Help, lots of questions

[RedEyeKyle]

I am brand new to keeping frogs. I am in the process of ordering an Exo-Terra tank from my work (18x18x24). I also am ordering the Exo-Terra Power compact light fixture. It has space for two bulbs. I wll be getting the digital hygrometer and thermometer that goes with the light. Are these pretty reputable products? Which bulbs are good to use with this fixture for being able to grow plants. I first have some basic questions, I know a lot of times you get undertank heaters for arrow frogs but do you get the same thing for a tree frog that is going to live the majority of its life off of the ground?

Next order of business, from what I read you need to create a false bottom with these types of tanks, am I right that for this you use something called terra-lite and approx 2inches. (is there some place that you can find that for cheap)

Those next thing that I will want to be getting is an automatic misting system of some sort, which kinds can be recomended. and can they be used with the exo-terra tanks and how?

[Rainfrog]

You dont need a false bottom but do need a drainage layer of some type. a few inches of terra-lite with a landscape weed barrier or some screen to prevent the substrate from clogging the drainage would work. look through the construction pages to get Ideas.

[RedEyeKyle]

Im really confused about the drainage area... Do I need to be able to drain that somehow or how does that work, Thats what I thought was that terra-lite= false bottom. Shows how new i am haha

[Rainfrog]

A false bottom ia a raised platform made out of light diffuser panel (egg crate)and PVC sections. Then screen is placed over that, then terra-lite/Hydroton, then screen/landscape barrier, then soil. it allows for a deeper water table (keep water at least 1/2 inch below false bottom) and room for plumbing like pump or filter. A simple drainage layer of gravel Or the more prefered Terra-lite or Hydroton is when you place several inches of the afore mentioned items in the bottom of the tank cover with screen/landscape barrier and then your substrate. I like this way myself. you can make streams or ponds by dimpling the areas you want to have exposed water and lining with rocks and such to form natural looking water beds. also you can make a chamber separate from the main area that you can use for a pump or filter. just keep the water level 1/2 inch below the substrate so you dont end up with a bog. when the water gets too deep just suck it out with a baster of something. I hope I havent confused the matter further.