Hey my name is Zach and not only am I new to this forum, I am also new to creating vivariums. I have done tons of research and now I have questions..... Here is a general idea of the enclosure I hope to create. 75 gallons with a false bottom with a one inch difference in the middle to create a kind of slope. Then I'll use some soil mixed with a few bricks of coco fiber or whatever I end up deciding on a few plants and maybe one fake climbing branch for the critter going inside. And that's my set up. Now for questions(they may sound ridiculous). 1) I want to make a waterfall with a stream and this is what I was thinking: fill the false bottom with water and cut out to holes in the back left and front right corners of my false bottom. Put a filter half submerged in the back left and have it waterfall fall into a stream that carries is to the small pond in the front right hole. This way the water is circulated and filtered. I would also add screen to the bottom of the front right pond so that nothing but water gets into the false bottom. I'd love to hear thoughts on that. 2) I need to provide heat on for my critter and I currently use an under tank heat pad. With a false bottom, this seems useless. I was thinking about just wrapping the pad in foil and putting it between the soil and screen on top of the false bottom. Thoughts? 3) I am considering red wigglers to enhance the life cycle of the vivarium. But am worried that that heater will toast them and then I will have a smell problem. Think they will stay away from the heat? 4) I am thinking about creating a underground hide for my critter. I will do this by blocking off a small section of the back right corner. Making walls sealed and secured with silicon blocking off the water from the false bottom. The only thing I don't like about that is having stuff stuck to my tank.. But this seems like a very insignificant problem to me.

That's all i can think of now but I'm sure I'll have more questions later!! thanks for reading!