Bioactives are a lot of fun to have. If you do go this route I think making a custom background would make it look great. If you want to look into it...
CO2 is the best way I know of. I've seen "cervical dislocation" advocated by some, but if it's done wrong- like when someone's squeamish & not adept...
So.... I'm interested in doing a tropical bioactive in a 55 g tank, and I was just wondering, what colorful species can live together in a bioactive...