What type of drainage level?

[sp13126]

So I'm starting a vivarium build for the first time. I have bought a 18x18x24 exo-terra mayan rainforest terrarium. The question i have what type of drainage layer should i use? False bottom or hydroball type. What is the pro and cons? I have read post but is seem that its 50/50.

[Heatheranne]

Well, building your viv will depend on what type of frog(s) you'll be getting, as to what type of set-up is best.

Both the eggcrate false bottom and the hygroton work well. It just depends on which you prefer.

[sp13126]

My wife made up her mind on which type of frog that I'm building the viv for. The viv will be for dendrobates auratus "turquoise & bronze". I'm still doing research on which type of drainage level to build with. Any help out there?

[DartEd]

Here's the advantages and disadvantages of each.

False bottom-
advantages - light weight making viv movement easier and less risk of cracking glass bottom, easy to shape, easy access to filters waterfalls etc, very inexpensive especially for larger builds
disadvantages - no surface area for "good" bacteria to grow to keep water relatively clean. (If you don't have moving water, it wouldn't matter)

LECA
advantage - pretty much wash pour and forget it. Looks better thru glass than egg crate. Provides area for bacteria to grow disadvantage - heavy heavy heavy. Doesn't matter if you don't plan on moving the tank. The weight could crack a larger tank.

Both methods are very effective for drainage layers. You have to take into account the size of your build and whether the tank needs to be moved around. I hope this helps.

I personally went with egg crate false bottom in the center with 1" wide layer of LECA all around the perimeter to hide the false bottom for my 40 gallon build. I don't think I have pics of that phase of my build. If I find any I'll post them for you.

[sp13126]

Thank you for the help, I think I will go that idea. That way I have both to have the benefits of both.

[J Teezy]

Eggcrate is very easy to hide, you just have to construct it with that in mind. I use eggcrate FB all the time and hide it by simply making it short of the sides and front which i then hide it with growstones. This is the front of my 24" cube tank. Can you see the eggcrate? Its hidden by the growstones (the bottom layer)