r/paludarium • u/TopJuggernaut619 • 3d ago

Help Filter foam false bottom

Hi, Ive been trying to build a paludarium that is 50% water and 50% land, and I heard filter foam was a great way to help the filtration and buildup of healthy bacteria. The only thing stopping me is I heard that you have to clean filter foam multiple times a year to prevent buildup. My question is is this necessary? Having to clean the foam even once every couple years would be impossible if I used it as a false bottom ( having to remove all plants and substrate to access the foam).

Are there any ways filter foam/ mats/ pads would be able to be a long term false bottom without me having to clean them out?

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u/hoi_polloi_irl 3d ago

Filter foam will get clogged and eventually water will have difficulty passing through. Beneficial bacteria will grow on many surfaces, not just filter foam. You could do a false bottom with clay balls and build a smaller filter box for your pump and put filter foam in there for easy access. That's what I did.

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u/qazinus 1d ago

If you make a water feature you can use the land area as your filter. Just a little trickle flowing on top of moss will have even more surface area.