So I've been an avid fish keeper for years and have experience with planted tanks but this is my first ever experience with owning herps of any kind. I would like to do a vivarium with a native woodland SoCal ecosystem that I can collect from (ie plants, rocks, frogs, etc).

Here is what I have purchased so far:

12x12x18





I'm planning do to a waterfall feature but I'm not sure how to do that. I was going to try something alone the lines of what this guy does with the hydroballs.
http://youtu.be/Lfa7KgsUJ7I

I was just curious with setup as the front water section isn't made with watertight glass, just three large rocks holding the hydroballs back. With this work long term?

I am also not comfortable making a foam background yet but was going to get a premise foam or cork one. How do these handle the moisture?

Any answers will definitely be appreciated since I've never attempted anything like this before

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