How do false bottoms work?

[Fbt123]

Now i may sound kinda stupid for asking this, but how do these actually work. I know you have to get egg crate and pipe stuff. But how do i get water from under the false bottom to my filter (im thinking about making a dartfrog viv so i need to know this lol). Basically i need a good explaining about how you make one of these and how id get water to do stuff in it. Im a frog noob lol

Thanks for helping

[Mentat]

Hello Tom! You are mixing couple issues in here. A false bottom allows having substrate above the maximum water level so it can remain dry and not turn into a bog. It can either be made of egg crate or of a deep enough layer of gravel, lecca (clay balls), or similar. To remove water that collects there you either drill glass and instal a bulkhead with a valve; or provide for a way to suck water out (i.e. a 1 in. clear tube ending in a filter sponge and reaching all the way to bottom) as if you where doing an aquarium water change.

Another thing is to have a water feature in conjunction with the false bottom. Those become more complicate designs because water usually is very disobedient . Then you have to integrate your pump or filter system into design, provide a deep enough water area, and ensure you can access the pump or filter should you need to do maintenance on it after the vivarium is set-up. There are many builds in this section where you can get ideas from. Good luck !

[Fbt123]

Thanks Carlos , very useful info there. So i don't have to put a water feature in there then. In my fbt viv,, i have about 1.5 inches of gravel, then hydrofleece then a mix of orchid bark and eco earth. Is this a basic false bottom then? If i do get some dart frogs (unfortunately that may be in a few years time if i cant get them now) i will try a water feature set up. Once again, thanks for the great advice Carlos

[DigitalPunk]

The rocks/leca/light weight media + a membrane that let's water and air pass through but not soil + soil is a basic drainage layer setup. And is typically used in tanks without a water feature.

Doing eggcrate and PVC pipe legs is one way to do a False Bottom. The FB raises the bottom of the land area up to a point where it is well above the maximum waterline for your water feature. This allows you to have 3,4, or 5+ inches of water with your land section suspended safely above it.

[DigitalPunk]

Stickied to the tip of the vivarium section of the forums is a construction 101 thread. It will walk you through several of the common was to build a tank