Drainage Layer

[CinnamonPearl]

What should I use for a drainage layer?

[theblackfrog2013]

Egg crate light defusser in the lighting section of Lowes or home depot. Its about 15-24 dollars. Aldo get a roll of screen or weed block and a substrate divider.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[cjbage]

or you could do something like this : Naturalistic Vivarium Substrates | Reptile and Amphibian Substrates | Josh's Frogs false bottom

I think it is called Hydroton and you can probably find it at a hydroponic gardening center or Petco/ Petsmart may have it in the aquarium section

[theblackfrog2013]

or you could do something like this : Naturalistic Vivarium Substrates | Reptile and Amphibian Substrates | Josh's Frogs false bottom

I think it is called Hydroton and you can probably find it at a hydroponic gardening center or Petco/ Petsmart may have it in the aquarium section

Leca/ hydroton is commonly used in conjunction with the egg crate and screen as a light weight alternative. You can use just the Leca but will dtill need some type of divider screen between it and the substrate. It helps keep the c two separate. Also think about an access point to the drainage area.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[cjbage]

Frog Forum - Building Dart Frog Terrariums / Tropical Terrarium Construction

here is a post with pictures also

It looks like her little ones are firebellies, would they still need a drainage point past using something similar to say an aquarium siphon if it is set up similar to the one in the terrarium post I seen ?

Trying to learn about this for when I get another tank, I haven't the necessary tools, know-how to be cutting and doing things like you seen on deranged chipmunks tanks, wish I did though

[deranged chipmunk]

Combining LECA and an egg crate false bottom is redundant and a waste of perfectly good space that could be used for planting substrate, IMHO. Preferably, you would want to use either and egg crate false bottom or a leca drainage layer.

[theblackfrog2013]

I use a drainage layer no matter what. Built with egg crate diffuser. A drilled piece of pvc pipe will allow a siphoning. I'll post a few picks of some tanks.
This is the pond section of one fire belly tank.


Full shot.

My other fire belly set up

Both have false bottom to support land and let water pass under to pumps and filters.

Here's a few pics of a current build.

Top view. Notice the hole in the center of the false bottom. Thats the pvc pipe so it can be siphoned. The false bottom is foam for support to keep it from moving.

Here's another look at the flooring with the screw top feature we're trying out. This keep the substrate out.(I hope lol.)

I hope this helps you out a bit.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[theblackfrog2013]

Its all really trial and error. Most of the stuff can be cut with scissors.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[theblackfrog2013]

Combining LECA and an egg crate false bottom is redundant and a waste of perfectly good space that could be used for planting substrate, IMHO. Preferably, you would want to use either and egg crate false bottom or a leca drainage layer.

The leca is used around the false bottom if you dont gs it in. Honestly the egg crate is much easier and lighter the rock or leca and can be broken down easier with mixing the leca or substrate together.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[deranged chipmunk]

I understand that people use leca around egg crate false bottoms, not sure why, easier to just black the tank out with black contact paper. And I didn't quite follow the second half of your post about easier breakdown by mixing substrate and leca??

[theblackfrog2013]

I did just leca and substrate with a weed block divuder and had a hell of a time keep the two seprated when I broke drown the tanks for redo

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[deranged chipmunk]

Gotcha. Break down is the least of my concerns. Lol i toss everything in the garbage anyway. Leca and substrate are cheap enough, so I never reuse them.

[DigitalPunk]

I have done both types (Leca and Egg Crate)

I prefer the Eggcrate over the Leca quite a bit. I did about a 2 inch void for the false bottom on my Red eye tank and really wish i would of done 1 inch or so. Such a waist of space if you are not going to add water to it for a water feature.. Oh well.

[theblackfrog2013]

Gotcha. Break down is the least of my concerns. Lol i toss everything in the garbage anyway. Leca and substrate are cheap enough, so I never reuse them.

I try and be eco friendly. Most of the things I use to build my tanks ate recycled.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[deranged chipmunk]

I try and be eco friendly. Most of the things I use to build my tanks ate recycled.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

Not sure if I should be insulted by this or not, but since I'm in a good mood today, I won't take it as such.

Reusing materials is commendable. And I do reuse stuff. But not everything. Some things, like substrate are a consumable item, which i don't. Old substrate goes in my garden or plant containers.

[DigitalPunk]

I wouldn't reuse substrate for sure from fear of cross contamination, but I will dump all the soil I have in my Red Eye tank into a tub because the Springtail population in it is ridiculous lol.

[cjbage]

so it looks like there are a couple of ways she can do it and it all comes down to money, space and know how?

[theblackfrog2013]

Not sure if I should be insulted by this or not, but since I'm in a good mood today, I won't take it as such.

Reusing materials is commendable. And I do reuse stuff. But not everything. Some things, like substrate are a consumable item, which i don't. Old substrate goes in my garden or plant containers.

No insult intended. I put mu old substrate in my yard. I just try to reuse all that I can .

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk

[theblackfrog2013]

so it looks like there are a couple of ways she can do it and it all comes down to money, space and know how?

That is correct sir.

Sent from my SCH-R960 using Tapatalk