zoomed Zoo Med HydroBalls Clay Substrate 1.13kg

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A bioactive enclosure is set up to include living elements that work together almost like a miniature ecosystem within a tank. Live plants, fungi, and microfauna are all key inhabitants in a bioactive enclosure. Microfauna, like the springtails and isopods I used in Mary Kay’s enclosure, help clean up waste and serve as occasional food sources. The fungi also help clean up waste by aiding in decomposition and turning the waste into nutrients. In turn, the plants use these nutrients to grow so they can provide shelter and humidity to the animal inhabitants of the enclosure.

I do find myself using perlite in my potted mixes, though – shop it here on Etsy. Perlite really just reminds me of rice puffs. Mostly because it’s difficult to source (even more so in a sustainable way), but it’s tough to find a good substitute for, too. Structure– These are the more granular materials that provide some much-needed drainage and root aeration for your plants. Some materials can provide boost water retention/availability too. The mix was mostly composed of coconut fiber and composted manure, with a few handfuls of the other ingredients added. When it was fully mixed, I poured it into the bottom of the tank. It’s super light and fluffy, which means you’re going to get lots of root aeration and tonnes of moisture retention. Plus, it’s not going to compact over time.All that’s left now is to introduce your frog to their new enclosure. I recommend being as gentle and patient as possible. In most cases, your pet will be in a small, plastic container. Set the container inside the terrarium and remove the lid, allowing them to venture into their habitat on their own. As soon as you notice your frog is no longer in the plastic container, you can remove it from the cage.

Buying a waterfall for your terrarium has its benefits – we can all agree on that. As for which one is best for you, well, that ultimately depends on you and your pet’s needs.

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You can crush the expanded clay pellets into smaller pieces. By choosing to break down the original size, you create a texture that holds onto more water, which is perfect for seeds that you want to germinate. You can use any disposable bag to contain the expanded clay pellets, using a hammer or mallet to break the pieces down. Use the smaller pieces just like you would use potty soil for the seeds until they sprout their first leaves. However, make sure to keep the pieces large enough to stay in the pots. Seed Germination To set up a drainage layer, fill the bottom of the cage with Hydroballs or use a Matala filter. I cannot stress how much more I like using Matala than Hydroballs. I’ve used Hydroballs before and they work great, I just happen to prefer Matala filters. A small or medium water dish is all that’s required in most cases. The one I used was way too big but its all I had at the moment. If you have an x-large water dish, it will work but something smaller is usually better. To infuse them with nutrients, add your preferred growing solution before placing them in the garden or pot. Only use about 25% of what you normally use, since it’s already going to be concentrated while it soaks into the pellets.

To make sure the clay pellets continue to nourish and grow your plants, you need to take the time to rinse them and prevent the CEC value from spiking. CEC means “cation exchange capacity,” and the value is simply an indication of how much the expanded clay pellets hold onto. If you’re running with pure coir as your soil base, you’re going to need to add some nutrients to your growth medium. False bottoms and hydroballs are designed to let the water drain out of the soil, keeping the soil from becoming saturated. Your soil sounds saturated. I wouldn't blame the mister for the saturation but the fact you don't have any drainage.It takes many hours for hydroton to get totally soaked. And when dry, it can absorb the moisture from your plants, which threatens your plants’ life. Get sterilized when reusing With potted plants, pull the plant out of the expanded clay pellets, and rinse the pellets from the top. If there are no pots, just flush the garden from the top as the buildup rinses away. While rinsing, exclusively use fresh water with a balanced pH.