Talk to me about false bottoms

[awelcome]

As mentioned in my other thread, I have a cobalt tinc and a small enclosure (12x12x18) which I know is not ideal, but for the time being it's what I have to work with after dropping so much cash already. Anyway... I am already in the process of upgrading what's INSIDE after receiving crappy advice from the pet store (I enjoyed reading the then and now post and seeing it happens to others too so I didn't feel so bad). I will be putting in the stuff from Josh's frogs when it arrives for the basic drainage layer, barrier, substrate, moss, leaf litter set up. When I look at a lot of the builds you guys have done you have false bottoms. I wondered if those were mainly if you will be putting in a water feature, or if I should actually have something like that? I will be putting the water dish back in most likely, will that be enough of a soaking type thing? Is there an added benefit of having a more natural pool in there? Any advice is appreciated, even if I can't necessarily incorporate it in this build. Thanks.

[deranged chipmunk]

For a dart, a false bottom isn't really necessary. I normally do false bottoms because I normally incorporate a water section in my tanks. It's purely an aesthetic deal for me. Darts don't require a water bowl or water feature for water. They will absorb the moisture they need through their skin. A false bottom does have it's advantages though, even if you aren't building in a water feature. It gives you a nice reservoir of water to help keep humidity up. You can also elect to hear the tank from within, by heating the water under the false bottom. Of course, it also has it's disadvantages, more equipment means more of an opening is required for cords, which could also lead to escapes with smaller frogs. This just happened to me recently.

Whether to do a fb or not is purely personal preference when it's not forced by design.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[awelcome]

Thanks for the info. I think for now then I will stick with my plan. I doubt I have room in there for much of a water section anyway.

[deranged chipmunk]

Good choice. A layered substrate is the best choice for a first build.

You'd be surprised how big of a water feature you could fit in there


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Lija]

Good choice. A layered substrate is the best choice for a first build.

You'd be surprised how big of a water feature you could fit in there


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

lol are you converting another one?

Awelcome, careful, tanks are very very addicting but so rewarding!

[deranged chipmunk]

No, I'm not "converting another one". Alicia came to is with dart frog in tank already. We didn't have to bring her over to the dark side from the phat phrog crowd


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[Lija]

Lol yeah that is true!