false bottom questions

[KolbyCrest]

okay i've been looking into natural vivariums. what exactly is a false bottom?
is just a gap provided underneath the substrate to hold a bit of water to keep up humidity?
the egg crate, it that like the paper stuff that comes with crickets when you buy them? or is it the actual bottom of the plastic crate that eggs/dairy is delivered in?
and what are opinions on Hydroballs? would they be helpful at all in the bottom?

just please help me clear this up. i know it's a lot of questions, but i figure i'd better ask than just assume.

thanks ahead for any responses

[docwade87]

The "egg crate" you are referring to is an actual plastic grid looking like thing.....it is not what the crickets come in. It is used to hold water as well as maintain humidity. It will keep the soil from becoming to damp and causing harmful fungi and bacteria to grow. It also serves as a reservoir to promote the good bacteria to form which help break down waste.

As far as the hydroballs go, I am not sure. I have always seen and used smooth rock for the substrate under the egg crate.

That is the best way that I can describe from what I know. I am sure someone else will be able to chime in with some better info.

[themistocles]

Hydroballs or Hydrtoton are expanded clay pebbles. They are sold at any hydroponic store or a well stocked garden store. They are like rocks but they are a neutral (doesn't change the ph) clean (they don't add any minerals to the water like rocks would) medium that is placed in the bottom of the tank. This area is where the water will sit.
I usually put enough to fill the bottom 1.5 - 2 inches of the tank.

[KolbyCrest]

i've seen the hydroballs at petsmart, and it's supposed to go with a mesh divider for the substrate, but of course the store didn't carry the divider. i would assume the mesh divider would serve the same purpose as the plastic grid in this case. i guess i'll look around online to see if i can order it.
is the water just supposed to sit at the bottom? or would there be a whole filtration system or something? i am leaning towards a working waterfall background.

and if anyone has any suggestions as to specific live plants you used or prefer to use in a live tank please let me know.
just and suggestions would be appreciated.

[Spyral]

I would stay away from just letting the water sit in an empty false bottom. Rocks or hydroballs are surfaces for beneficial bacteria to grow to help break down wastes. If water just sits there, especially water that's carrying wastes from the soil, it will harbor anaerobic bacteria and start to stink! I learned that the hard way!

I think the tanks that do have an empty space are using a filtration system or water feature that cycles the water so it doesn't stagnate. Neither of those is needed for cresties, so the easiest live setup is probably with hydroballs or a shallow layer of pea gravel (it gets REALLY heavy) for a drainage layer. If you do want to go with just the empty space you'll want to drill a hole to empty it out once in a while. I think it's called a bulkhead?

Anyway, too much trouble for me but great if you are setting up a paludarium!

[docwade87]

spyral is right on the money!

The mesh barrier goes on top of the egg crate to keep dirt from falling into the water and clogging up the filter. I forgot to mention and luckily spyral did; that standing water is only used when a filter is pulling the water under everything and bringing it back up to a waterfall or some type of stream that leads into a small "pool" of water. This is typically seen in nicely done paludariums or however you spell it.

You can obtain the screen mesh from lowes or any hardware store in big bulk roles for pretty cheap. You can also choose how big you want the holes and what type of mesh you want.

[KolbyCrest]

yeah i'm looking into the waterfalls and all that i'd need for that. i figured it'd not be that great of an idea to just have water sitting there, with my experience with aquariums, more so a couple of betta bowls. even with my simple betta bowls i use mini filters in there.
thanks for the info/tips!

[Salzy]

What size tank are you looking to set up with a waterfall? I've tried it in the past with a 20 gallon tank and a 40 breeder, and I tore both of them apart after about 6 months. The humidity was way too high, the water became dirty too quickly, and it was generally a ton of maintenance. If you have the time and patience to do it, then by all means give it a shot. It just wasn't for me and for what species I wanted to keep.

As the others have said, a lot of bacteria and fungus can crop up if the setup isn't well maintained. There isn't really much information about whether this is harmful to our geckos or not.

I know what you are talking about when you are mentioning the egg crate, but I don't think that's the right name for it...not sure though. It's the white plastic grid stuff, right? If that's the case, you can get that at most hardware stores in sheets maybe 2ft by 3ft....it is actually for over light fixtures in drop-ceilings and such. You can actually get it in a couple of different colors, shapes, patterns, and whatever because it is designed for different lighting techniques.

I've used Hydroton pellets in the past, but then they became harder for me to find. I use a lot of them, and I'm not going to pay the cost for just a couple pounds of them from the local greenhouse...I'd order bulk bags of 50 pounds or whatever they come in. You can use the white grid stuff over top of them, or just plastic screening like what is used for windows. I'd also suggest a thin layer of charcoal over the pellets also....coal helps to pull the toxins out of the soil and air, and you won't have nearly as wonky smells coming from your setups.

[KolbyCrest]

i'm still looking into it all. i haven't actually gotten anything to start yet i'm just coming up with ideas/plans. good to know most things i can get simply at a hardware store or garden center.
so with the charcoal, are you saying to just sprinkle a layer right on top of the hydroton. i understand what you mean with the toxins, bc it's the same thing with the aquariums. just with the aquarium, the charcoal is inside the filter cartridge. would the charcoal last though? would it not be easier to use an actual water filter?
okay now that i'm actually thinking about it as i'm typing i'm sure i can figure a way to have a filter setup behind the tank and have the filter take in the water from the bottom, and filter it through an aquarium filter (charcoal cartridge and all), then expell the water down the background or where ever i'd plan the waterfall..... or did i just explain the actual waterfall setup without even checking out the actual thing?
because as with aquariums, all the good bacteria is mainly housed within the filter anyways. when starting a new tank you're supposed to let the tank settle for at least a week, preferably 2 or more so that the filter can produce the good bacteria before adding in any fish. then there's the supplements/chemicals to aid the water to becoming healthy, i'll actually look into seeing if i can add "Stress Zyme" to the system. I'm not sure if it'll be safe for geckos, although i don't see why it wouldn't, but still just to be safe. i may just have a small, shallow (def shallow, so my geckos can't take a swim and drown on me) pool at the base of the fall.. geez, i do believe i just described the basics of a paludarium, or more so a riparium i guess. well now that i know the idea i'll get to doing the legit research.

please feel free to add any ideas, tips, or criticisms. anything to help.

[louiedog32]

I am not saying that what others have said are wrong about bacteria build up when using false bottoms but it does not mean that it will ever happen. Working in a garden center for many years and knowing a thing or two about terrariums (have had many) they will not be as big of a disaster as some will say. Many people (not all) when making terrariums for their pets know little about botany as opposed to the wealth of knowledge they probably know about their pet. However, if using live plants both are just as important to learn information about bc your plant's health can affect the health of your pet if harmful bacterias are introduced into your terrarium.
One of the biggest problems people have with their terrariums is watering. Over-watering can create many problems and is a first-class ticket to see some root-rot disease in your plants and for mold to grow. Many people that mist their enclosures have to remember that misting once or twice daily does affect the soil moisture even if you feel you mist minimally. For instance I actually WATER my plants in my crested gecko terrarium maybe once a month. When I do water it isn't much either and I do have some plants in mine that require much moisture and still water only about every 4-6 weeks. The water you mist with can create harmful bacterias too. Distilled water is best and recommended when taking care of a live vivarium. Fertilizing your terrarium to boost your plants health and growth ( I do about 2-3 yearly) is recommended too. I use an organic compost tea (cow manure, mushroom compost, and distilled water). Lastly, get some isopods...they do wonders.