Quick Bioactive Question

[Charles8088]

If one side is 90 you dont need belly heat.

No Belly heat isnt needed, any heat that will give the cold blooded animal a body temp of 90 Hot Spot and a cool spot of 80.

Got it now. Thank you.

...the only practical way to control mites in a bio-active set up is to be OCD about preventing them...

I thought the little buggers that are already in the bioactive takes care of the mites. Would suck to take apart the tank and sterilize, after its all set up and working.

Overall... I like the sound of "bioactive". I'm sure its attractive to most people... when it works the way its intended. So, as I get ready to get my first BP, I'm going to set up a regular enclosure (NON-bioactive), the way I've been reading here, generally following the Glass Enclosure Setup instructions. After I get a better idea, and experience under the belt of caring for a BP, and getting better at tank parameters, then I'm going to probably setup something a bit nicer. If I convince myself enough to do it, maybe I will start a bioactive on the side, with no pets, just to slowly take my time and get it working. And, if it works, I can move the snake in there. This, only after the main tank is working and the ball is comfortable in his new surroundings. Tanks are not an issue. I have glass tanks. Though, ultimately, I'd like to get a T8. Space for putting the tanks, THAT is the issue. 48x24 is a bit hard... 36x18 is not... that's the glass I'm gong to start with. But, I WILL find a spot for the T8... don't know where yet, but I will.

Actually... here's a question... two questions really...

Coming from the fish/aquarium hobby, I equate setting up the bioactive tank to "cycling a fish tank" before the fish go in. If I set up the bioactive, I would probably give it some time to finish "cycling" before I put the snake in. How long does it take for the tank to be ready for breaking everything down? 1 week? 2 weeks? more?

And, second... how do you KNOW its ready, without having a snake in there?