Reptile & Amphibian Forums

what are they? how do i make them? and are they absolutely neccessary?

False bottoms are a layer of water underneath the substrate, but separated from it by a barrier. Many people use eggcrate (the plastic diffuser screen for fluorescent lighting. This is supported by plastic pillars, topped with something like weed cloth to catch fine debris from the substrate. False bottoms are used as a contained reservoir for water features such as water falls and drip walls, and contain a submersible pump and tubing to deliver the water. I also make them from Coco-Tek hydroponic slabs--see the pictures below that I posted under Coc-Tek. It is preferably held somewhat above the substrate so that it doesn't wick up and make it soggy. You need to change the water occasionally, as the excess water from the substrate also drains into it. I rarely change mine after the first few months--only when it becomes discolored. You do need to add water occasionally as it evaporates.

False bottoms are not necessary. You don't need a water way, although they are nice. There are other ways of circulating the water using outside canister filters and reservoirs, but I would use this only in very large tanks. You do need at least a layer of coarse gravel or something similar (topped with the weed cloth or a similar filter) to drain your substrate, however. If this collects too much water, you can occasionally siphon the water out with a length of aquarium airline tubing or even just a turkey baster, from one corner.
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Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
6 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
7 D. imitator
6 D. leucomelas
5 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus
6 P. terribilis mint and organe
4 D. reticulatus
4 D. castaneoticus
2 D. azureus
4 P vittatus
2 P. lugubris

thanks patty, i appreciate the knowledge!