DESIGN IDEAS for MAKING AQUARIUM
DECORATIONS
FROM SLATE
Caves, Shelves, Tunnels, Terraces
and Sculptures
On this page I will provide some basic
design and configuration ideas for using slate in
aquariums with my slotting slate techniques. There are
many more possible variations, combinations and
positioning options so be creative and have fun!
Please Note: These designs and the information about
them is released for personal use only. A commercial
license is not being granted.
If you do want to make slate aquarium decorations to
sell. CLICK HERE
for details of a proposal that's hard to
resist.
THIS IS PAGE FIVE
The Designs. Some basic structures for
building with slate in an aquarium.
PAGE ONE Where to find slate
suitable for aquarium decor.
PAGE
TWO Is all slate safe in
aquariums?
PAGE
THREE
Tools needed to make slotted slate aquarium decorations.
PAGE
FOUR The Methods,
making a slate aquarium decor by slotting slate.
1. The A Frame.
This is the simplest arrangement, It requires only one
slot in each of two pieces of slate. There are lots of
possible variations to this simple design. The third
picture shows an A Frame with a short side and a long side
with a back door.
A Frames can be used as the supports for
larger and more extravagant aquarium displays. Consider
making two or more of the same height and placing a large
slab of slate, then cobblestone rocks and plants on top.
If you want to really load some substantial rocks on top,
you should use slate that is thick and strong and probably
cushion the glass floor with some styrofoam or rubber.
Test your ideal structure out of the water. If the slate
supports your rocks out of the water, it will do so in the
aquarium because the weight of the rocks will be partially
supported by the water and therefore weigh less.
2. A Simple Cave.
This design requires four slots. One in
each upright and two in the top surface slate.
The simple three piece cave design can
be left open at both ends to make a tunnel. Or as, in the
exploded and rear view pictures, made with fitted flush
rear edges so that a cave can be formed by positioning the
structure against the aquarium glass. An additional slate
shape can be supported against the glass as an attractive
backdrop.
3. Table Ledge.
This design is very flexible and forms the
basis for terraces with caves scattered among them. You can make an irregular shaped Table Ledge
design to stand in the center of the aquarium or make one
that fits tight to the rear tank glass or into a
corner.
The Table Ledge design requires a number of vertical support uprights each with a
slot. Making corresponding slots in the horizontal slate
surface will stabilize the structure but is not
absolutely essential providing the slots in the uprights
are reasonably long. Each horizontal slot must be parallel
to the base and equal distance from it. You can position
the upright slate pieces to form caves and tunnels under
the ledge. You can add more slotted uprights to make more
caves as time goes along and the tank population
increases.
You can use the Table Ledge to support
additional vertical or angled slate pieces either just for decor and interest or as
removable spawning slates for angelfish and others that spawn on
vertical or angled stone surfaces. The slot in the
additional spawning slates should be slightly further from
the base than the slots that support the table slate. The
greater the extra distance from the base, the greater the
lean on the angled spawning slate. These temporary slates
for spawning can be easily removed to an incubation
tank.
Broken pieces of slate tiles with straight edges
work well for corner fitting Table Ledges. You must use upright slate
pieces that also have a straight edge and make sure that
the slots are accurately cut so that the pieces fit
together with the straight edges flush with each other. The
length of the slot from the base edge on one piece has to
be the same as the distance from the slot to the base edge
on the other.
Consider making a large one for the base and successively
smaller ones to go on top. The picture above shows a
version made to fit into a corner of the aquarium. The
picture on the right is a rear view. It more easily
shows how the compartments or caves are formed by the
uprights and also shows the flush intersections. This
particular one uses a rear corner upright with two slots
that supports both terrace ledges.
This design can be used directly against the glass so that
you can see into the caves. Or you can use it to support
upright flat pieces of slate behind the structure. These serve as a background and
give the fish an all natural stone cave interior.
4 Vertical Slate with Horizontal
ledges.
This design can be used to make dramatic
structures with stone ledges that can be set at any height
you choose. Ledges can be just off the aquarium gravel for
Cichlids and other fish that like to tunnel and right on
the water surface so that turtles or amphibians can rest
on them. Two or more of these structures can be positioned
so that the horizontal ledges form arches and tunnels.
They can be made so that the ledges pass
over each other leaving just a small space between the
slate surfaces. Perfect for the small fry to hide between.
The pictures above show two Vertical
Slate structures arranged together and their exploded
views.
Its important to make accurately fitting
slots with this design. The slots that support the base
must be just the right length or the structure will be
wobbly . The slate piece that is used as the support must
be strong and relatively substantial. The slot in the
vertical slate upright needs to be positioned so that the
upright slate is basically balanced.
It's a good idea to get the slate upright
balanced and stable first. Add the horizontal slate
shelves with continued regard to maintaining a balanced
structure.
Like my idea?... Want to say thanks?...
Any small donation will be gratefully received.
if you decide to give it a try and need to
buy slate or tools online, another way to show
appreciation is to use my link to Amazon. I believe I have
found all the tools you would need at this one trusted
online location. I will receive a very small commission
for anything you buy.
AMAZON AQUARIUM SLATE and TOOLS STORE
If you don't find what you need there try
a search of Amazon
SEARCH AMAZON
PAGE ONE Where to find slate
suitable for aquarium decor.
PAGE
TWO Is all slate safe in
aquariums?
PAGE
THREE
Tools needed to make slotted slate aquarium decorations.
PAGE
FOUR The Methods,
making a slate aquarium decor by slotting slate.
THIS IS PAGE FIVE The Designs. Some basic structures for
building with slate in an aquarium.
Slate Sculptures Designed for Aquarium Aquascaping
