Heating a vivarium + False bottom

[Peace]

Ok, first I would like to say I am new here and I think these forums are wonderful.
I am getting an Exp Terra Open Fron Medium tank and I have a filter, a pump,a plurescent Terrarium Canopy and a terra fogger, however I am not sure what to heat my vivarium with, anything from black jungle would be preferable to other stores as I here black jungle is reputable.
Also, I was wondering if I need a false bottom in the vivarium I am getting as it looks like in black jungles pictures they don't have one.
Thank you for your help and reading through my epic grammar error up their.
~Peace

[beckdg]

false bottom is not always a necessity. most of the time it just helps us do what we couldn't do otherwise like: increasing water flow vs. a drainage layer for a water fall pump... creating an opening to access equipment for maintenance... raise water level to add fish in a tank that otherwise would get too wet from wicking... keep certain things out of the water so they can drain... create a structure that will stay dryer for species that need to dry off once in a while... etc., etc., etc.

typically an adjustable aquarium heater (for water), small heating pad for back wall (1/4 to 1/2 the back wall minus area where water level reaches [never put a uth below water line!]) and a low watt heat lamp (1 ea. for day and night if necessary).

this is not always the case though and any other info you have on your plans would make it much easier to know what you need specifically.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Peace

Also, I was wondering if I need a false bottom in the vivarium I am getting as it looks like in black jungles pictures they don't have one.

False Bottoms eliminate the need for a sump or ugly filters and what not from messing up a nice looking tank. The reason you may not see a False Bottom on the Black Jungle site is simply its well hidden. not alot of people would go through the troubble hideing there false bottom but i have in my tanks with a simple addition of a section of eggcrate covered in fiberglass mesh about 1/2 inch away from the front pane and filled with Pond Stone or gravel. I should add that you would only require a False bottom when houseing pets and plants that would require a high humidity to be maintained via alot of watering / misting that would be going on.

[beckdg]

once again false bottoms are not always necessary. i am tired of posting this but it has been a great example so many times!

Construction of a large vivariumat www.poison-frogs.com

as you see there are other options that work very well!

taking your tank to a glass company can get holes cut for cheap!!! running plumbing through the back and into a stand can provide more of your tank for use with critters... especially helpful for arboreal species!

[Jason]

You mean an exaple of the false bottom he used or as the gentleman who posted the pictures and text said...

"Water tank for the vivarium water ( kind of false bottom container ), containing the water pump for the waterfall ( small ) and the pump for the back wall watering ( large pump ). One can also see the PVC outlet for the overflow returning pipe of the vivarium."

and sence he used a seperation between the actual bottom of the enclosure and the newley created " Subtrate base " level of the tank, and i think thay call this a " false bottom " im confused ..

[beckdg]

technically a false bottom would be inside your viv. although this guy did kind of make it part of his structure and therefore it is a "kind of false bottom container", if the reservoirs were contained in a separate structure (say a cabinet underneath) it would not be considered a false bottom.

also i did mention using the space in your enclosure... that would be my only reason for going this route... if i had no other choice. i personally would rather not drill holes in my tanks!

for clarification... False bottom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia