water feature and false bottom questions

[summit]

I want to do a simple water feature having a small stream running down a piece of wood and falling off into some small river rock dropping straight through to the false bottom with no pool. Is the best route to go simply eggcrate, with screen overtop, then layer the soil or small gravel and river rocks where water flows down? Or should I do the hydroton balls with the screen? Can the water sit throughout the terranium bottom without soaking the soil/plants above it or am I better off seperating where the water comes down on the false bottom from the rest of the?

Sorry as you can tell I am a bit confused!

[beckdg]

eggcrate will most likely be your friend here. a f/b's purpose is to keep the substrate out of the water. as well many commercially made waterfalls work on the f/b premise. leca is more free flowing and lighter than rock but rock is fine. water throughout the bottom is a safer bet usually because you don't have to worry as much about your water evaporating and your pump running dry. there are plenty of ways to get it done. you might want to take a once over on the stickies to see how others have made their water features. it should give you some ideas on how to do things.