Creating a small pool

[MoK3t]

If i can do it easil with minimal costs i'd like to set up a little pool area within a viv for some FBTs. Any ideas apart from glass/silicone or a BIG water bowl? Anything else i can use?

Also i noticed that some FBT keepers dont have a filter in the water, is this okay or should there really be one?

[Freya Louise]

i cant help but would really like to know too

[tasteofchaos]

I have 'shoreline' for my fbt's, so can't help with what types of bowls to use.
Re filters - what I have found is that those who use bowl setups generally don't use them, as the bowl is very easy to take out, empty, clean and put back in. Those of us with shoreline setups tend to have filters, as it is only possible to partly change the water, and so you want it to be as clean as possible. Filters for fbt's should only create a very low current, if any, as they like still water.

[MoK3t]

When you say 'shoreline' i assume you mean water with stacked substrate?

I may end up just using a massive water bowl instead.

TY

[ilovetoads2]

I recently set mine up for 55, including the tank!

I have covered the back and a little of the sides with coco panels. I then used a fluval filter and hid this behind a medium sized flat peice of cork bark that is wedged in to one side at the back of the tank (by wedged I mean under the glass rim at the top, this way I can pull it forward to get to the pump without ripping everything out). I went to a garden centre and purchased one bag of rather large cobbles (6.00). I then siliconed another peice of cork bark lying flat just above the water line (this is the dry area) I washed the stones and piled them up loosly so that there are tunnels. In between the bark peices I used an exo terra fern. I scattered a few (just enough to barely cover the bottom) aquarium stones and added a plastic vine to the far right corner to stop the toads getting to the pump. Added 8 litres of water (about 4 inches deep) and done.

I cant upload the pics on here but if you want to leave your email I can send you some.

Another way is to sink a rather large tub filled with some leca and soil and pile the stones up to the rim if you want live plants...I usually do this but did not have a water tight container to hand.

[Ron Magpie]

OR, you can use a seed tray-style container with drainage holes (or pierce the bottom of an icecream tub), and use bog plants like Anubias and 'wheatgrass'. Best to layer it; fairly thick layer of course gravel, thin layer of clay or the soil sold for ponds (the plants don't need much, they'll also be getting nutrients from the water), more gravel, then moss or whatever you want for the surface. You can arrange cobbles/pebbles around the container to hide it and provide a 'shoreline', then use a (low-output) filter for the water.

[Pipkin28]

When I used to have my FBT's tank as a planted set-up, I used a shallow seed tray, without holes, as a pool. Bought it from Homebase for either 99p or £1.99! Had some nice river pebbles in it so they could haul out!

I've now gone for water based with stepping stones for haul out spots and I use Interpet mini filters.

[titwillow]

Do FBTS need filters or not ??? Pleeze ??

[ilovetoads2]

I dont have a filter in mine, but do change the water each week...to be honest I kinda treat them like goldfish in that respect.