Slate?

nesolb · Post by **nesolb** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:24 pm

I've managed to get hold of some old roof slate from a roofing merchants and besides giving it a good clean, Is there anything else I need to do to it before introducing it in to my tank?

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:12 pm

Thats pretty much it really, a few of the guys here have made their caves out of roofing slate.

Adam

nesolb · Post by **nesolb** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:51 pm

Cheers Adam.

My zebbies have arrived today and I was just fretting and getting paranoid about imaginery stuff that might need cleaning off the slate.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:33 pm

If you're still worried you can give the slate a soak in boiling water. Most of my tank decor is placed in boiling water before it goes in the tanks, it's especially important with driftwood so as to remove as much of the tannins in the wood as possible. Then again this is not really necessary if you are setting up a black water tank.

Regards.

Adam

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:44 pm

Placing it in boiling water is a good idea, just to be on the safe side. If they are re-claime slate check for any black tar still stuck to the undersides of the slate.

Also it is a good idea to just run soume rough sandpaper over the edges to remove any really sharp bits.

have fun!
rob

nesolb · Post by **nesolb** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:36 pm

Thanks for the input guys. They are reclaimed slate but I gave them a good clean with a scrubbing brush to get all the surface dirt off and soaked them in boiling water for a few hours. I did place them in the tank where I wanted them but got paranoid that there might be something I missed so took them out again.

I got a decent amount of this slate so I've got a bit of work to do re-sizing and re-shaping to make some crevices and hiding places for them, it's all go isn't it!!

How long would you recommend soaking new driftwood for?

I'm getting hold of some, I believe to be mopani, in the next few days.

Post by **Barbie** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:37 pm

I don't presoak mopani wood at all, just rinse it off well. Then again, I like the tannic water look and I do more water changes than most people deem necessary. It's going to be all about the aesthetics of it for you, IMO

.

Barbie

nesolb · Post by **nesolb** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:01 pm

I'm gonna give it a good clean first and then I was thinking of soaking it in boiling water and then in some tank water.

They seem to like the bogwood that I've got in at the moment, this was straight out of one of the tanks at my lfs.

Shell231 · Post by **Shell231** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 8:50 pm

Did all 19 arrive safely? have you got any tank shots with them in?

nesolb · Post by **nesolb** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:59 pm

All 19 arrived in perfect health. I don't have any tank shots at the moment cos I want to get them settled in first, watch this space!!

zebra046 · Post by **zebra046** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:40 am

if you are still unsure of the slate try placing them in another tank with fish and for now just use clay pots for your zebras to hide

nesolb · Post by **nesolb** » Mon Aug 15, 2005 5:52 pm

Got my batch of caves from Captain Caveman on Saturday and a few zebbies have already moved in!!

Big thanks to the captain, they're spot on.

Captain Caveman · Post by **Captain Caveman** » Thu Aug 18, 2005 4:59 am

Glad you like them and more importantly the Zebras, cheers.

The Captain.