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.

[MNGuy]

More pics since we can only post 5 at a time

[MNGuy]

Last pics

[Jeff B]

Looks great. Now you have leftovers you can make another one and get more garters.
Don't be afraid to use styro and concrete and commit to siliconing to the back of the aquarium you can easily remove down the road if you want to change out, its not really that big of a commitment.

[benmarko]

And what are the temps inside the hide?

[MNGuy]

And what are the temps inside the hide?

I haven’t lifted the hides up to check the temperatures inside, but the surface of the slate on the right is about 85/86 degrees Fahrenheit and the cold side is about 75 measured with a digital temp gun.

Here are the snakes today:

[Lamb]

That looks great I’m tryna make something cool in the future like that. Your a awesome parent lol

[MNGuy]

That looks great I’m tryna make something cool in the future like that. Your a awesome parent lol

Thank you. I appreciate it.

I definitely recommend going bioactive. A planted tank looks great, and the upkeep is much less work. Garters love to explore and make use of the plants, too.

Good luck with your two new snakes, and keep us posted on their progress.

[Lamb]

Thanks I will. Come to find out I panicked I did all the cleaning but wasn’t mites it was something else lil blacked winged bugs similar to fruit flies but I still cleaned them washed them changed the bedding went with carefresh but idk if I will stay that route.

[MNGuy]

Thanks I will. Come to find out I panicked I did all the cleaning but wasn’t mites it was something else lil blacked winged bugs similar to fruit flies but I still cleaned them washed them changed the bedding went with carefresh but idk if I will stay that route.

Those could be gnats that live in the soil of potted plants. They’re annoying but harmless.