Thanks Everyone for your nice comments!
The substrate is a mix of ground almond leaves, oak leaves, sphagnum, and coco fiber. The pebbles you see are just to fill in the space between the eggcrate and the front glass (about an inch) as well as the ponds. I personally dont like the look of hydroton and prefer a little more natural look which is why I went with the small river rock. So ya there is a false bottom with a coco base substrate, the pump for the water feature is hidden in the overflow and the tank is drilled for drainage.
Glad you like it!
Chris