Solid Layer Of Slate As A Substrate?

[plecostomus-mad]

sounds like an awesome idea, if it works i want to try it

Thats the same thing I was thinking. I think the best way to do it would be to custom custom cut the slate so it fits perfectly in your tank then silcon it in and silicone around the edges to seal it off so no food or poo could get under it. Only bad thing about that would be it would be kinda permanent. You might want to just lay some in there at first to see if you like but youll have to take it out during water changes to clean under it.

Something else I just thought of is your could cut it to make it fit perfect then just silicone around the edges to make a seal instead of doing the under side to, so if later you changed your mind you could just cut the seal and take it out.

well if he made a seal woudnt the slate break in two? your saying around at least 200+lbs of water goin on it

i would only get machined slate, or get it machined so that the bottom would be as flat and smooth as the glass.. the thing that would worry me is........if there was a lump sticking out on the bottom of the slate, 200lbs in one tiny spot on the glass would shatter it!

 

[dave_oddballs]

so am i right in thinking you have a normal glass aquarium and you want to lay a solid piece of slate into th bottom of the tank?
if so, how will you lay it in the tank without dropping it? if it fits flush into th bottom of the tank there will b no room for fingers etc. you would have to drop it in using plastic straps (or something similar) and use them like a sling sort of idea then cut off the ends once the slat is in place.
if you are going to get the slate professionally cut then companies that cut slate, granite, glass etc will smooth out one side, so as not to have bits sticking out, that could potentially crack the bottom, if you do do it i think it would look very nice, maybe have a few smooth cobbles laying around would look good too!

Dave

 

[aly_starh]

I have slate at the bottom of my shrimp tank,
i broke it into little pieces with a hammer, and it looks nice.

 

[ellena]

Maybe you could lay a piece of spongey stuff at the bottom, under the slate, then seal round it. It might be expensive, but I think it would look fab!

 

[holidayinn]

You could use eggcrate at the bottom of the tank, this would protect the glass in case you ever dropped the slate. It will catch waste, but you could lift the slate and the waste would be caught by the filters. Just a suggestion, as I'm hesitant to make permanent changes to tanks.

 

[Luke_emma_23]

If you go onto Google and type 'fishtank with slate bottom' then look at images there is a thread on there where someone has done it!!

Looks pretty good!!

 

[loraxchick]

put about and inch of sand under the slate..any "bumps" will not touch the glass and cause it to break. id be more concerned about the sides when "lowering" the slate into place (cracks..eeek).
this will be interesting if you actually do it...the theory is sound tho. id be tempted to have the slate cut, disassemble the tank and take out the bottom glass, then just silicone the slate to the bottom for a new floor (no glass underneath to break). kinda like the "vintage" tank that someone had mentioned above. i had one of these tanks 20 years ago when i was a child. it worked just fine.
cheers

 

[mr130gallon]

to lower the slate into the tank you could use suction cups could you not?

 

[erk628]

to lower the slate into the tank you could use suction cups could you not?

Hmmmm I think You may have something here!

 

[loraxchick]

to lower the slate into the tank you could use suction cups could you not?

Hmmmm I think You may have something here!

a really good idea, but i personally woulnt risk the suction failing. someone had mentioned a strap method which would be more fool-proof with less chance of an accident. slate isnt smooth like glass. lots of ridges and bumps and all it would take is for one of the cups to fail, the rest would most likely follow suit and you can imagine the rest.
drilling holes and using eye-hooks would be a good way to go. need a mason bit as to not crack the slate. then just remove the eye hooks and if the holes bother you, silicone them shut.
cheers