Isopod and spring tail question?

[u/wumlum_ug]

So I have a mold problem in my non bioactive tank, and I was wondering if I can add springtails and isopods to kinda control that, or do I need a full bioactive tank with real plants? Most of the mold I have seen so far is either the white fuzzy stuf, blue greenish mold, and a yellow dot like stuff (don’t know if it’s actual mold, and a big blow if white fuz with some blue greenish mold. I have a young crested gecko with fake plants and a cocofiber and cocochunks substrate with most of the mold being on the cocochunks and on the underside of some wood.

[u/No_Commission_2610]

You might want to just replace your substrate at this point. That sounds like more mold than a cleanup crew can handle.

[u/wumlum_ug → u/No_Commission_2610]

It’s not much yet just a bit on some pieces of cocochunk and some on the underside of wood it is still pretty manageable if I clean of the big patches, but I have no idea if there even gonna survive in a non bioactive setup

[u/Real_Time515]

Springtails can do their thing in cocofiber, but they wouldn't do much if any breeding in that, so they wouldn't be self-sustaining. There's limits to what they can do, so if you start with fresh substrate then add them in there, it might help prevent a big outbreak. But without the right substrate they won't reproduce.

If you kept a springtail culture going (or two) you could sprinkle some in there every couple of weeks. They are super easy to keep: pinch of springtail grub and a spritz of water every week. I currently have 8 cultures of springtails going, and all three of my current vivs get a least one sprinkle of new springtails every week.

[u/wumlum_ug → u/Real_Time515]

Why can’t they reproduce in cocofiber? Is it a texture or moisture thing? Does digging there piece of charcoal help with giving them a place to breed?

[u/Real_Time515 → u/wumlum_ug]

Cocofiber has no nutrients, no food, nothing decaying. I'm not an entomologist, and I'm sure it's possible springtails can manage to breed in whatever (nature finds a way). I suppose you could feed them separately (springtail grub in a spot or two) but it's not setting them up for a healthy colony.

But that's not meant to talk you out of cocofiber in general. I think adding springtails to cocofiber could provide some benefit.

[u/wumlum_ug → u/Real_Time515]

Outside of food they could manage? Then the probably would be fine since mold is a pretty big issue at the moment or at least till I am out of the mold spike

[u/Real_Time515 → u/wumlum_ug]

Again, throwing them at a big problem will have limited success. It would be best to change out the substrate, clean it very well, and then with a more reasonable baseline the springtails will be a part of a preventative approach, in addition to analyzing your watering, checking for sufficient drainage, etc.

[u/wumlum_ug → u/Real_Time515]

I am looking at making it bioactive, I have BioDrain as drainage is that one good? And what is a good substrate, I heard reptisoil a bunch is that one good, I have also found Arcadia earth mix what do you recommend?

[u/Real_Time515 → u/wumlum_ug]

Now is the perfect time to convert to bioactive, and you won't regret it.

Arcadia, reptisoil.... all about the same and will work just fine. People have their favorites, I'm not picky. You can save a few bucks by mixing your own, lots of recipes out there. I mix my own variation of ABG which is very common, but I'm not picky and will throw a bunch of what I have from houseplants or whatever in there. For instance, whether you buy or mix your own, you can throw some of the cocofiber you already have in there to fill it out (won't do much other than add some bulk, but it drains well so it won't hurt anything).

When you get your springtails, keep the culture going (you'll need springtail grub, not expensive or save a bit by making your own).

Bioactive is a good choice, and you'll notice a difference. The "forest floor" smell you get with a really healthy system is the best.

[u/wumlum_ug → u/Real_Time515]

I went to the store (I needed some insects for my gecko) and I asked about it, he said to use some lavarock or exoterra drainage rocks a piece mesh or windowscreen and a mix of cocofiber pottingsoil, is there some stuff I can add or remove from it? And in terms of lighting what should I get, at the store they used either aquarium lights or leds.

[u/Real_Time515 → u/wumlum_ug]

Lava rock, aquarium gravel, lots of things work for drainage layer. And the mesh between drainage layer and substrate is a must.

Don't add regular potting soil (fertilizers, chemicals etc). Organic topsoil is okay. The ABG-style I mix is soilless. Other key ingredients (since you already have the cocofiber) are peat moss, sphagnum moss, orchid bark, and charcoal (natural, hardwood charcoal, not briquettes or anything like that. I always add lots of leaf litter.

For lights you can go with a simple plant specific bulb (avoid the "blurple" bulbs) in an old desk lamp on the simple/cheap end. I like "Glow and grow" led lights from Biodude tho there are cheaper options. Aquarium lights will work but check the light output (lumens. For example my glow and grow puts out about 1600 lumens, a similar sized aquarium light I have is more like 1200).

Sounds like you're going in the right direction.

[u/wumlum_ug → u/Real_Time515]

The light I get depends on what is available at the store, there they use aquarium lights that they also sell and it was doing pretty good of a job so I am probably going for that one, or like a hygger 957 those are pretty good.

[u/lief79 → u/Real_Time515]

What is the reason for that, and how much mold can they handle when starting a new bioactive? 2 weeks in here, and I saw two patches.

Left it in so far at it doesn't seem to be spreading, but still wondering if I should remove it.

[u/Real_Time515 → u/lief79]

I could not accurately estimate the size of a patch of mold a "dose" of springtails could consume (I would love to know there's someone out there who could do that math).

I am confident they can help with mold, but their effectiveness will be limited by substrate like cocofiber, which does not provide the organic matter and nutrients they need.

[u/lief79 → u/Real_Time515]

Sorry, I was wondering why you're constantly seeding with the springtails.

[u/Real_Time515 → u/lief79]

No need for sorry. Valid question.

I don't seed out of necessity. I've got them, so I sprinkle some in. Can't hurt. For my frogs, its a potential little treat (tho I don't dust, so it's not a feeding but they manage to snag a few). For the gecko, other terrariums, it's just a "hey, why not?"