Adding slate from Landscaping supply companies.

[is300soon]

Ok so a pretty general question.

1. I would like to add some slate to my tank, 85g. I know I have to wash it, but the company said the slate isn't clean enough to use in a tank. I figured boil then boil then boil more.

2. I see slate is pretty easy to cut, can i silicone small pieces to the back of the tank, or will i need to attach foam and use cement also?

3. What is the major issue with use slate from quarry bins at landscaping supply places?

Please let me know, they quoted 13cents to 40 cents a lb.

Thanks again
David

 

[Toby_H]

Slate is an aquarium safe rock... meaning it doesn't naturally have any chemicals, compounds, etc that will be harmfful to your fish... it is an inert rock...

100% of the rock in my (25+) tanks has come from landscaping yards, exxcept for two or three pieces I've collected on construction sites.

Slate isn't common to my area so I use cut rock to do the same thing...

Oh, and yes you can silicone slate... It's safe, works and lasts longer than any aquarium glues I've tried. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to just silicone it to the back of the aquarium...

They have to say it's not safe for aquarium use, because if they don't say that and you have a mishap you can hold them responsible. It's easier for them to tell you no than to take the risk for a small sale. At least small on their scale.

The first time or two I got rock from a landscaping yard, I boiled it... Each time I got some I cleaned it less and less... the last few times I've done this I just squirted the dirt off with the hose and put it in the tank. I've never had any issues from doing this...

But, just like the Landscaping Company, I do not suggest you just rinse it and go, because if something bad does happen you'll call me a bad guy... That being said... I would just rinse the dirt off and put it in my tank...

 

[Toby_H]

Just for kicks... I thought I'd offer some pics of my Landscaping Yard Rock...

4x2x2 Trimac Tank

Not much, but some on the far right

I cut some pieces into squares and made this house... glued with silicone

90 Gal slam full of rock

125 gal before I moved most of the rock to the fishroom

...I could go on but the pictures will start getting old. I'd guess I have 500 lbs of cut rock from landscaping yards...

 

[sir charles]

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SET UP YOU GOT GOING IN YOUR TANK. I WAS TRING TO FIND SLATE FOR MY TANK AT A REASONABLE PRICE DIRT CHEAP IF KNOW WHAT I MEAN. WOULD LOVE TO ARRANGE THAT SLATE WITH SOME SAND AND NATURAL STONES AT THE BASE OF MY TANK WITH THE SLOPE EFFECT. PLEASE RESPOND BACK YOUR OPPINON IS NEEDED.

 

[TinyD]

I work for a sand and gravel company and i have used many products in my aquariums (slate, gravel, etc.) with no problems at all. The hardest part is just getting all of the dust off lol. I am planning on using a bottom layer of small cobble with white sand on top to fill in any crevices for my new 240 gallon project.

 

[roombo]

I have slate too, no problems. You guys use silicone? I tried it and it dose not hold? what kind are you using? I clean it, scrape it to rough it up and it still dosnt hold. I've tried a couple of brands including that epoxy that you mead together, the commercial shows it pulling a truck when they use it as a chain? WTF.. thanks

 

[is300soon]

ok tomorrow im doing it, you did in the corner what i wanted to, i wanted to make little condo's The male convict is getting his ass kicked in my 16g, and the 85g was to be a slow project but now to save a 4$ fish i have to step up a bit. I was going to do the slate like subway tile on the background, but i dont think I will have time at all to do this. So tomorrow im going to get

 

[Toby_H]

I would like to point out... I siliconed cut rock... not slate...

Cut rock is whatever local rock we have cut into flat'ish pieces (type varies but all are labeled 'cut rock'). But my local rock is not slate... so same shape different material...

But I don't see how slate would be that much different than my cut rock in terms of siliconing... but I haven't tried it personally...

But I have half a dozen or so "condos" that I've made. My first ones were glued with the green/white aquarium epoxy. It worked great for a year or two but weakened in time... I made my siliconed "condos" about a year and a half ago and they are showing no where and are as strong as the day I met them...

 

[is300soon]

ok I LOVE IT!!!!!

I got almost 70lbs of slate for 24$ I also bought LA PAZ pebbles 75 lbs for 25$

So im going to begin cleaning the the slate and breaking it up, I also got some black flat slate to make the CONVICT CONDO

The black slate was pre cut in 90o angles so they will fit in the corner of the tank and I will silicone some pillars to hold up the chunks. Im going to start a thread on this tank build in the next couple of days I think.


David