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Built two terrariums last weekend, one with gravel and one with leca.
The one with the leca layer at the bottom is way less soggy after five days. The gravel one already has a puddle. Is leca just better for drainage, or did I mess up the gravel setup?
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camerona791mo ago
Used to be a total gravel purist myself, thought leca was just some fancy expensive rocks. But after my last vivarium got that exact same puddle problem you're describing, I switched one side to leca and it stayed bone dry on the bottom while my gravel side turned into a swamp. I think the KEY difference is that leca actually wicks moisture upward through capillary action instead of letting it all just settle at the bottom. My gravel setup had the same problem - I had about two inches of gravel and the water just sat there like a bird bath. Now I'm honestly thinking leca might be the better choice for most builds, especially if you're trying to avoid root rot or mold.
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Maybe your gravel layer is just too thick, trapping water down there?
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butler.brian1mo ago
Honestly, that's a solid point. I had the same problem with my last build, the water just pooled under the gravel and made a huge mess. Took me forever to figure out I needed way less than I thought.
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