Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have a 75 gal tank and am thinking about setting it up with aprox 50/50 land and water with a water fall and lots of plants not sure what i will be keeping in it yet probly a community of fish frogs and small lizards
any way i need ideas on how to do this i do have some supplies i would like to use but i can get other things if needed. i have an undergravel filter and powerhead for water area and for the waterfall but how do i bring it all together and keep the land from falling into the water
anny ideas or desighn pics will be great
thanks
TonyZ

to make the tank a false bottom would be the best:

False-bottom vivarium

The term “false bottom” is what it says, it is an arrangement of a unseen level to provide drainage. There are many ways to make a false bottom tank, one way and perhaps the simplest way is to use PVC piping and egg crate. First of all you will need a clean glass tank. Then get PVC piping, egg crate, mesh screen, and black silicone. You can purchase these at most home improvement stores.

Step one: The first thing you want to do is put 3-4 inches of black silicone around the base of the tank. This is to hide the PVC. Let this sit for 24-36 hours before doing anything else.

Step two: The next step is to put the PVC in. The diameter of the PVC depends on the size tank you are building and what you plan to do with it. Cut the piping so it is between one and three inches high (most of the time they will do this for you at the place where you bought it) and silicone them to the bottom of the tank with clear silicone.

Step three: After the PVC is in place you put the egg crate over it. If you want to have a water area then have the PVC gradually get smaller to make a slope leading to the water area. Then if you plan to make a waterfall insert the pump closest to where the water will be. It is important to put the tubing of the pump through the egg crate so it is visible. If you have sloped the PVC for a water area then slope the egg crate there too.

Step four: Then put screen over everything. This is to prevent substrate such as dirt from clogging the pump.

Step five: You have the basic foundation laid out, now you just need to add substrate, plants and herps. My suggestion for the first layer of substrate is to use either large river rocks or pebbles, on top of this put either moss or dirt. Live moss is the best to use because it does not deteriorate like dirt and does not mold. It also will not get caught in the pump. Then put all the décor in as needed. If you had done a pump put the plastic tubing through the substrate(s) where you plan to have the water come out of.

as far as keeping all that stuf together i don't think that will work. maybe if you did anoles and green tree frogs or someting, but the water would have to be less than an inch and i doubt you can keep any fish in that for too long. you could out a non-toxic newt in with fish though, that would look nice and they are very easy to care for. they also don't make messes. good luck and feel free to ask questions!