Substrate question

What should i use its a ten galln in the process im thinking soil and bed a beast on top and gravel were land and water meet and ideas on this toopic?

You need to put some sort of drainage in there or you will end up with a swamp. You can use gravel, or LECA (Hydroton) or just make a false bottom (do a search). I really like the leca b/c its very light and makes moving tanks easy.


-Tad

So bacicly put aqaurium gravel down to create drainage? and then put potting soild over?

Yeah, though I would put a layer of weed block, or window screen over the gravel and I wouldn't use potting soil (or use it sparingly). I normally put 2-3 inches of leca (unevenly to make hills/valleys etc). Then I either put down some vinyl window screen or weed block. Then I put down some jungle/repti bark and lastly on top of that put coco/coir. Then I plant stuff into this or onit and put down leaf litter or sphagnum moss. Sometimes I leave out the window screen/weed block. Regular potting soil will turn to mush more often than not in a vivarium. The only places I use it is right around a plant that is going in. You need to make sure the potting soil doesn't contain any chemical fertilizers.

-Tad

put potting soild

I am assuming you wanted to say potting soil. I would not put soil in the tank at all. The soil breaks down quick and you will end up with a stinky swampy mess.

A false bottom is the way to go unless you want to drill a drain in your tank. There is a TON of info available out there. I used Jungle Mix myself. Seems to work great and there is a TON of growth in the tank!

[elmoisfive]

Actually, installing a drain isn't mandatory but it makes life easier. I just use a turkey baster to siphon out water from the LECA layer when it builds up. A bit more work and I have a separate baster for each viv (eliminating potential for cross contamination) but it is a simple and functional approach.

I personally would recommend either a false bottom or LECA as opposed to gravel. You would be surprised at the number of times you might want to move your viv over time and gravel is pretty heavy. While aquariums are strong, I try to avoid subjecting them to unnecessary stress.

Bill

[AZDR_A]

We use both a false bottom and LECA. On top of the LECA we use the NZ spagnum moss, and plant our plants right into the LECA, we use no soil. Some of our tanks have been set up for 2 years using this method and doing really good.

i have no were to get the leca from so im lost any ideas on were to buy from?

You can order it online, but even better if you know of any hydroponics shops nearby you can buy it there. Its under the brand name Hydroton. Now I would like to find a good outlet for sphangum moss. The stuff they sell at Lowe's/Home Despot isn't as good as some of teh stuff I've gotten from frog vendors/breeders.


-Tad