Large – For 30–55 Gallon & Arboreal up to 24" tall "Showpiece Bioactive Starter" Kit

Showpiece Bioactive Starter – 30–55 Gallon and Arboreal Builds

This kit is for serious projects: 30–55 gallon aquariums and arboreal habitats over 24 inches tall. If you’re building a planted showpiece or a full-on bioactive environment, this is the kind of loadout I’d use for my own large displays.

What you’ll receive (Large – 30–55 gal and arboreal):

·        2–3 cork bark pieces – A mix of flats, tubes, or logs (depending on availability), chosen so you can build vertical structure, ledges, and hides—especially important in arboreal enclosures over 24 inches tall.

·        About 4 gallons of my “Best Soil on Earth” terrarium substrate – Roughly 16 quarts / 64 cups, enough for a substantial planting layer in a 30–55 gallon footprint, plus elevation, terraces, and deeper root zones.

·        Compressed dried sphagnum moss – 2 sheets (approximately 3" x 7" each). Together they hydrate to roughly 2 gallons of sphagnum. Perfect for back walls, ledges, high-humidity pockets, and strategic mixing into the substrate for water-holding zones—especially useful in larger and arboreal builds.

·        Generous moss and leaf litter – To cover exposed soil, support microfauna, and  complete that mature forest-floor aesthetic.

·       8 plant cuttings – A curated mix suited for humid, planted terrariums and vivariums. I select species that I’ve already seen perform well in long-term builds.

·        Clean-up crew: 1 large “too many to count” mixed culture of isopods and springtails – A combined container with so many isopods and springtails it’s honestly hard to count, giving you excellent value and a strong starting population for a 30–55 gallon or tall arboreal bioactive system.

·        A detailed setup and maintenance guide with notes specific to larger tanks and arboreal builds: drainage, planting depth, moisture gradients, and how to get the most out of your bioactive clean-up crew.

Best for:

·        30–55 gallon aquariums converted to planted terrariums or vivariums.

·        Larger display tanks and cabinet/stand centerpieces.

·        Arboreal enclosures over 24 inches tall needing vertical hardscape and planting.

·        Hobbyists committing to a full bioactive-style habitat.

I assemble this kit the way I’d prepare a flagship build: structure, substrate, sphagnum, plants, and a serious amount of clean-up crew. You’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from a proven formula.