Terrarium waterfall

[Kurt]

The coconut bedding turns the water reddish brown. I have never know it to be a problem however.

[hype28]

It is definitely a problem with a waterfall. The brown/black water plus high humidity and splashing = a film of brown all over the glass and everything in the terrarium that looks awful. I do not know how the fungus come to play and it may have been a coincidence, but I can't help but believe that the filthy habitat was conducive to letting it grow. The hydroballs are supposed to act as a natural filter, so I gave it three months and it was unbearable. It has been going with the filtration system for three weeks and it is still growing darker, which is why I am up for a redesign!

[John]

The hydroballs act as a biological filter for nitrogenous waste - they don't filter the particulate matter in the water, which is what the red material is (from the coconut fibre). Whatever way you've set up your substrate is incorrect - if you do it right, the coconut fibre is not sitting in water, but above it. That way it's always moist but not soaking in water. The water in the base of my dartfrog terraria is only slightly tinted, and the older terraria have crystal clear, untinted water.

[SludgeMunkey]

Some of that coarse filter foam for aquariums can solve your issues. A block of this open celled foam in front of the intake keeps the coir from gumming up the works. A piece of it on the outtake disturbs the flow just enough to reduce or eliminate splashing. Another trick you can use specific to your enclosure is a wad of Java moss or a block of the filter foam in the water feature slightly above the surface placed so that the waterfall pours on to it will kill your splashes too.

Yet another trick you can employ is a bit of work with some more ledges in your waterfall to keep the water from dropping so far before hitting the surface, thus splashing.

[Miss Toady]

Hi I'm a newbie. and was given a tank and filter. I use the fish tank filter as a water fall. I extended the inlet tube to reach the water and the outlet water trickles through the fly wire at the top onto some small rocks Ive angled to reduce splashing.
This also cleans the water.

[Tropicok]

I'm gonna try my Zoo Med waterfall kit anyway. I will have the hydroballs on bottom, piece of coarse foam around the pump, pieces of plastic ceiling grid making a platform and slanted for a pool, next will be screening, then coco fiber or orchid bark, and some rocks. That should keep the substrate from getting into the water below.
My question: how to attach the waterfall tubing....to the backside of a background or directly on the glass? I need some pictures to reference.

[Kurt]

Miss Toady, I would either cover up or remove the gravel to prevent accident ingestion of it. Gravel can cause fatal impactions in frogs.

[Miss Toady]

Kurt Thanks for the tip re the gravel .