False Bottom/LECA/Gravel

spartcus · 04-23-2009, 10:03 PM

Ok im getting my substrate mix and draining figured out. Im doing a false bottom with egg crate and screening then the substrate mix of some sort. Is there benefits to any of the other ways to do the drainage?

Also any good substrate mix out there that people use?

atlfrog · 04-23-2009, 11:45 PM

Although I do not have false bottoms in any of my tanks right now. I do know that if you make an area where you can place a small pump, like the one from the Exoterra waterfalls that you will have an easier time draining the tanks out.

BUT this is what I have done successfully in my tanks. All of my tanks but one have pea size gravel with at least a 5in height in the tank. I have made a small area that I have placed a good size rock on so I can pump out any water out of the tank when needed and the frogs don't drown. I have a small 5 gallon or less little stick on heater on the bottom so that water is evaporated into the tank at a slow enough pace to create a natural ventilation system with in the tank so when my system is enclosed the condensation waters all of my plants. I mist like 2 times per week and I barely ever have to drain my tanks. You can use those clay ball and get the same effect. Other types of stuff I have used is styrophone peanuts. Yes, I am a bit cheap at times but they never break down and I had a million of them. They can serve the same purpose but my favorite was the gravel. I gave a away some of my secrets but not all.

All I do with my tanks is feed and clean the glass when I want too. There are millions of other ways to do things out there just find what works for you.

Knoxter · 04-24-2009, 12:04 AM

Hi spartcus,
Good to see your working on yours tanks. My opinion for a drainage is to use leca. I purchaesed 5 bags from BJ and it was not that much shipped. This is what I thought about all three methods.
False bottom= Ok, if you cover it up and make sure the weight is supported properly. Doesn't look nice. Works well for sump if you have a water feature.
Leca=What I use, good drainage, aesthetically pleasing. Good surface area for bacteria.
Gravel=Rookie choice IMO. This is what I used before I tried the alternatives many years ago. It is very heavy.

For a substrate I use a combination of the following items mixed in equal parts. Zilla Lizard Litter (Petco), tree fern fiber (BJ), coco fiber and husks (Petco), long fiber sphagnum moss (anywhere). I mix it all up in a 5 gal bucket and soak it down before I put it into the tank. Put either fiberglass window screen or weed guard over your drainage and then put the 2-3 inches of the mix down. If you use the window screen, it's a good idea to double it up to prevent less of the soil leaking thru to the drainage layer.

Marc

spartcus · 04-24-2009, 01:58 AM

Would it be ok to use the eggcrate with window screen on it over the LECA? I have one layer of window screen over the eggcrate already.

Im lucky theres a hydroponics store down the street from my house so ill go there to get the LECA.

socaled · 04-24-2009, 02:05 AM

Hey spartcus I used eggcrate but when I made it I gave at least an inch of space on the sides and the front to put the clay ball around. My thread on before and after shows you my viv... The clay balls are actually good in that it's light compared to gravel which I used on my 29gal. Hope this helps pm if you need step by step directions.

-Angeles

spartcus · 04-24-2009, 02:08 AM

So you put the eggcrate over the LECA?

socaled · 04-24-2009, 02:09 AM

Oh no eggcrate then the substrate. You won't see the eggcrate at all after you cover it.

spartcus · 04-24-2009, 02:12 AM

Oh ok, with using the window screening how do you cover the leca and the eggcrate do you just make sure you overlap the window screening?

socaled · 04-24-2009, 02:19 AM

It's eggcrate, some type of screen, then leca, then last eco-earth or just leca. Most of time people use eco-earth.

-Angeles

04-23-2009, 10:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
spartcus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 74	False Bottom/LECA/Gravel Ok im getting my substrate mix and draining figured out. Im doing a false bottom with egg crate and screening then the substrate mix of some sort. Is there benefits to any of the other ways to do the drainage? Also any good substrate mix out there that people use? __________________ Go Big Or Go Home If Its Not Broken Then Dont Fix It

04-23-2009, 11:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
atlfrog Site Sponsor Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: ATL, GA, USA Posts: 396 Real Name: Matthew "Merek" Preferred.	Although I do not have false bottoms in any of my tanks right now. I do know that if you make an area where you can place a small pump, like the one from the Exoterra waterfalls that you will have an easier time draining the tanks out. BUT this is what I have done successfully in my tanks. All of my tanks but one have pea size gravel with at least a 5in height in the tank. I have made a small area that I have placed a good size rock on so I can pump out any water out of the tank when needed and the frogs don't drown. I have a small 5 gallon or less little stick on heater on the bottom so that water is evaporated into the tank at a slow enough pace to create a natural ventilation system with in the tank so when my system is enclosed the condensation waters all of my plants. I mist like 2 times per week and I barely ever have to drain my tanks. You can use those clay ball and get the same effect. Other types of stuff I have used is styrophone peanuts. Yes, I am a bit cheap at times but they never break down and I had a million of them. They can serve the same purpose but my favorite was the gravel. I gave a away some of my secrets but not all. All I do with my tanks is feed and clean the glass when I want too. There are millions of other ways to do things out there just find what works for you. __________________ Merek Matthew Cardew :: ATLFROG.com HTTP://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptilian-fish

04-24-2009, 12:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
Knoxter Administrator/SiteOwner Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 430 Real Name: Marc Knox	Hi spartcus, Good to see your working on yours tanks. My opinion for a drainage is to use leca. I purchaesed 5 bags from BJ and it was not that much shipped. This is what I thought about all three methods. False bottom= Ok, if you cover it up and make sure the weight is supported properly. Doesn't look nice. Works well for sump if you have a water feature. Leca=What I use, good drainage, aesthetically pleasing. Good surface area for bacteria. Gravel=Rookie choice IMO. This is what I used before I tried the alternatives many years ago. It is very heavy. For a substrate I use a combination of the following items mixed in equal parts. Zilla Lizard Litter (Petco), tree fern fiber (BJ), coco fiber and husks (Petco), long fiber sphagnum moss (anywhere). I mix it all up in a 5 gal bucket and soak it down before I put it into the tank. Put either fiberglass window screen or weed guard over your drainage and then put the 2-3 inches of the mix down. If you use the window screen, it's a good idea to double it up to prevent less of the soil leaking thru to the drainage layer. Marc __________________ Marc My frogs- Vanzolini, El Dorado (ong&gold), Cayo de Agua, Almerante, Gold Dust, Yuris, Imis, Inters, Taras, O Lamasi, Iquitos Vents, Varis, SI. I appreciate everyone here. Without you, there would be no DFF. Thank you for your support.

04-24-2009, 01:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
spartcus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 74	Would it be ok to use the eggcrate with window screen on it over the LECA? I have one layer of window screen over the eggcrate already. Im lucky theres a hydroponics store down the street from my house so ill go there to get the LECA. __________________ Go Big Or Go Home If Its Not Broken Then Dont Fix It

04-24-2009, 02:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
spartcus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 74	So you put the eggcrate over the LECA? __________________ Go Big Or Go Home If Its Not Broken Then Dont Fix It

04-24-2009, 02:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
socaled Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 350	Hey spartcus I used eggcrate but when I made it I gave at least an inch of space on the sides and the front to put the clay ball around. My thread on before and after shows you my viv... The clay balls are actually good in that it's light compared to gravel which I used on my 29gal. Hope this helps pm if you need step by step directions. -Angeles

04-24-2009, 02:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
socaled Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 350	Oh no eggcrate then the substrate. You won't see the eggcrate at all after you cover it.

04-24-2009, 02:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
spartcus Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 74	Oh ok, with using the window screening how do you cover the leca and the eggcrate do you just make sure you overlap the window screening? __________________ Go Big Or Go Home If Its Not Broken Then Dont Fix It

04-24-2009, 02:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
socaled Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 350	It's eggcrate, some type of screen, then leca, then last eco-earth or just leca. Most of time people use eco-earth. -Angeles

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