Editing Bioactive Vivarium Guide (section)

== Materials ==

=== Required: ===

* Enclosure: Suitable size and type enclosure for future plant or animal inhabitants.

Examples: Exo Terra, Zoo Med, Fish tank.

* Lid: Glass, plexiglass, mesh, or custom lid, based on the species you plan to keep.
* Lighting: LED, UVB, etc., suitable for future inhabitants.

* Drainage layer: LECA balls, egg crate, or pond filter foam (30-40[[PPI]] recommended).

This will prevent your substrate from getting soggy.

* Terrarium/Landscaping/Window screen mesh: Prevents substrate from falling into the drainage layer.

Examples: Exo Terra Draining Mesh, Zoo Med Substrate Mesh, weed barrier, landscaping fabric.

* Substrate: Suitable for future plant or animal inhabitants.

* Leaf litter: This will prevent animals from ingesting substrate on accident, and will provide food for your cleanup crew. 

Most hardwood leaves are safe, and Oak and Magnolia are most common. You can also forage your own hardwood leaves from a toxin and pesticide-free environment.

* Cleanup crew: Varies based on inhabitants, temperature, and humidity you plan to keep. 

In humid enclosures dwarf white isopods and tropical springtails (e.g., F. candida) are most common.

* Mister: Hand mister, or automatic misting system; generally the finer mist, the better.

Examples: Spray bottle, garden mister, MistKing.

=== Recommended: ===

* Live plants: Be sure to select plants appropriate for enclosure size, inhabitants, temperature, humidity.
* Digital combometer: To measure temperature and humidity.
Examples: Exo Terra, Zoo Med, GoVee Digital Temperature & Humidity Gauges.