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When I first started out, I was going to use an exo-terra waterfall but when I received the waterfall, it leaked out of the back due to a flaw in the mold. I also was disappointed with the way the waterfall went together. I returned it and decided to go with a natural looking pond (or my husband thought it was a good idea anyway). I want a false bottom and plan on having the pump in the false bottom. On top of the eggcrate, I am using LECA and then a layer of the substrate that comes in a block and you soak in water to expand into a type of soil (not at my house and I forgot the name of it). I have built my false bottom and "notched out" a space for the pond. I do not want a 5 inch pond but I need to keep a good water return flow so my pump doesn't pump the water dry, so I plan on stacking up large pebbles in the place notched out for a pond (I don't want the frogs to get caught underwater) . I plan on stacking these same pebbles on top of the egg crate so the LECA and soil does not fall into the pond. My question is this "will the notched out place pose too much of an issue with the soil and leca caving in? If I did away with the notched out part and placed the pebbles on top of the LECA and not use soil on the pond part, do you think the water dripping down into the "pond" will get to the bottom fast enough so the pump won't pull the water too fast and run the false bottom dry.
Going to try to post a picture of the "notched out bottom" but I don't know how well it will work. I tried to resize the photo in photoshop but I am computer and photoshop illiterate.
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See, computer illiterate :roll:
Anyway, the notched out part is up front. The reason I notched it out is #1 I saw it somewhere on this forum before and I am concerned about the speed at which the water will return to the false bottom so the pump doesn't pull too much water. If any of you have done this, how did you construct it so the soil and LECA didn't fall into the pond. I only want about 1/2 inch standing water in the pond. I plan on having the water run down a coco bark piece and into a stream that will be made out of small aquarium pebbles. I plan on using a ziplock bag cut to use as a liner so the water from the cocobark doesn't get absorbed into the soil. The aquarium pebbles will be siliconed to the liner so the frogs won't be in contact with the plastic. That stream will lead down into the pond.
Any suggestions are so much appreciated.
I have a little pond similiar to the one you describe in my last terrarium. Your plan looks solid. What I did is use great stuff to make a little wall around the pond. I usually make it about 2" high. This will hold the soil away from the pond. I also silicone some coco to the front of the great stuff barrier to hide it.
I use at least 2" of water, as my pump is internal and needs at least 1" of water to function. Do not worry about it recycling fast enough to feed the pump. There should not be any problem as long as you watch the water level and do not let it get too low.
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I am at the point of trying to decide how to set up my tank. I'm still a bit fuzzy on the false bottom/pond set up, but I'm learning. How did your tank turn out? Are you happy with it? Where did you put the pump and how do you get to it to clean it?
Frances
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I ditched the pond idea on this tank. I tore this tank down when the frogs went into a 120g after quarantine. I am reconstructing this tank now for 2 cobalts (both males) but I won't be doing a pond. I want to give the frogs as much land space as possible.
Candy
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Thanks for the reply. I"m debating the whole pond idea. They look cool, but the frogs don't use them anyway. Is there any benefit to the pond, other than looks?
Frances
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I did a waterfall, stream, pond thing in my 120g. I did it because I had more room to put one in and with a tank this big, I didn't want to have to worry about a humidity issue. My frogs actually do use the watefall and stream. They seem to like to poop in the stream alot. One frog in particular has a fascination with the waterfall. He always climbs up on the top of the water fall and stands in the water stream. Then he jumps down the rocks and into the stream. The only time they go into the pond area is to go after a ff that has made it's way down there..the pond has less than 1/2 inch of water in it.
Candy
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Wow! A 120g, that is huge! What do you think about the 20g long. Should I skip a pond so that the frogs have more land or do a small one? A stream would be neat, but that means a pump (which I was hoping to avoid on my first tank). Thanks!
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I think a 20g long would be great without a pond or stream. If you want water in your tank for humidity or anything like that, you can use those pods some people use to hold water.
Candy
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Thanks! That is a good idea.
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I have heard of some frogs using the pond areas.. it's a topic up for debate on dendroboard. I have one mostly for humidity. I have never seen the pods up for sale- where can I get some?
The countdown begins.... My Wedding June 1 ,2009!
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I saw some interesting pods on the blackjungle site/store.
Fran
