Is this slate ok?

[e80]

Http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10797510&fh_location=//catalog01/en_GB/categories%3C{9372012}/categories%3C{9372018}/categories%3C{9372086}/specificationsProductType=decorative_slate

 

[kiathepooch]

If it has sharp edges then you would need to file them down/round,do you mean to use it as a substrate?or to build?as a substrate I'm not sure as it would take a lot of checking to make sure all potential sharps are gone..when I was making my slate cave I almost sliced my finger tip off!i was using silicone round my slate edges though.

 

[e80]

If it has sharp edges then you would need to file them down/round,do you mean to use it as a substrate?or to build?as a substrate I'm not sure as it would take a lot of checking to make sure all potential sharps are gone..when I was making my slate cave I almost sliced my finger tip off!i was using silicone round my slate edges though.

Yeah I mean't as substrate. Where did you get your single bits of slate?

 

[kiathepooch]

I got mine from a builders merchant/reclamation yard,I got 3 full roof slates for £2 then broke them up myself.

 

[e80]

I got mine from a builders merchant/reclamation yard,I got 3 full roof slates for £2 then broke them up myself.

Cheers

 

[e80]

Is that alright?

ROOFING SLATES 14x6 28p EACH inc | eBay

 

[StewRat]

That looks like a good deal if you are close enough to collect.

I used slate from poundland - sold as place mats and coasters, but still cost more than that.

After I smashed mine up to silicon into stacks, I just tapped round the exposed edges with a hammer to remove the most exposed sharps.

 

[kiathepooch]

Why didn't I think to look on eBay!doh!that is a great price for it!

 

[Coastal Groovin]

That is not safe with the jagged edges and even sanded down will be able to cut and slice and Axie that is spooked and swimming full speed. Plus cleaning out waste will be next to impossible to syphon out waste from in between the stone. Which can cause big problems a year or less from now as you have to break down the tank and remove all the stone to clean it. If you like the slate look have some real slate floor tile cut to lay flat on the bottom of the tank.

 

[kiathepooch]

If you epoxy the sides it'll be fine though,I should've said I used aquarium sealant round the edges of the slate.

 

[Kal El]

Hey,

I've tried using slates before (even sharp ones) and I didn't encountered any problems; albiet I only used one large slate to build a cave-like structure. But Bill is right in saying that using the slates as substrate would cause a great of havoc when cleaning.

You could always use a few for decorative purposes. However, because the slates are from the builder's yard, I would be inclined to take extra precaution. Before I put the slates that I purchased into the tank, I tested them rigourously by scrubbing them thoroughly with sodium bicarbonate and warm water. After doing that a few times, I sat the slates in declorinated water for about a week and did before and after tests for compounds such as phosphates, carbonates, and the routine nitrogen and pH tests. The last thing you want is for these slates to leak salts that will affect the overall pH or the hardness of the tank water.

Hope this helps.

- Jay