any good DIY tutorials on false bottoms?

[mrzoggs]

ive done a little bit of searching around and have seen a couple. i just havent really grasped the concept. i just want it to look a little more realistic for my red eyed tree frogs. i have a exo terra medium waterfall in there but i was looking to switch to live plants and so forth. thanks for any help

[flybyferns]

ive done a little bit of searching around and have seen a couple. i just havent really grasped the concept. i just want it to look a little more realistic for my red eyed tree frogs. i have a exo terra medium waterfall in there but i was looking to switch to live plants and so forth. thanks for any help

amphibian care is always a reliable resource

Amphibian Care >> Constructing a False Bottom

[typo]

we decided to go with a thick layer of hydroton since its more beneficial for bacteria and micro-fauna growth.

[mrzoggs]

thank you both very much. i gotta take care of my babies

[lopches]

Hi, just a quick question for the substrates after creating a false bottom. Didn't want to create a new thread. Coco fiber is unavailable, therefore i plan on getting plantation soil. For those with live plants in their tank, what do you put on top of the substrate first to prevent soil from falling below? Would forest bark as the first layer be alright and then plantation soil on top be better? Please advise.

[Heatheranne]

Fiberglass netting/screen works great. You can get it in a roll at any home improvement store like Lowe's, Home Depot, Value Home Center, etc.

You can put the substrate right on top of it.

[BlueisallIneed]

Youtube actually has some decent vids too

[lilblack94gt]

I used the hydroballs. I put a layer of them about 1 inch thick and then used a couple sheets of black craft foam over the hydroballs. I cut holes in the craft foam for the plants. I left them in the little containers they came in from the petstore and placed them in among the hydroballs. Once the plants were in, I placed eco earth around them about 2 inches thick and thoroughly soaked it. If you wanted to add a waterfall, you could place the pump under with the hydroballs. I keep about 1 inch of water in the hydroballs to water the plants. I used bark background that you could easily cut a hole in for a tube to create a natural waterfall effect.

[Heatheranne]

I have a tank with the false bottom and one with hydroballs. They both work well.

I did get tired of cleaning out the hydroballs though, so I sewed a fiberglass mesh screened bag for mine. Now I can pull the whole thing out and rinse it rather than siphon through the substrate to the balks. Works great .



I rinse them through with regular tap water followed by a dechlorinated water rinse. I love it .

[Heatheranne]

Oops, I am a bad typist, lol . Then you can just scoop out the substrate as needed, replace your bad of hydroballs, and add new substrate. Or you can siphon the excess water from the bottom. Whichever you like.