But if the suction cups do not hold, the slate could ruin the tank. Best to fill it and let water help you with the falling platform possibility (FPP).
That is looking really nice!! I wonder if your could do something like that to create an artificial embankment in a filled aquarium? Hmmm.... ideas for that 65 gallon tall!
absolutely you could... and I plan to if I ever upgrade my 20g to a 30 or 40 long... It would be great to create caves and embankment in one swoop, without having to have 6 gallons of stone piled up wasting water space.
I should take some pictures, it's in the tank with water, but no substrate or plants... and I remade the hanger brackets and filled the island with large gravel to test the weight. it's held up over night...
so I couldn't wait any longer. the mangroves and lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana) that I ordered on ebay haven't shipped after almost a week, and I only need those to plant the island.... so I planted the floor and hacked together the filter plumbing with spare parts I had laying around. here's a few shots. I'll be planting the island next week I guess, and will repair it as well, as I unglued a few key spots while cleaning it for installation.
It's lit with 2 15 watt 6500k screw ins in clip lamps with bullet shades. once I have everything set I'm probably going to put a helf above and hang the lights from the shelf. for now, clipped. I'd like the light to be a little yellower from the left bulb.
I'm keeping this tank simple in terms of plants, since it's going to eventually go brackish. So only dwarf sag for now... all plants I grew myself in the last 3 months. there's already some algae on them from the other tank, but I figure it's inevitable, especially once I start adding salt. I'm looking for a LOT of java moss to fill in under the island. haven't found any for sale locally.