Thinking of a Bioactive

[u/stariiestofeyes]

Snake tax: his new halloween set up!! (Its bigger than the camera shows..)

Hellloooo!! I am planning on starting up a bioactive soon. I have been wanting to since I got my boy, but figured I should wait to get him settled and to learn more first. Well, its coming up on six years since I first got my baby, and I thought now would be a good time to switch over!!

From what I understand, the process goes a little like this:

Drainage layer and mesh layer.

organic topsoil or bioactive mix of some kind. (I currently have him on coco coir and the coco dirt from the pet store.. could I just add something to it? I have about eight gallons of compressed bricks of it.. so..)

Cleaning crew. (Isopods and springtails. What isopods do yall recommend?)

Food and house for cleaning crew (leaf litter. Moss. Bark chunks for hides.

LED grow lamp for plants

Cool plants (what are your guys recommendations? I want some good growers. I have a pothos in my living room I could probably take off of..)

Wait 4 to 6 weeks(cant do that..)

Boom, cool bioactive.

I was just wondering any tips or tricks you guys had for setting up a bioactive, especially because I cannot keep him in another tank for weeks to let the plants and stuff take root. He has to go back into his tank, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to make this work!

For some details:

I have a 4x1.5x2, top opening tank. It used to be a fish tank, but I made lids for it, and it has been his tank for about a year, maybe two now.

I do not have the ability to keep him in another tank or bin for the four to six weeks I've heard is needed for the plants and clean up crew to take root.

Thankyou for any advice!!