Diy Slate Cave

[celaeno]

i want to build a 'cubic' slate cave, but without the back and front 'flaps', so my cories can rest on the top of the cave or inside under the shade.

1. where do i buy aquarium-safe slate tiles? (i'm in nyc, usa)

2. how do i glue the four tiles together with the sealant?

3. is all glass aquarium silicone sealant good? if so, should i get the 1oz or 3oz tube?

4. does the silicone get hard and 'go bad' after a long time on the shelf?

 

[kribensis12]

You dont need sealent or anything but slate. Go to your lfs and they will sell it by the pound. I just take a tall rock and lay it down but it is so thick that it would be considerd tall either way. Then take another rock and lean it on the "tall" part and you have yourself a DIY cave!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

if there is a landscaping place around your area, they might give you scrap slate for free

 

[Torrean]

I'd use sealant you can make it look much better if you seal the pieces together. You don't have to worry about gravity and friction holding the pieces together so you can make odd angles and things like that. Also if you seal the pieces then you don't have to worry so much about squished cories. Just put a little sealants on one piece of slate and stick it to another. Support it some how so it doesn't move and wait 24-48 hours. Then plop it in

 

[dizzied]

1. Check your LFS. I live in NYC too, slate usually goes around $1 to $2/lb.
2. Just apply it. There's a "curing" period for it to actually "glue", check the labeling.
3. I have the 3oz, and used it a bunch of times. If it's just for this one project, the 1oz should do.
4. I think it only "hardens" if it has contact access to air. If it's still in it's enclosed tube, it should be fine.

 

[celaeno]

1. Check your LFS. I live in NYC too, slate usually goes around $1 to $2/lb.

are you talking about slate tiles? can you tell me the names and locations of the lfs you know carry slate tiles?

 

[chishnfips]

you can use usual roofing slate tiles as well, I got a load from my neighbour when he was roofing his house. They look really good in the tank.

 

[celaeno]

you can use usual roofing slate tiles as well, I got a load from my neighbour when he was roofing his house. They look really good in the tank.

maybe, but i'm looking for small tiles, like 4x6".

 

[dizzied]

1. Check your LFS. I live in NYC too, slate usually goes around $1 to $2/lb.

are you talking about slate tiles? can you tell me the names and locations of the lfs you know carry slate tiles?

Nearly every LFS I've been to in this city sell slate. Just check around.

Which borough do you live in? I'm usually in Manhattan or Brooklyn, and I can't make a whole lot of suggestions outside of that. Petland Discounts, which has many locations all over the city, carries slate for like $1.50/lb.

 

[celaeno]

Which borough do you live in? I'm usually in Manhattan or Brooklyn, and I can't make a whole lot of suggestions outside of that. Petland Discounts, which has many locations all over the city, carries slate for like $1.50/lb.

again, are you talking about slate tiles, because slate chunks are no good to me. i live in queens near flushing.

EDIT: i just called the petland discounts on main st, flushing and they don't have any slate tiles.

 

[Ava_Banana]

Which borough do you live in? I'm usually in Manhattan or Brooklyn, and I can't make a whole lot of suggestions outside of that. Petland Discounts, which has many locations all over the city, carries slate for like $1.50/lb.

again, are you talking about slate tiles, because slate chunks are no good to me. i live in queens near flushing.

If you have real problems getting slate tiles and can only get chunks you could use the natural properties of slate to make "tiles".

All slate has a "grain" and when split along this grain should give quite a clean break. You could always get a suitable chunk and split it using a suitable hammer and cold chisel.



....sorry.....always with the DIY suggestions, I know!

good luck..

 

[chishnfips]

thats a good idea ava banana

 

[dizzied]

Yeah, tiles. Flat, uneven slabs. I've actually never seen slate in "chunks".

How far is that Petland from you? You can check it yourself, since Petland employees tend to be idiots anyways. They usually store them in wooden boxes under their fish tanks.

If you want to make a trip into the city, New World (38th st, between 2nd and 3rd ave) and Pacific (Delancey by Forsyth) are always stocked with rocks and should have slate.

 

[celaeno]

are slate floor and/or roof tiles safe to use as long as they aren't green or have rusty streaks running through them?