slate queations and more:)

[befries]

I'm sure one of you great people can answer yet another question

What fish like having slate caves ECT in there tank. I'm sure u have seen the 75g tank in YouTube
With the shelf/cave setup with PVC pipe.

Now most of you have seen pictures of what I have in my 75g
Wondering if this could be a cool thing to do with my bio load or will it just
Jeopardize there health in mabey not having enough room aka my big collection of plecos my two angels, bala and my giant
Kissing gurami?
I'm definitely going to build a cave in my Oscars tank
Also another one
Can I get away with buying my slate from great floors in my tank
12x12 pieces for 3 dollars a piece or 3.59per lb
Thanks guys been a huge help to us.

[OinKY]

Any inert slate (or other rocks for that matter) from any supplier is fine.Just needs thorough cleaning to remove anything that may have gotten on it.

Any decor,in any configuration,displaces water which reduces total volume. You need to keep that in mind with stocking levels. It's easy to reduce a big tank into a small tank if you get carried away.
Slate's flat shape lends itself well to decorating a tank efficiently (and attractively) as long as you don't go overboard.

I'm definitely going to build a cave in my Oscars tank

I often question caves in an O tank,not part of the natural environment. They are a "structure oriented" fish much like our native Sunfish/Bass so roots and rocks are more inline with them. If it's more for tank mates to use,and avoid the O when necessary,then great idea. Otherwise,it's a big item taking up big room.

[JayD976]

When my O was small all the slate caves I ha we're fine but as he got bigger one by one I had to start taking them out because they took up to much room and I noticed when he got into a rage he'd bump them an cut himself up.