False bottom question

[John911]

So I'm setting up a 20 long for some tincs. I've decided to use the egg crate method. Then I read somewhere to spread hydroballs on top of the egg crate? Is this necessary? Also how tall should I make the pvc spacers that support the egg crage material?

[Kurt]

Spacers can be around an inch or two. I would place LECA (Hydroton, Hydroballs) on top of the eggcrate with plastic point mess between them. If using coconut bedding or soil on top of that, place nylon mesh on top of the LECA to prevent it from falling below it.

[John]

No, don't spread the hydroballs. That's a piece of redundant advice spread by Greg and Amanda Sihler's book on dart frogs. Either use egg crate for the false bottom or use hydroballs (I do the latter - hydroballs are also known as hydroton and LECA).

[John911]

No, don't spread the hydroballs. That's a piece of redundant advice spread by Greg and Amanda Sihler's book on dart frogs. Either use egg crate for the false bottom or use hydroballs (I do the latter - hydroballs are also known as hydroton and LECA).

It seemed rather strange to me to use 2 layers of drainage and possibly taking away some usable space in the tank.

If I used leca for a 20 long, roughly how deep would you make it? And then also how deep would you make the substrate itself? I saw a formula on josh's frog for hydroton depth, but it didnt make much sense to me.

[John]

I would use about 1.5-2 inches. It's a good idea to make a pond in one corner or wherever so you have access to the water table so you can drain excess water.

I would put 2-4 inches of substrate on top - it's really personal preference and how you want to landscape it. In my thumb terrariums I have about an inch of substrate, just because of where the doors are positioned.