First Viv Water Feature False Bottom for WTF

[Epiphile]

Well, don't forget that you're working in a tight space as well- it could certainly be done, but to pack that many water features into an 18x24 footprint would be a challenge. Not impossible, but it may not produce the desired effects. I'm not trying to be discouraging- just think it through.

That said, I think that beckdg has found your most optimal solution as far as how to arrange your filter ins and outs, with the only thing being that the water from the filter will be going to your waterfall at the top left as opposed to the right as in his illustration. Assuming you build according to the basic principle, you won't get stagnant water.

In instances where there isn't water movement in vivariums (I have a couple like this, in which water only comes from me misting/watering the plants), yes, water can tend to become stagnant below false bottoms. It's not the end of the world, though, provided you have a system in place for getting rid of the water after a point.

The function of hydroton is nothing more than as a support mechanism, even in it's intended use in hydroponics. It is a substrate that is inert, does not decay, and can hold/wick moisture. This material is used in vivariums instead of false bottoms to provide a drainage layer under the substrate proper. There are pros and cons to this method, but it's just bits of clay when all's said and done.

[beckdg]

hydroton creates a drainage layer in any case. be it on top of a f/b or in place of one. if you mist and and your substrate stays wet take it out and put more leca (lightweight expanded clay aggregate or hydroton) under it.

in any case check out the stickies in this forum, the builds on black jungle and my favorite link quite thoroughly. keep in mind if there's links there and you don't click there'll be something you missed or don't understand.

also keep in mind that if your water runs from one end of your pool to the other and gets pumped out you are greatly reducing your chances for having anything stagnant. just direct your stream to dump into your pond in one corner of your tank and pump the water out from the opposite corner and you'll defeat most possible stagnant water issues.

[scribe]

Thank you for all the information I think that I have the proper way to construct this using our methods and techniques. False bottom seems the best way to go and possibly even adding 1" of hydroton on top of that followed by a few inches of planting substrate.

How do I figure out how tall to raise my false bottom and how much air gap to keep? Is there a ratio rule?

[Epiphile]

It'll be dependent on how high you set your outlet (to the pump) pipe, and how deep you want your water feature vs. the sacrifice of space in a tank only 24" high. Just ensure the bottom of the substrate's not actually sitting in the water- the air gap can be small, especially if you've got a drainage layer on top of your false bottom. The idea is just to keep your substrate from sitting in water and allowing it to drain freely.

[scribe]

The tank arrives tomorrow but judging by the specs it looks like I got about 6" of bottom space to work with until it reaches the doors, if that makes since.

You say especially if I got a drainage layer. Are you refering to the hydroton that I would put on top of the false bottom? I also consider the drainage layer as being under the false bottom since this is where water will be.

[Epiphile]

I'm sure six inches will be just fine, or even less if you didn't want that water depth for whatever reason.

That's what I was referring to, yes, and you're right in that they'd both serve as drainage layers.

[scribe]

Terra-Lite or Hydroton, is one better than the other? Blackjungle seems to favor terra lite and calls hydroton low quality.. What do you think?

Look at this diagram and they are using HydroBalls by ZooMed in the water as a filter for the waterfall. Thats what it says but that doesnt make sense, as a filter in water?
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product....391&id=SZMVC10

http://www.herpsupplies.com/images/S...roballsalt.jpg

[Epiphile]

For your purposes, I don't think you'll see too much of a difference between one or the other. One useful point is that you should rinse the hell out of whatever you do get, because it'll come awfully dusty- I learned the hard way, a couple of times.

I don't really get that statement from hersupplies.com- I guess that the Hydroballs may provide extra surface area for beneficial bacteria to clean the water biologically, but I wouldn't place too much weight on their saying that it actually acts as a filter per se.

[froggsong]

In the diagram, the pump is just a pump, not a filter. The pump is sitting in the LECA, pulling water through it. This makes the LECA act as as mechanical filter. LECA is a perfect surface for bacterial growth, so it also works as a biological filter as long as the water is being pulled through it. Unfortunately, in the diagram the water won't be pulled through the entire LECA layer, creating areas that will become stagnant and grow the wrong kind of bacteria (anaerobic bacteria). If the water fall outlet was on the opposite side, it would have to pull the dirty water through before it could pull the stuff that was already "filtered".

So, in a sense, yes, the LECA can be a filter. Just not what most of us think of as a filter.

Hopefully I worded that in a way that makes sense to people other than myself, lol.

[RecycledAgain]

Buy turning over the water ... I mean mixing it up through filtration .. filtration is no more than moving the water. how ever you choose to actively filter the water will work.

Leca surfaces will serve as area for bacterial filtration, even the substrate will work with a false bottom. The idea is to keep moving water so it will keep the positive bacteria from starving out.
It's all about moving the water or removing the water. Think about it .. we are moving water no matter what you decide is best for you ..