Self Sustaining Vivarium?

[deranged chipmunk]

you can definitely slap an uth on the side of the tank. just make sure it's at least an inch or more above the waterline. and keep in mind, that that will only heat the air inside the tank, not the water. of course, there will be radiant heat spread to the water, however it will not heat the water.
as far as buggies, i know springtails are good as a clean up crew, but make sure you have a running culture going, because the frogs might decide to snack on them

[HerpDerp]

I'm pretty excited to give this a go (hopefully soon). I've found some pretty good layout ideas online and have a pretty good idea of what I want to do. So if I I know I already asked this but how often would I have to change the substrate with a false bottom? Would it be feasible to plant the plants directly in the substrate or should I stick with pots? I also have seen some pretty cool set ups with pots attached higher up for pothos and other vined plants. Is this a complicated process to create something like that?

[deranged chipmunk]

i can't comment on when to change substrate because i have only had my current viv up for a few months. but i am sure it would be a long time before the substrate would need replacing. yes, you can plant directly into the substrate. some people use pots to make things easier. i.e. rearranging plants, maintenance, ect. and if you are doing a foam background, you just set the pots where you want them and foam around them. easy peasy. don't forget some sort of drainage for the pot as well though. a straw works wonders for that

[DonLisk]

Here is a link to creating a false bottom with eggcrate, and the setup was for WTFs.

as for changing out substrate, if it drains properly and never picks up mites, or other unwanted inhabitants, then the substrate may never have to be changed, nut..... WTFs are pretty abusive to a tank and depending on the amount of animals and how often you remove visible waste/dropping will be the deciding factor here.
My RETF tank has not had the substrate changed in almost two years, smells nice, and the plants grow well without need for anything other than routine trimming of overgrowth.

Hope the link helps.
http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...se-bottom.html

[HerpDerp]

That's an awesome guide! I definitely book marked it. How are WTFs abusive to a tank? I only have one right now and he's been pretty gentle on the tank so far so maybe I just haven't noticed? Oh my word, just as I was typing this I think I got an idea of what you meant. I looked up just in time to see him lunge from one end of a the tank to the other to snag a cricket off the pothos and in the process dislodged part of his climbing vine, nearly broke a leaf off the pothos and then splashed water everywhere when he landed in his water dish. And I didn't even know there was a cricket in there! So I guess I'll construct the vivarium keeping that sort of thing in mind :P.

[deranged chipmunk]

Yup. My white's are constantly rearranging their home. Everyday i come home from work, i have to fix something in their tank.....lol but i have to admit, it is awesome to watch them leap after food. Mine will leap the entire length of their tank for food and it's 3 feet long!! Lol

[IrishRonin]

Well I'm with Don on this one, as long as it drains well and you have isopods and/or springtails to do some cleaning you shouldn't have to change the substrate. Between the poop and the insects you should get plenty of fertilization to keep you plants going no problem. By the way i plant directly into my substrate, that way its less likely your plants will get root bound. I use a small false bottoms of hydroballs and as long as you dont over water it the plant roots usually suck up any excess water no problem