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Thread: New FBT vivarium/paludarium questions

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    100+ Post Member daybr4ke's Avatar
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    Default New FBT vivarium/paludarium questions

    So, I started work a bit ago on a new tank:
    20g long Truvu Plastic Aquarium.
    I'm planning to put 3 Fire bellies in it.
    I used black pond/waterfall foam for the background, with some cork bark.
    Now I want to start on the land and water operation, but I'm not sure how I should do it. I want to have at least one terrestrial plant and maybe some aquatic ones if possible. I have 2 ideas:

    1. Basic sloping gravel with dirt on top. My concerns with this is I feel without something holding it together it will fall apart into the water. I read somewhere that you can use moss to give structural integrity to the soil and gravel below via the moss' roots, but I dont know how well that will work and which moss would be best.(Pillow perhaps?)

    2. More pond/waterfall foam on the tank's bottom to create a separator between the planted area and the water area, complete with a sloping bank going into the water. I kinda like this idea more, since I think it'll look good and I'm 100% sure the soil won't get soggy this way. The planted side could even have it's own separate drainage layer.
    I was also wondering what kind of filter and/or pump system would be best.
    I'll add some pictures of the WIP soon. Thanks!
    1 Male Giant African Bullfrog
    2 Woodhouse's Toads
    11 Pacific Treefrogs
    1 Dubia Roach Colony
    2 Australian Green Treefrogs

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    Default Re: New FBT vivarium/paludarium questions

    Quote Originally Posted by daybr4ke View Post
    So, I started work a bit ago on a new tank:
    20g long Truvu Plastic Aquarium.
    I'm planning to put 3 Fire bellies in it.
    I used black pond/waterfall foam for the background, with some cork bark.
    Now I want to start on the land and water operation, but I'm not sure how I should do it. I want to have at least one terrestrial plant and maybe some aquatic ones if possible. I have 2 ideas:

    1. Basic sloping gravel with dirt on top. My concerns with this is I feel without something holding it together it will fall apart into the water. I read somewhere that you can use moss to give structural integrity to the soil and gravel below via the moss' roots, but I dont know how well that will work and which moss would be best.(Pillow perhaps?)

    2. More pond/waterfall foam on the tank's bottom to create a separator between the planted area and the water area, complete with a sloping bank going into the water. I kinda like this idea more, since I think it'll look good and I'm 100% sure the soil won't get soggy this way. The planted side could even have it's own separate drainage layer.
    I was also wondering what kind of filter and/or pump system would be best.
    I'll add some pictures of the WIP soon. Thanks!

    you shouldnt use gravel as they could swallow. (general rule may not apply to this species) i use https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 this for my toad. 24 quarts will fill my 10 gallon with 2-4 inches on the bottom like 50 times and it only needs to be cleaned once every 4 months and changed once a year.

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    100+ Post Member daybr4ke's Avatar
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    Default Re: New FBT vivarium/paludarium questions

    Hi! I ended up going with the foam separator idea, partially as a test to see how well it would work. The gravel was for under the dirt as pictured for drainage and possibly extending under the water on the other side. I think it would be too large for a firebelly toad to eat anyway, although at this size it might be better to call them small rocks. Your post reminded me I needed to post my WIP photos. I still need to put in more plants and stuff, but it's off to a good start. Wanna put in some Mopani wood.

    Edit: I did kinda drop the ball on the layer operation though...think I might wanna redo it. Not really digging the gravel as a drainage layer Tbh, if I redo it I'll probably buy some clay pellets instead...
    1 Male Giant African Bullfrog
    2 Woodhouse's Toads
    11 Pacific Treefrogs
    1 Dubia Roach Colony
    2 Australian Green Treefrogs

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