
- It has sharp edges — worth keeping in mind next to long-finned fish and around fish that sit on the bottom.
- 4 different pieces of Slate Rock are modelled, so the one you place looks like one you could actually pick out of the bin.
- A default piece is 16 × 4 × 10 cm (6.3 × 1.6 × 3.9 in); you can stretch it to whatever you bought.
Slate Rock: care and setup
Does it raise pH and hardness?
No. It is inert, so KH, GH and pH stay where your tap water puts them.
Do I need to prepare it?
Yes: rinse it before it goes in.
Will it tint the water?
No.
Is it shrimp- and fish-safe?
Yes. It does have sharp edges, which is worth a thought around long-finned and bottom-sitting fish.
What it goes with
- Plants you can tie or glue straight onto it: Anubias nana 'Petite', Subwassertang, Anubias barteri and Bucephalandra 'Green Wavy'.
- Substrates that leave the water where it is, the same as this one does: Walstad, ADA Amazonia and Colored Gravel.
Often compared with
| Slate Rock | Lava Rock | Red Lava Rock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raises | None | None | None |
| Tannins | None | None | None |
| In water | Sinks | Sinks | Sinks |
| Prep | Rinse | Rinse | Rinse |