African/Congo Biotopes

Hi everyone,

After deciding I want to go biotope for my 20 gallon Betta tank in the future, I thought to myself, hey, why not do the same for my frog project?

Currently I have a standard 30 gallon set up, it's got a "natural" planted kind of look and houses my African Dwarf Frogs and a male Betta. As said above, the Betta is going to be moved to his own 20 gallon as soon as possible, so the 30 gallon will be a frog-only tank for a bit. I was thinking about adding Neons but I decided not to if I'm gonna go biotope.

Here is the tank as of now.





I would like to turn the 30 gallon into a African/Congo type biotope, and I've been doing some research but I can find little detailed info on the specifics of it. I've found one website to be quite helpful in this matter (mongabay.com) and I found a few ideas that I really like. Specifically these ones: Western/Central African River & South African Swamp
I'd somehow like to combine the best of these two, as the project is somewhat based around the ADF which, I assume, would be found in marsh/pond/swampy type areas near the edges of rivers/streams.

So far here is what I have planned out in my brain, try and stay with me here!

Substrate
I plan to layer. The bottom lined with smooth stones (med-large) and then pouring a mixture of course sand/gravel over top. Should I put a layer of something else on the very bottom or between the large stones/gravel to help plants grow, or what do you think?

Plants
Eleocharis (dwarf) I am thinking a carpet, what do you guys think?
Anubias (many types) scattered everywhere
Bolbitis again just placed randomly
Vallisneria, on one side (maybe)
Java moss (maybe as a wall for background?)

What would be a good floating plant for this set up that wouldn't be too hard to "keep in line" so to speak? I was also wondering about "reedy" type plants and/or lillypads and such that would stick up out of the water and fill the empty segment of the tank between the water and light(s).


"Decor"
Lots of African Bog/Driftwood
Large stones (if I can find any safe ones that fit the set up)
I would like to make a floating island of some sort, but I'm not sure how to go about doing so. I was thinking of just taking a piece of plastic and cutting it into an awkward shape then covering it with silicon to stick on sand/little gravel, fake plants, etc. Then I was thinking I could let it dry, and throw some wet sand/java moss and stuff on top. I don't know..... I would like it to be more real than that.

Lighting/filter/etc is undecided. The filter needs to be one that can take sand without getting ruined (or be rigged to do so) and not create too strong of a current.

Stocking Plans
As of now my stocking plans are intended for the 30 gallon, of course they'd be upgraded with a larger tank. This is what I have been thinking:

African Dwarf Frogs
(I've got four adults and one tadpole ATM, no more than 6-8 for this tank I would say.)
A shoal of Congo Tetras (not sure how many? I was thinking like... 6-8?)



So this is what I'm thinking. I am just looking for any tips, opinions, ideas, info, links, suggestions, etc...
Really, any input on the matter would be fantastic! :icon_lol:

[I figure this would also be good for a sort of "trial and error" period, as my eventual goal/dream is to get a custom tank (ETA: My Dream Tank) and create a Biotope riparium that I could maybe even add some Reed Frogs to. But that's another story......Haha]