Bioactive advice

[J4ckdaw-]

When I upgrade Leo’s enclosure to a bigger one (hopefully this month or the next) I’d like to give bioactive a try, so, I’ll need to know absolutely everything before hand. I have the substrate mix I’ll use (desert sand blend, organic topsoil) but everything else is unbeknownst to me. Educate me please!

I have access to isopods and springtails for a clean up crew, and I have a general idea of what plants are safe (I want to add some spineless prickly pear cactus, and maybe some reptile safe shrub?) I want to try and make a custom foam background as well, if anyone could help me out with that.

I’m going to try and get my hands on a pretty big enclosure, hopefully over 200 gallons if possible. What do you use to attach the background to the enclosure itself? Also, if anyone could give me the link to some reptile safe paints (brown, red, black, etc…) and grout to use that would be fantastic!

So… yeah, I’ll need all the help I can get. I don’t want to spend a crap ton of money only to ruin the tank so any advice will GREATLY help. Thanks, see ya

Edit: would it be cheaper just to make an enclosure myself? I have a hardware store that sells plywood and glass pains, I’ll just have to waterproof it/stainproof it.

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

When I upgrade Leo’s enclosure to a bigger one (hopefully this month or the next) I’d like to give bioactive a try, so, I’ll need to know absolutely everything before hand. I have the substrate mix I’ll use (desert sand blend, organic topsoil) but everything else is unbeknownst to me. Educate me please!

I have access to isopods and springtails for a clean up crew, and I have a general idea of what plants are safe (I want to add some spineless prickly pear cactus, and maybe some reptile safe shrub?) I want to try and make a custom foam background as well, if anyone could help me out with that.

I’m going to try and get my hands on a pretty big enclosure, hopefully over 200 gallons if possible. What do you use to attach the background to the enclosure itself? Also, if anyone could give me the link to some reptile safe paints (brown, red, black, etc…) and grout to use that would be fantastic!

So… yeah, I’ll need all the help I can get. I don’t want to spend a crap ton of money only to ruin the tank so any advice will GREATLY help. Thanks, see ya

Edit: would it be cheaper just to make an enclosure myself? I have a hardware store that sells plywood and glass pains, I’ll just have to waterproof it/stainproof it.

ECOS Paints Pet Dwelling Primer and Pet Dwelling Paint are a 0-VOC acrylic paint and primer that are safe for all animal enclosures including reptile enclosures and terrariums.

 

[J4ckdaw-]

ECOS Paints Pet Dwelling Primer and Pet Dwelling Paint are a 0-VOC acrylic paint and primer that are safe for all animal enclosures including reptile enclosures and terrariums.

Amazing, this helps a ton!

 

[Hazelthebeardeddragon]

Amazing, this helps a ton!

You can watch some of Elle’s reptiles bioactive enclosure setups and those help a ton!

 

[J4ckdaw-]

You can watch some of Elle’s reptiles bioactive enclosure setups and those help a ton!

I’m also watching plenty of SerpaDesign, his bioactive set ups are jaw droppingly realistic. Now that is what I strive for in this kind of thing! But I’ll check Elle’s reptiles when I have the time, thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Enclosures

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Good luck with your tank endeavors, that will be very rewarding once you are finished!
Be sure to post pictures once it is complete.

Tracie

 

[J4ckdaw-]

Hello,

Good luck with your tank endeavors, that will be very rewarding once you are finished!
Be sure to post pictures once it is complete.

Tracie

I will, 100%! I may just end up buying and modifying a pre-made enclosure. We’ll see

 

[Chris.]

Have you checked the dessert sand already? Some of those get sold wet and get solid as they dry out. Or is this what you are going for?

Also I have a 200 GAL tank built out of only things you can pretty mutch buy at a hardware store. It's not that hard except for the glass, which needs to be cut quite accurately to fit the tracks.