How to Hide a False Bottom on a Waterfall Terrarium

False bottom terrarium designs help prevent the soil around waterfalls from becoming waterlogged, which can kill delicate terrarium plants. In addition to facilitating soil drainage, false bottom terrariums also prevent soil particles from clogging waterfall pumps in the terrarium. Properly covering the large holes of the false bottom base is essential to prevent the soil from washing into the water reservoir at the base of the waterfall in your terrarium.

Window screening
Scissors
Needle
Thread
Aquarium charcoal

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the base of your false bottom terrarium and cut a piece of window screening that is 4 inches larger than the base on each side.
- 2
  Fold the excess window screening over the false bottom base and sew the screening together with a needle and thread.
- 3
  Place the false bottom base back in the terrarium with the window screening facing up, and ensure that the base fits snugly against the glass walls. It is important that there are no large gaps between the edges of the false bottom base and the terrarium wall where soil or animals might be able to get into the water reservoir below.
- 4
  Cover the window screening with a 1/2 inch layer of crushed aquarium charcoal. The charcoal helps cover the false bottom base and filters harmful chemicals out of the water as it flows through the soil, maintaining the biotic integrity of the terrarium.
- 5
  Build up the terrarium soil and plant terrarium plants around the waterfall to create the landscape and appearance you want.

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