Need your input! Going to be setting up my first FBT tank!

[Jenste]

Water will be filtered and heated. Probably two filters so I can try and make a waterfall area with the outflow.

Is the night bulb essential? I thought a normal aquarium light was all that was needed.

[Sunshine]

They do not need a heater for the water. They like it cooler. They do not need a night bulb, mine do fine without one. They like the water to be still, so I don't know about having a waterfall. I would read the FBT care article if you haven't yet. Frog Forum - Fire-Bellied Toad Care and Breeding - Bombina orientalis and relatives Have fun!

[Jenste]

I did read that article and have been reading a lot of pretty much everything I can find online due to low response volume.

I read it was best to keep the water around 72-74*F (if I average the info on this and other sites and unheated my water temp seems to be in the 60*s on this side of the house - North/North East) with depth not being an issue with adequate land mass. I am probably going to have it about half filled to play up the tree like form. I am diligent with water quality and always over filter rather than under filter. The filter outputs will of course be directed in a way for minimal surface movement. Multiple climb out points is my goal.

I will post a picture once I am able to get the tank set up, hopefully tomorrow as I emptied all stock out of it this evening (was housing Angelfish juveniles).

[Jenste]

And now the fun of draining the tank to add the driftwood so I can play with out getting soaked. Also have to add a deeper sand bed so I can really root everything into place. Have the sand already rinsed in my back yard (I got up early as the afternoon calls for rain!)

[Jenste]

Ok, waiting for the sand to settle. (Excuse the glare, at this time in the day there is nothing I can do about sun light coming in through the blinds. Also, these are taken by my phone and not my camera as the camera is charging so I can take good photos of the frogs when I get them! )

Only ended up using one filter for now as the Fluval U2 is good for 30 gallons and there is probably just over 10 gallons in the tank. It has three out flow options - out of the top, out of the bottom, and out of the middle. I have it currently set for out of the bottom so all waste etc in the water will get moved around to the filter but the top of the surface doesn't move.

I have a "reptile dish" thing that I had originally bought to use as a feeding dish in my axolotl tank until I got it home, peeled all the labels off, cleaned it and then realized it floated. Now it and a large rock (to make sure it is completely balanced and doesn't wobble in the slightest, have made a type of platform in addition to all the branches.

Will look much better once the sand fully settles as you will be able to see the "tree" like appearance and all the climb out levels.

I put a floating betta log in to for good measure, may end up taking it out if they don't use it.

[Jenste]

Wasn't sold on how the reptile dish/rock combo looked. It ruined the whole tree effect I think...maybe I'm wrong.

I took it out...how does it look with out it? Enough land area? I can add a few more pieces of driftwood too....

[Jenste]

Ok. Added more driftwood, took out rocks and now I am happy.

Makes it have much more climbing areas and a more natural feel. I will be adding more plants eventually, have a small amazon sword in the tank now and some water wisteria left floating. Excuse the "wet" look to the wood. I had it soaking.

Will add vines in evenutally.

How does it look?

[Mentat]

Hello Jen! Been quietly observing your FBT tank and it looks good to me. Agree with rock removal and going all driftwood. What kind of sand did you end up using? I see most of it is fine but there is also what looks like larger size gravel in there; will that be an impaction problem? Guess not with depth of tank and if food floats.

Looking forward to seeing your frogs swim and wonder if they will use all the depth or stay near top. Most FBT enclosures I've seen have only 2-3 in. of water in them. Do you plan to add fish to tank? If so, which species? Also, see some Wisteria in there, would add some plants that shoot broad leaves to top where frogs could climb on. Have fun and good luck !