Bioactive Vivarium Substrate!

[@LakesReptiles]

I've noticed a bit higher quality on the videos lately, very nice!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks man! :)

[@samuelpondusa8978]

DUDE THIS IS GONNA BE SO HELPFUL AS A REFERENCE FOR THE GREEN TREE PYTHON SETUP IM BUILDING!!! KEEP UP THE AMAZING VIDEOS!!

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed! Posted a build today! You should check it out!

[@samuelpondusa8978]

I have post notifications turned on! I see all your videos. I use them as a reference for every new setup I build!

[@MikeTytula]

Samuel Pondusa That's awesome! Thanks :)

[@harisaurus_rex]

Mike! HUGE level up in production quality of your videos. Really informative, to the point, with great quality shots of everything. A+

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks man! Glad someone is noticing!

[@MarksShrimpTanks]

Great video ,I see the compacting and soil going of in Shrimp tanks too.

[@MikeTytula]

Ya it happens everywhere!

[@gonzodagreek8560]

Thanks Mike. You come across as an outstanding young man, well verses on the subject of vivariums. As a noob to the hobby and just beginning the planning stages of my first project, your vids have proven to be extremely helpful and more informative than several others I am seeing out there. Keep up the good work.

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks man! I appreciate the kind words :) I'm glad you are getting some useful informations.

[@caitlin8153]

Love the camera shots and editing on this one! Super thorough and helpful (of course) too!

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@gaminggangster4151]

Awesome choices on the plants. It looks so natural and a good choice for a tank.

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks man!

[@therealcapeesha]

Thank you! I've been having trouble finding a clear guide on this.

[@MikeTytula]

Well hopefully this helped out :) I think I will be making another video similar to this out sometime in the near future

[@ethankennedy1496]

Thanks a lot I've been using coco nut substrate. I'm thankful for this video!!!😕😐😶😵

[@ethankennedy1496]

Your my favorite youtuber that has frogs mike! I'm just a starter your really helping me!

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoy!

[@ItsygoKurosaki]

Great video. Very informative.

[@MotoMami305]

Very helpful. Thanks for this video a million times. :)

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed Michelle! I appreciate the support!

[@coopsreptiles2588]

very informative i will be using this as a reference for my next bio build i am doing very soon! keep up the good work mate!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for the support man!

[@Expeditionwildside]

That mix is close to the one I use but I add filter sand. I am also going to try mixing in Mycorrhizae fungi in my next vivarium build!

[@MikeTytula]

That would be an awesome idea actually! And ya filter sand comes in that zoomed stuff so it's in there haha

[@MarksTarantulas]

Very good and informative video I learnt a lot and been studying up on bio active vivs as I got a big project coming up thanks for this video 👍☺

[@MikeTytula]

That's awesome! Glad you learned something, and good luck with your project

[@jonnycadman9834]

Watching your channel grow as been awsome. You might remember me but I've been watching since 5,000 subscribers.

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks man! I appreciate the support!

[@JustinMcBucketss]

Ayeee Atlanta botanical garden! I live in Atlanta so I got excited when you said Atlanta

[@MikeTytula]

hahah that's awesome!

[@jamiesilvestro3382]

dude your videos are amazing, great work I'm learning heaps for my own project

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed! make sure you check the channel for the whole vivarium build!

[@jamiesilvestro3382]

yeah i have watched a few already it's given me heaps of ideas to use

[@MikeTytula]

jsilvestro666 Perfect! good luck on your build!

[@pauloney52]

Awesome awesome awesome video and info!!! I love it!!! I'm definitely gonna try that substrate mix for my custom vivariums

[@MikeTytula]

Do it!

[@gabo4632]

great video bud. learned so much from this

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@dezign2the9z58]

Excellent video. Thanks for the explanation.

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@scaletails4149]

Great video. Have started using bioactive for my corn snakes and it looks an acts great 👍 this vid helped a lot

[@MikeTytula]

that's awesome!

[@veesentdaysendz8113]

Awesome!!Here's another bioactive mix-all you have to do is mix Zilla jungle mix mixed with Zoo med Reptisoil mixed with Amazon tree fern fiber mixed with eco earth/Exo terra plantation soil,then add isopods & springtails and biodegradables,instead of Abg mix.Haha,it's all gonna be 95%-100% identical.

[@MikeTytula]

Ya that's pretty much what I use in mine as well!

[@bryanneo9585]

Beautifully done!! Great for novice like myself.

[@MikeTytula]

Hopefully it helped answer some of the questions!

[@wa5780]

Great vid, I'm gonna be redoing my frogs background in 10 days and will use your information for the substrate

[@MikeTytula]

That's awesome you should have some other videos to base it on that will be coming out soon :)

[@maryharvey7601]

great info Mike thanks cant wait to start. In southeast texas as a girl I was able to find rolly polys all the tme. Ive been looking with my grandkids hunting them. LOL wish me luck

[@MikeTytula]

Those likely aren't tropical isopods so they likely won't do great. But it's worth a shot!

[@maryharvey7601]

oh know didn't think of that oh well still had fun thanks for the info

[@MikeTytula]

mary Harvey No problem! Good luck!

[@elliotbauer7905]

Well made video, very informative.

[@brandont9916]

Very informative as always! Thanks man!

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@michaelfabregas3496]

Thank You Mike! Amazing Video once again :)

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@josephhughes6027]

Such a helpful video mate thanks for all the info!

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@jobicarter3253]

Great video!

[@kchstudiophx9843]

yes I've spent several hours with you. Question.. acids? the leaves have different pH levels. ??

[@MikeTytula]

They might! I haven't looked into it! Most of them are more alkali I'm pretty sure

[@aribh4929]

Great information! Learned a lot from this! Also you work on Sunday and Thursday right? I'll come in one of these days since I'm on break.

[@MikeTytula]

I won't be back again until after the new year. haha But that is correct

[@davidkrausse8954]

Hey Mike, Thanks a bunch! a lot more detail in this than other videos I have been watching. Is that AGB formula what you use? It was the only formula that you put up in print, but you didn't seem to say outright that this was a good way to go.

[@MikeTytula]

Similar to ABG not the exact same though

[@kapurtakisexotics5056]

Awesome video mike!!!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks buddy!

[@nickdavis354]

hey mike I was wondering about your solar glow light for your tortoise. I just want an overall review of how long it lasts and how hot it gets and things like that because I am getting my first bearded dragon soon.

[@MikeTytula]

Nicholas Davis you should be replacing them every 8-10 months if you are using the UV in them, but I really like that personally there are a couple of other bulbs that I would rather have but they are so damn expensive!

[@nickdavis354]

Mike Tytula alright thanks man

[@MikeTytula]

Nicholas Davis No worries man!

[@yrnss]

Very informative! I'm planning on getting a crested gecko soon ;)

[@MikeTytula]

That's awesome! good luck!

[@andone01red]

Pretty cool, I got some powder blues isopods, I need some springtails though

[@MikeTytula]

I want powder blues sooo bad!

[@andone01red]

Mike Tytula Well unfortunately their tub molded out so I lost a quite a few but I still have some left, probably not the best choice on my part for my first Isopods because they were kinda expensive, I got them at an expo for $10 for a starter colony

[@MikeTytula]

andone01red That's not bad at all for a starter pack haha

[@blackhagalaz]

This video is pretty helpful thank you :-)

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching!

[@displayname16]

you should of added links to alot of these like the isopods

[@MikeTytula]

Like sales links? Or?

[@3palienclub806]

awesome Video because I'm buding my new created Gecko vivarium ATM. some questions : can I just add charcoal from the furnace ? can j put my geckos inside the vivarium one week after adding the springtails? i have a lot of springtails and I don't think cresties eat th em

[@MikeTytula]

I wouldn't add that kind of charcoal just incase something might have snuck in. Ya that would be fine!

[@jaratt85]

I wonder what'd happen if you'd put some grass clippings in to your cultures.. I know when we had a compost pile the sow bugs LOVED the piles of decaying grass clippings. Here's a topic for you "why do you use clay pebbles as your foundation in your tank rather than river rock or something similar?"

[@MikeTytula]

it helps with water dispersal also pebbles weigh more and would make the tank extremely heavy!

[@timleeder3929]

Bit random but, do you think mixing in cotton with the substrate would offer anything, or just straight out be a negative?

[@flukeman022]

Hi, if i wanted a terrarium/vivarium how would i control the springtails and isopods population without having any pets that feeds on them? Thanks for the great video.

[@MikeTytula]

They will control themselves, there is only such a high carrying capacity of a tank.

[@nicholerocha5083]

Great video content! I am new to all this and looking to get a reptile. I have a Exo Terra 12”x12”x12” and would like your opinion on what reptile would be suitable for this terrarium. Thank you

[@MikeTytula]

Theres really not many. Maybe a mournings gecko

[@nicholerocha5083]

Mike Tytula thank you

[@mehrdaddwarves3001]

Thank you SO much for this video. I really needed inspiration for my vivariums. Ended using 1 part fir bark, 1 part orchid bark, 1 part sedge, 1 part coconut soil, 1 part aquarium stone, 1 part mos. A really good mix. I have a problem though with my "garbagemen". I ordered Trichorhina tomentosa, but i think my geckoes ate them. How long should i have my culture before adding them to the vivarium?

[@MikeTytula]

You can add the culture immediately to the viv or you can breed them. I would order two starter cultures, put one in the tank and start breeding them with the other.

[@mehrdaddwarves3001]

Awesome. I'll do that. Keep making awesome videos

[@veesentdaysendz8113]

Great setup!!So you don't use Peatmoss??I usually mix peatmoss,spagnum moss,Charcoal,fir/orchid bark,& coco fiber/husk,then add the springtails&isopods and leaf litter.And yeah there is like nowhere to buy tree fern substrate here in the USA,I would've add tree fern too,but.My setup is about the same as yours,Rock on!!!

[@MikeTytula]

THat's awesome! You can use Peat moss I just don't in my mix.

[@MrSabrecat]

Great video Mike, very informative, thanks. Do you know if it's advisable to have micro fauna in a snake enclosure. I'm just planning out a couple of vivariums for my daughters pythons and I'm pretty new to this subject, so any advice is welcome.

[@MikeTytula]

A clean up crew is totally fine in a snake enclosure :) If you have facebook I strongly recommend joining the advanced herpetological husbandry page! They will answer any questions that you may have!

[@lynnbrooks273]

How long should I boil leaf litter that I collect from outside? Love all of your videos. I've learned a ton, almost done with my first vivarium

[@MikeTytula]

I would bake them not boil them.

[@lynnbrooks273]

will do thanks again

[@catsystemcorp]

Hey Mike, i have a huge bag of catappa leaves, can i use that as leaf litter?

[@ChronicMrGamer]

What is the white mold looking like object at 9:43?

[@liveinthenow5144]

you are my inspiration.... I am just a beginner, I am about to make the first step , I'm looking at actual tanks, what do you recommend for a beginner?

[@MikeTytula]

Tanks wise? Or? Depends on what you are looking to keep!

[@alexavatar4427]

Does adding earthworms to the substrate help the vivarium?

[@MabelGls]

This is quite an old video but extremely helpful. So I have a couple of questions. I have an 18x18x24 exoterra with a young Crested Gecko weighing about 6 grams. I got her in August and the bottom has paper towels for now. You mentioned you need to give isopods and springtails a few weeks to start up. Would I be able to set up the tank (false bottom/substrate/springtails/isopods) and reintroduce the gecko in the same day? (Given that she's a small gecko in a huge tank? lol) Second question: I have one plant in the tank right now and it seems to have had spider mites. I've been spraying the plant daily with soapy water and I've cut off the affected leaves. It looks like that did the trick but I can't be 100% certain. What would you recommend before adding more plants? Or is there something I can add to make sure I don't get spider mites?

[@MikeTytula]

Honestly truth be told, I wouldn't put a gecko that small into a tank that size unless you plan on having multiple feeding sites for it around the tank. And yes adding the isopods and springtails should be fine honestly! But they will not be a level where they will clean much of the waste produced by the gecko. I would recommend taking that plant out, and making sure they are all gone.

[@MabelGls]

Sweet, thanks! Thankfully, my gecko eats super well. Every morning, she's eaten a good amount of food and I offer dubia roaches every 3-4 days. She gobbles them up in less than a minute. lol I'll take that plant out and leave in the fake ones for a few weeks then. Thanks for the advice!! :)

[@francisparkinson7934]

Love it nice one Thank you.

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@RLWolk]

Good information thank

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Africanfrogs]

How would you make one for a African bullfrog? Main issue I see is that their shits are huge. A 5 inch long poo will clog water and or not break down fast enough

[@MikeTytula]

I honestly wouldn't bother making one for a bullfrog lol

[@PhscyoManiac]

Hello! Thanks for a great video! I was wondering if you know if it might be a good idea to have this kind of layers in the vivarium: 1. clay aggregate 2. mesh 3. active coal 4. your substrate in the video. I am wondering because active coal and charcoal are different? :) Also, can you house your springtail culture on charcoal or active coal? Thanks for great channel, keep up the good work! :)

[@MikeTytula]

They are pretty much the same thing, and serve the same purpose so yes you could use that to house them in as well.

[@PhscyoManiac]

Thank you! :)

[@JeffGillis1]

Parallel topic, any insights in propagating an environment for micro orchids? Any suggestions on a source for micro orchids?

[@MikeTytula]

Depends where you live, and just high humidity with good air circulation

[@JamesCFan]

I use a mix of: coco fiber,coco husk,sphagnum moss and small pieces of charcoal. Is this good??

[@lucada32]

sounds decent maybe add sand?

[@aarongonzalez4458]

@@lucada32 I used eco earth which is coconut fiber but didnt mix it with anything is it good? I already put everything

[@MikeTytula]

Decent but not many nutrients in a mix like that.

[@goofysgobstopper]

Where's the false bottom

[@MikeTytula]

Not sure

[@meme21maker38]

Whats a good substrate mixture for a Bio-Active Bearded Dragon vivarium

[@kunaal_1928]

Should you replace the leaf litter?

[@dacouncil1200]

great video brother! so for someone like me who has their 1st build comming up, whats the best recommendation for store bought substrate? I was going for NEHERPs over ABG

[@MikeTytula]

NE herp is a great choice honestly!

[@dyonmulia6986]

can u make another video of u feeding them? i love watching them eating, haha

[@MikeTytula]

Watch what eating?

[@dyonmulia6986]

Mike Tytula ur gecko's, chameleon, snake, just like ur previous video. if u dont mind.

[@tjtube263]

Wow, that's a lot of springtails! I got some locally and I noticed there were some nasty looking compost mites in the coir-based substrate (no charcoal) they came in. How can I destroy the mites without harming the springtails? I'm pretty sure the mites eat the springtails, and I don't want them to contaminate the main habitat. I would just do the water trick but the springtails are mostly below the surface and unable to float to the surface freely, so I'm pretty sure they will mostly drown.

[@MikeTytula]

If the mites and spring tails are mixed together there is no way in saving the springtails, I would bake it in the oven.

[@tjtube263]

Oh well, the mites actually seem to do a better job than the springtails anyway. They're just really hideous to look at..

[@Quake210]

Could I make use of aquarium products like Seachem's "Stability" to introduce nitrifying bacteria to my vivarium?

[@MikeTytula]

You could try but it's not really necessary!

[@seanwages4064]

do you have to have isopods and springtails? Also, can you use plantation soil with hydroballs?

[@MikeTytula]

Yes you do. And I would recommend a more well rounded soil.

[@MDdelgado23]

is it possible the spring tails escape from the tank air vents? def dont want that

[@MikeTytula]

They can. But they aren't harmful to anything and will likely die if they are outside your tank.

[@gardeninginthegardenstate2362]

In the future I will be making a rain forest terrarium in a 20 gallon tank. I have already figured out the fogging system and plants. But I am not making a Vivarium. How do I make that type of soil?

[@MikeTytula]

Still make the same soil haha

[@thomasnorge2245]

Do you have any recommedned for plants and substrate for day geckos? Or isnt that so inportant?

[@MikeTytula]

Well this substrate is good, and plants, typicaly pothos is good, umbrella plant, snake plant, it's all good.

[@connorwolfe6044]

Do you think that you could do a leopard gecko bioactive cage. Because I have seen some people do it.

[@MikeTytula]

It's not really possible from what I have done, theres not really any clean up crew that lives in the desert climate

[@connorwolfe6044]

Mike Tytula yea that's what I was thinking... and was very confused when I was told you could. Lol just wanted someone of more knowledge to help me know the truth.

[@MikeTytula]

Connor Wolfe Ya I haven't researched it much yet but chances are the bugs wouldn't be easy to source haha

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

hi id like to know is it ok if i breed some isopods and spring tails in the same container...if they seem to need the same conditions i thought it could save an extra container to set up...is this safe to do ..my bugs will be here in just a day or so .please let me know asap. thanks melissa.

[@MikeTytula]

You can but once they are together you will never separate them

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

thanks for the reply.i will be putting them in a green tree frog paluderium,then my stimpsons python bio and my blue tongue bio so ile need a few before theres enough for all my new builds...they arrived today but what are the realy big steely grey isopods called theer kinda pritty.

[@CaptainRumi]

Can I make my own leaf litter by cooking oak leafs etc?

[@MikeTytula]

You can yes

[@XwolfbaneXx]

hey Mike, -- do you think it would be possible for springtails to overpopulate in a way? what's preventing me from introducing microfauna into my tank is knowing my Crested Gecko would not be interested in eating them, so there would be no population control, and thus could continue to reproduce until there's just too many of them around.

[@MikeTytula]

No the environment has a carrying capacity, meaning that they will breeding until the environment can't sustain the large pop'n and some will die, you will never have 'too many' haha

[@XwolfbaneXx]

Mike Tytula thank you for the clarification :')

[@FruddyG]

This is what intimidated me from adding springtails to my upcoming Paludarium.. Doing as much research as I can before I get started. Thanks for the vid Mike

[@MikeTytula]

.: Freddy G' :. Thanks man! Glad you enjoyed!

[@abrahamnutrition]

Is it better to buy your oak leaves or can you just take oak leaves and nuke them in the microwave? If so for how long?

[@itzhen7032]

Do i need both insects

[@Shavenerd53119]

Can I use a abg mix just as a substrate in my terrarium without live plants or cleanup crew?

[@MikeTytula]

You can, but I would always recommend a clean up crew!

[@kennethyoung1980]

Where can I get isopods when no one near me sells them?

[@MikeTytula]

Depends where you live man.

[@jackbenham3639]

Mike, I purchased Genesis Exotics jungle floor mix. They are closed down now which is fishy and I haven't received my mix yet, but it has been shipped. Have you heard anything plus or minus about it?

[@MikeTytula]

I haven't heard anything from them. I'm sure it will be okay

[@Carrington666]

Hey Mike, thank you for your informative videos which help me a lot with building my first terrarium! in the end of this vid you say you refined certain ways of creating your most befitting substrate. Would you mind sharing the components of your mixture? Warm regards from "across the pond", Dennis ;-)

[@MikeTytula]

I would check on the video it's self of the waterfall build, but I believe I show it in there.

[@mikearraiol1803]

I don't need springtails in my chameleon setup right?

[@MikeTytula]

You don't 'need' them but they would help clean up some of the waste in the tank

[@mikearraiol1803]

Mike Tytula ok thx

[@debispencer8031]

Mike Arraiol I'm thinking about getting a chameleon and I'm completely new to this. Would this substrate be suitable for a veiled chameleon? Everything I've been reading says they dont like moist stuff. Thank you!!

[@Specogecko]

Where is this guy finding Pumice in Canada?

[@MikeTytula]

It's a lot harder to find now

[@mvpsamuraigt7944]

Can i use forest bark instead of orchid/fir bark?

[@MikeTytula]

Yup!

[@kaseylawrence]

What type of charcoal do you use?

[@MikeTytula]

You can use any kind of charcoal, just not the briquettes

[@italicbudz]

So do I need Isopods or Springtails in a vivarium or will it still work without them?

[@MikeTytula]

You pretty much need them. If you want the bioactivity

[@italicbudz]

Mike Tytula okay, so say I start off without them for a month or two that should be fine correct?

[@MikeTytula]

Alex Hope For sure ya!

[@rockethereptile8381]

Where is the link to the cage please?

[@MikeTytula]

It's not uploaded yet ;)

[@savanahkuklinski6833]

I have a tank similar to this and it's always so hard to clean! It takes three full hours and it's so hard! How do you clean it more easily?

[@MikeTytula]

Clean as in what?

[@savanahkuklinski6833]

Mike Tytula I don't have any isopods or microfauna in my tank to clean it, so will my frog set up, I have to go in and clean out any dead bugs that they don't eat, etc.

[@austindingman6916]

can you just use charcoal from a fire?

[@MikeTytula]

I suppose you might be able too but I would depend what wood you used

[@austindingman6916]

Mike Tytula Where do you get the stuff you use?

[@justinolson6960]

what kind of light do you use for the plant's

[@MikeTytula]

I have a whole video on plant lighting, check that one out

[@nyfotyo]

4:28 can i use pine bark??

[@MikeTytula]

I wouldn't recommend it.

[@dragowolfx]

any suggestions for arid setup/ substrate

[@MikeTytula]

I have a few other videos on my channel about it, but shoot me a message on instagram if you want to chat a bit more about it.

[@jaked7374]

What about a drainage layer ?

[@MikeTytula]

I will be making a new video as part of my build series covering the drainage layer.

[@jaked7374]

@@MikeTytula good stuff look forward to it.

[@thomasnorge2245]

So I can use this substrate and info from this video for gold dust day gecko?

[@MikeTytula]

YEs

[@MrPoohbae1000]

can I use leaves that I find outside of my house

[@MikeTytula]

Just as long as you don't spray any pesticides or anything, I would rinse them and bake them

[@seanrafferty4783]

Hey man you said you been experimenting with zoomed rain forest substrate, all I can find is zoomed forest substrate is that what your talking about?

[@MikeTytula]

There was a new substrate they released a while ago and that's what I was testing, not great results haha.

[@andrewmartinek9135]

I want to start this out as vivarium/terrarium, and then I want to introduce ants into it. My main concern is that my ants would eat everything in there. What do you think?

[@MikeTytula]

Depends what kinds of ants I suppose. You would really have to do your research!

[@andrewmartinek9135]

Where can I get the materials necessary to build a good substrate? I just bought a 75 gallon aquarium for $45, and now I am beginning to look to get the materials in order next. From what I have seen from your variums, you know a great deal about micro ecosystems. I do want to study up on this material as well. So could you provide a general direction where I can properly research this. My main goal is to build a working micro ecosystem. Thank you for any and all advice!

[@armanomidvar6890]

What brand charcoal do u use

[@MikeTytula]

What ever I have at hand!

[@BrolyPT]

hello, can exo-terra provide all this can kind of soils? i ask this because i have dificulted to get all of this here in Portugal, but exo-terra i can find.

[@MikeTytula]

Exoterra will have some yes

[@BrolyPT]

Mike Tytula Hi Some but not All, right? Tnkx

[@MikeTytula]

ya

[@andone01red]

Do you know the name of the plant at 2:45? I just got one and was wondering the species name (I realize this is an older video not sure if you will reply)

[@andone01red]

Thanks but it definitely is not that. The plant in the previous shot resembles it but I think that one is some kind of begonia (the plant to the left of the begonia is a red nerve though)

[@MikeTytula]

Which one? There is a silver philodendron, a brom, and peperomia prostrata

[@andone01red]

The one with white edges; I didn't think it was a brom but I guess it could be

[@freethis222]

Hey man, great video, as are many of your others. I have a question; Why the charcoal?

[@MikeTytula]

Helps filter water, allows better drainage, and increased SA for the springtails to breed on.

[@freethis222]

So, if I'm running a water to waste, I can replace it with moss or even omit it? Thanks