[vendettalyn]

Hi I'm new to this and am having trouble deciding on how I should set up my 20gal long aquarium. I would like to include a water feature with my internal filter, live plants and am also having trouble deciding whether I should completely seperate the land from the h2o with plexiglass or do a false bottom under it. I am worried that the false bottom will just make the tank get dirty faster, even with a substrate divider. I would like ideas of cheap/almost free ways to get the effect desired. My husband works at lowes and I'm planning on getting many of the needed pieces from his scraps. If I do completely seperate the land from H2O do I need a teralite/lava rock/gravel bottom layer for drainage? And I would also like to know if silicone and great stuff are easily removed from a tank (without scratching) for 10-15yrs down the road. Any and all ideas, designs, and out right step by steps will be very much appreciated. -- by the by, the reason for cheapness is that I have been out of work since Feb --

PLEASE HELP

 

[vendettalyn]

Hi again,Well I found tons of Plexiglas PVC, and styrofoam around the house. So im still trying to figure out the design.

 

[vendettalyn]

I'm actually just going to start out small for a couple of FBTs that dont actually like to climb much, I live in Texas so its hotter than normal in my house so I need plants that will tolerate this. Any ideas on the basic setup would be helpful.

 

[vendettalyn]

Hello again,
I have a better idea now that I bought a few things, but now I realized the internal filter I bought doesn't work and was wondering what kind of filter/pump I should get for my palidarium. It will only be about 4 inches deep and I dont know enough about maintaining water in an aquarium to choose the right kind and how to setup any kind except for the hang-on filter.

 

[vendettalyn]

So not many people offering any help, but I got my filter working and have the setup down but now I need an opinion on if I should build a barrier between the water and the false bottom. I have heard that fire bellies can drown and dont want them to go swimming under the false bottom (3 1/2" above tank bottom) and not be able to remember to come back out... I dont know. PLEASE HELP!! ASAP