Question: Slate tile vs siliconed down sand

[tinyali]

I've seen quite a few posts on using slate tiles or siliconed down sand as a substrate and I'd like to try one of those two options in my new tank, but I wanted a bit more info before committing!

Any idea what the pros and cons are of either of these two options? What are they like to actually live with? Should it be permanently fixed to the tank or left removable? Your experiences and advice would be welcomed!

Also, any advice on how to actually make/install the substrate? Any pitfalls to avoid? Are there any how-to guides available? I've searched through the forum but not stumbled across anything so far.

Sorry for all the questions, but my current tank is bare bottomed, so the whole substrate thing is new to me...

Thanks for your help.

 

[birdsong]

I like the look of slate but it is tedious to clean beneath . Siliconed sand is easier to clean but doesn't have natural look . You could always glue the slate down but it can increase tank weight