Carbon for drainage

[Leefrogs]

I have a 10 gal vertical tank, one big planter and 1 small one. 1/2 bottom is moss, all of bottom is rocks, and I'm having trouble with humidity. Ithor it's too high, or plummits within hours of misting. TO THE POINT, I wana do a planted bottom on this, can I use carbon, like 1 inch, and plantation soil on top, without a screen. Keep in mind this is a temporary viv, maybe for 6 months, till my1 white grows enough to join the other 2 in a new home.
I plan on just tilting viv, and inserting turkey baister to suck up moisture, I will change out moss, but plan on not cleaning for 6 to 9 months.

[Leefrogs]

I wanted to say, it's been really cold and with my firplace blazing ( have heated floor also) it gets air really moving and that's why it's swinging soo bad. And that I'm using black diamond charcoal that has 50% less moisture than regular coal. I'm not going to rinse it as this would add moisture. This black diamond was 2x the price, but it's sopose to last 5x longer. I am going to still keep 1/2 of viv stone bottom, and prop the plant side up so everything drains tward stones for easier cleaning.(siphoning)

Any one have advise?

[MikeM670]

I believe that stuff is milled to allow more surface structure so it provides more filtering for the same amount of other brands. Not sure if it would be worth the expense for using under a substrate. The other issue might be the grains are rather small. Not sure if a larger sturdier base material might be better...ie not shifting around as easy. But again your not gonna be putting heavy stuff on it.

[Leefrogs]

thanks guys. But I have 2 new ones un opened. Have shallow root plants and didn't wana put some heavy rock in there. I know plants grow well in carbon but was also wondering if I should add amonia reducer? But for one Lil frog in temporary viv, may not need it. what u think, should I worry bout it? And because I'm not rinsing carbon should I worry about the drainage and contact with the frog?

[MikeM670]

thanks guys. But I have 2 new ones un opened. Have shallow root plants and didn't wana put some heavy rock in there. I know plants grow well in carbon but was also wondering if I should add amonia reducer? But for one Lil frog in temporary viv, may not need it. what u think, should I worry bout it? And because I'm not rinsing carbon should I worry about the drainage and contact with the frog?

I would forget the ammonia reducer. The beneficial bacterium should take care of that. I would rinse the carbon as it will be very dusty and the water will turn black with all the small particles. In a aquarium those particles would settle out or be trapped in the filter. As far as contact are you placing a substrate material and barrier over the charcoal?

[Leefrogs]

I was just going to go coal with rocks mixed in and plantation soil then moss, it's a total of a 6" by 12" inch area to be planted, wasn't sure how to do barier with small area, was going to skip it, Bad idea????

[MikeM670]

I would put a barrier in. Do you have any landscaping fabric or plastic window screen? Just cut a piece to fit that area and you should be good. You don't want substrate sitting in water or falling down between the rocks and carbon. Then the whole are will get clogged up.

[Leefrogs]

I got screen, sorry I didn't answer lastnight, phone died. Going to do it as soon at my munchkin goes to sleep. He will be messing with her and shell be freiked out as it is! Thanks again.