Good Morning / Evening : i require a bit of help :) dartfrog

[shatter]

Hello everybody,

firstly, ive read alot of great information on this forum and thought i would sign up and pick some of your knowledgable brains and to ask any questions if you feel i could help you out.

my main criteria for signing up is regarding my new exo terra/conversion trying to make it suitable for dartfrogs with live plants

i have read so much and researched a hell of alot but im still rather unsure what it is i actually need to do.

i pretty much have everything up to the point where i add plant life ect...

my main concern is the drainage section/bottom.

im not having a water feature but i have purchased small pump and pipe to drain excess water if needed, would you recommend using a pump even without a circulating water feature....? and whats the best way to install this if it is needed?
also do i require a section where i need to make a funtion for water in just incase the bottom isnt accumalting enough water..?

i was hoping to use hydrodrain balls instead of a false bottom as i only bought a relativley small piece of egg crate.

thanks for reading {if you have} and would greatly appreciate some of your thoughts and expertise. this is my 1st vivarium and want it to be more than perfect for when i get darts.

as soon as i know exactly what i need to do with the bottom i can commence and make a speedy start as i have majority of the items i need.

thanks for your time
kind regards
Bob

[shatter]

I will be writing details and taking pictures of all stages as i progress

[deranged chipmunk]

welcome to the forum Bob! if you are doing a LECA (hydroton) base, you won't need the pump. a simple piece of aquarium airline tubing installed will be sufficient to drain excess water. i always recommend placing a bit of spone on the bottom of the airline tubing to prevent clogs, and a small valve on the drain end so that you only need to suck on the tube once

are you familiar with how to layer your drainage layer?

[shatter]

Hey bill, thanks for getting back to me, its really appreciated

i will be using hydro-bio-drain {expanded clay balls } with bio-drain fleece.

ive kinda got a rough idea on what i need to do, i also have eco earth, granulated fern, fine grade orchid bark, medium grade orchid bark and granulated cork for the ground layers.

with regards to installing a drain pipe, whats the best way to do this,..? apologies if i seem like a clueless fool lol

i have got a piece of aquarium tubing which came with a pump [i no longer need to use }

i assume that tubing would be suitable ..?

any info on this would help me out majorly.

im just literally waiting for 3 coco panels, soon as they arrive i can get them stuck in, and then work on the bottom/ground layers.

have that set up for a couple weeks, then its just a matter of adding live plants, then a couple weeks from there i should be able to add the darts.

the only other thing im quite concerned about is the ventilation / keeping humidity up, i know exo terras aint exactly ready to house darts with out a few modifications.

Many thanks
Bob