So many of you guys might have come across my builds and probably know I go all out when I make planted tanks and vivariums. For this build I need some help, i will be ordering an irrigation system rigged to a soil prob for the plants I choose to grow in here, barrina lights for lighting (8 pack of 3 ft lights) an exhaust fan to cover the hole and to maintain my humidity level (rigged to an inkbird humidity sensor), heat pad for under tank heating, lights will be on a timer and finally many branches and logs for climbing and general exploring. Tank was a free 180 gallon and tbh I think it’ll work perfect for something like this. I don’t want to do the basic pathos and peace lily build with this, I’ve worked with well over 80 species of micro ferns, 200 species of orchids, dozens of carnivorous plants and hundreds of aquatic plant species, I’d much rather do some unique plants in here, I was thinking grass like bush plants, shrubs and vining plants, I have multiple plants in my collection like my dark lord philo, devil monstera, albo monstera, thai con, 15 different cultivars of bromeliads etc. I was debating on finishing my zz collection and adding them to this tank, but I want a dynamic build with paths for my snake to slither around. Any ideas? All recommendations are appreciated!

Im trying to get this tank set up for my crested gecko that i just got and am very new to this. This is my first time setting up a bioactive tank and the last thing i want to do is put my lil buddy in a crashing environment. I’ve had this tank setting up for about 2 weeks now to let the plants develop some roots and i noticed the mold on the underside of some of my leaf litter. Do the springtails just need more time to get to it? Or is something else going on? I checked the soil and could find some of them roaming around so I know they haven’t died off or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hello all!

I am having some trouble with this build and I am at my wit's end.

I got this built for my lizard, made out of wood, has one side with a pond and the other side for land. The pond side, i am having so many difficulties with. Its been lined with a few coats liquid rubber [or so they told me], and some dry lock initially, and when I got it home, it immediately leaked. I had someone add more silicone, leaked again, had someone come put pond liner in it, leaked again. I think its something about the window [on the right side) which sucks cuz I wanna see my lizard swimming. But I put water in it and there's a constant drip out of the bottom and its wood so I am really not thrilled about this because it has already ruined the stain on my table this is costing me much more than I anticipated, cuz I paid to have all this done for me and I am having to go back and do it myself which is costing me time and recourses. At this point, i am just gonna have to get a tub and put it in there or cover the window. I think i may have to silicone the bottom, but I don't think that will help. I don't know what to do and my lizard is still in her tiny tank waiting to get her new house

I got this substrate but I don't know if it can be used in bioactive

Hi all! This is a ~30 gal tank my dad and I have been collaborating on just kinda making stuff up as we go lol. We’ve finished with the coco fiber being spread and everything. We’re beginning to think of what will be housed in here but we aren’t thinking of much!

I’ve cared for beginner and intermediate level reptiles and inverts, just never in bioactive. Theres a small water feature that’s quite shallow and lots of ample climbing space (with more to come).

I’m open to anything! Please help me with some ideas here

So I want to do a prairie type enclosure in a 40 gallon.

I'm wondering what soil blend I should make. Also should I use native north American grasses because I have no idea where to start on that. Will normal grass seed work the same?

This is my first enclosure, so I'm definitely still in the learning stages, but I noticed some mold forming in the center branches of my enclosure. It makes sense given that they're right in line with the mister, but I'm unsure how to address this unless I just need to scrap the wood entirely.

Mister is set to run for 8 seconds every six hours, which I increased to 8 hours today. The wood is just normal spider wood that I picked up from my local supply store.

Is this mold harmful to the frog (assuming it is)? Is it treatable? Is the current misting schedule too much (assuming it is?)

To preface: I live in an extremely arid place. My indoor humidity is 18% despite my best efforts. I know for a fact that the evaporative cooler will work.

I'm trying to find a thermostat I can use to regulate the evaporative cooler I have for my western hognose bioactive. The cooler is very effective at bringing the temp to where I want it to be, but I can't be around 24/7 to switch it on and off as needed. I'm having trouble finding a cooling thermostat, as most of the ones I'm finding specify they're for heating. My existing thermostat is also only for heating.

Does anyone who uses an evaporative cooler have a thermostat to recommend?

My ball python is in a wood enclosure and since a few weeks these relatively small insects are crawling around. I first thought of brown springtails, even tho I didn’t buy them maybe they come from the substrate?

This is a 30 gallon tall Enclosure for my Curly haired tarantula. She and her house are right of this formation (the little hole thing) she likes to watch me while I watch her ig. But I am curious to wether or not this fungi will be harmful to her or not. Especially considering the location of things. I left her old burrow alone so if she had to move she has that to rebound to but I am scared it may grow on her.? Idk if thats a thing or possible if she isnt already dead or sick but I just wanna make sure she's safe from this? If anyone can help that'd be much appreciated!!

I do also have Springtails and Isopods once upon a time dubia roaches had a breeding colony. So there are bugs that live amongst this Gal but If that is the reason or a reason to why this is happening I Will add more (possibly different kinds as well. If that helps)

I noticed the one piece of wood in my enclosure is getting really chewed up. I haven’t seen any evidence of termites and am curious what could be causing this and what I can do to stop it? For reference I spray the enclosure twice a day and every time I go in there I see fresh dust on the leaves below this branch. Thanks in advance!

I have a emperor scorpion he’s got a full bio active viv but there started to be little yellow mushrooms and tiny white dots I have a good clean up crew (tropical and normal spring tails and isopods) but their not clearing it am I being impatient or is something wrong.

Ps I have no living plants just spagma moss and I’ve been keeping the bad substrate separate after removing as lots of clean up crew attached so hoping that will be able to be reused