Making My Own Slate Cave

[Bobtastic]

Hi all!

I am looking to build my own slate cave for my Cory catfish, but I'm not really sure which slate to use! It has been suggested that slate flooring tiles are too thick for the project, what do ppl think?

Also I could do with some suggestions on where to get some slate from. I don't really want to have to buy a palette of roofing tiles from my local builders yard...

Thanks in advance!

 

[JenCliBee]

Hi all!

I am looking to build my own slate cave for my Cory catfish, but I'm not really sure which slate to use! It has been suggested that slate flooring tiles are too thick for the project, what do ppl think?

Also I could do with some suggestions on where to get some slate from. I don't really want to have to buy a palette of roofing tiles from my local builders yard...

Thanks in advance!

Hi m8, slate flooring tiles are fine, as long as you have a tile cutter the will cut upto 1cm ish then they will be fine. I get mine straight from a tile shop but i only use grey untreated slate.

 

[Bobtastic]

Do you just make those box shaped ones? Do you have any pictures?

 

[JenCliBee]

yes m8 i make purley box shapes, i dont really like all the different shapes but thats just me lol.


Only pic i have to hand is when there in the tank m8, so here you are

 

[Bobtastic]

Ahhh, yeah I've seen those ones. Not to my personal taste. I want to get a little creative, something like prictured below.

I wouldn't get the same effect with floor tiles, I don't think...

 

[JenCliBee]

Ahhh, yeah I've seen those ones. Not to my personal taste. I want to get a little creative, something like prictured below.

I wouldn't get the same effect with floor tiles, I don't think...

Be very carefull with these type m8, i actually built a few from slate chippings brought from a garden centre, when put together they are very rough and i mean very very rough!!! no matter how i situated them, it casued a few scrape injuries to my corys and plecs, obviously i got them out of there quick time.

Just a heads up lol

 

[Bobtastic]

Thanks for the info! I may go for some rounded pebbles instead then!

 

[MermaidMel]

Here's mine I made from slate pebbles, was very easy

 

[shelaghfishface]

Becca320 used to make some fab ones.. have a look thru her threads ( use member search as shes not on very often these days)

heres a link http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=237058&hl=

 

[Bobtastic]

How much silicone did you use to stick them together? I've seen little tube in LFS but wasn't sure if that would be enough.

 

[hensonc4098]

This is the cave I made (excuse the kribs )

I made that out of a piece of slate from a roof that had fallen in - there was plenty of bits to choose from Then I just cut it with the angle grinder and stuck it together

 

[Bobtastic]

Becca320 used to make some fab ones.. have a look thru her threads ( use member search as shes not on very often these days)

heres a link [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=237058&hl="]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=237058&hl=[/URL]

Thanks! I think I might be able to get my hands on some slate chippings like that. That's given me some ideas.

 

[shelaghfishface]

your very welcome, remeber tp post up some pics when you have made some

( dobbies often have slate chippins on offer about a fiver a 15kg bag, buy 2 get one free... but thats a lot of caves maybe you could sell some and pay for the stuff you use tho

 

[MermaidMel]

How much silicone did you use to stick them together? I've seen little tube in LFS but wasn't sure if that would be enough.

JUST A LITTLE DAB IN UNDER EACH STONE AND LEAVE TO DRY
ALSO, FOR SLATE CHIPPINGS, DON'T BUY THEM - NICK THEM LOL, LOTS OF PUB GARDENS AND CAR PARKS ETC. HAVE THEM

 

[Bobtastic]

How much silicone did you use to stick them together? I've seen little tube in LFS but wasn't sure if that would be enough.

JUST A LITTLE DAB IN UNDER EACH STONE AND LEAVE TO DRY
ALSO, FOR SLATE CHIPPINGS, DON'T BUY THEM - NICK THEM LOL, LOTS OF PUB GARDENS AND CAR PARKS ETC. HAVE THEM

I thought you were from Essex not Liverpool! (joke ) My mate has some in his garden, that I believe, he wants to get rid of. So I'll probably releave his of some.