Hydroballs vs False Bottom?

[dbizal]

So I have been doing some research and I have noticed that some people use the Zoo Med Hydroballs, and some use a false bottom...

Basically I want to know what the difference is and are there any pros or cons of either of them?

I am looking at building a waterfall or drip wall once I get around sorting out all the stuff I need for a first timer. Do I fill the bottom of the terrarium/vivarium with water? making sure that the substrate is higher than the water level so it doesn't just drown the substrate?

Any help will be appreciated

[Mentat]

Hum... clay aggregate, etc. can all be part of a false bottom set up . This link has discussion and drawings on building one with clay: Frog Forum - Building Dart Frog Terrariums / Tropical Terrarium Construction . Literally you will have a wet part and a dry one. The dry must start above the highest water level so soil does not become water logged, breeds bacteria, and drowns most plants. That is where either an egg crate or similar frame or a huge amount (if large vivarium) of clay balls or similar come into play.

Clay balls (or sintered glass, ceramic, lava, etc.) are porous and will harbor a colony of de-nitrifying bacteria. But are heavy when wet and in large set-ups, the weight can be significant. Egg crate or similar framing is lightweight; but does not provide the surface area for colonizing bacteria the way porous materials do. For smaller set-ups just building up a platform of balls to keep soil above water table is fine. For larger set-ups; the use of an egg crate frame can help keep weight down and clay balls are costlier too. Have also seen a thin (couple ball thickness layer) of clay balls between the egg crate and soil; with netting on both sides in use. Hope this helps and good luck !

[dbizal]

Ah right, I assumed the false bottom was the egg crate method and the hydroball method was a different thing all together haha...

I searched the forum before posting this and then you come along and show me these links I haven't found before >.< Looks like I have something more to read! Thank you for the help and I really hope I am not a burden.

[deranged chipmunk]

A false bottom is advantageous when building a water feature such as a drip wall or a water fall. For one, it gives you a place to hide the pump (remember to leave access for maintenance) and plumbing. It also gives you a nice reservoir of water that you can filter. It's easier to keep nice, clean, stable water quality with a larger amount of water than it is with a smaller amount.

If you are just doing a small "pond", then a leca bottom is the way to go. Just remember to leave yourself a way to drain excess water. In fact, you need to allow that feature either way.

[fish4all]

I used to have Bio Balls in my filters for aquariums. Basically just a large marble to golf ball sized plastic ball that has a lot of surface area to grow beneficial bacteria for increased biological filtration. I would think that if a person were to lay them side by side and put layers of say window screen or other porous material between each layer one could eliminate a lot of weight and increase biological filtration immensely. They could even be used without layers depending on the setup. If I ever set up my 55 for frogs I plan to have them in the waterfall reservoir for biological filtration.