Going bioactive

[MNGuy]

After having my garters for about about 1.5 years I finally began turning the 40 breeder into a bioactive setup. I’ve kept them on newspaper and then aspen. They’re in a 20 long on aspen as I let the bioactive setup establish itself for awhile.

I bought way too many clay pellets/hydroballs and way too much organic topsoil! I probably used 1/3 to 1/4 if each bag. I also filled in the drainage layer before accidentally reading online that you need to wash the clay balls first! Had to remove everything and wash it in small batches in the tub since it’s frigid outside here.

1/ Wash and lay down 2-inch drainage layer of clay balls. (Home Depot carries them in the summer but not in the winter. I had to go to a hydroponic specialty store.)
2/ Cut window screening to size with a few inches excess all around to keep dirt level from falling into drainage layer.
3/ Lay out natural stones for hot hide. (It’s very stable.)
4/ Cut coco fiber mat to fit back and attach with Velcro strips spaced a few inches apart across the top and a few toward the bottom. I didn’t want a foam background but I wanted something naturalistic that would allow vines to climb and attach. I also didn’t want to commit to gluing anything on the glass.
5/ Lay out plants, water bowl, cold hide and climbing branch. (Then remove.)
6/ Sprinkle a thin layer of horticulture charcoal on screen to help filter/clean water as it drains through.
7/ Mix substrate: 1 part organic topsoil (didn’t use potting soil bc I don’t like the perlite), 3/4 part play sand, 1 part orchid bark, 2 parts sphagnum moss, a handful of horticultural charcoal. Layer on top of drainage, screen and charcoal layers. I went 2-inches deep in the front and 3-4 inches in the back.
8/ Unpot and wash plants, and plant in tank.
9/ Still need to add isopods and springtails.

It took me several hours over two nights to pull this together. That’s on top of multiple shopping trips to two stores and two garden centers.