Setting up 75 gallon soon, advice needed

[ZoeyTheBeardie]

I just got my beardie a used 75 gallon tank. It's kinda beat up so it might take a little while to fix it up, but I want to make sure it's perfect. For the substrate, I'm thinking tile with a little blanket so her joints are okay (planning on switching to loose substrate later on, but I want to start simple). What size and kind tile should I get and where do I get it??
Another thing- How would I heat a 75 gallon?? Would my dragon change because of the size? Does anyone have suggestions on what I should do for the tank?? How do I safely clean it??

 

[Skybug]

Bleach bleach and more bleach, dont even dilute it, you want to have to clean off bleach rather than fish crud , u need that tank sterile, not clean but sterile, i cant particularly recommend tile , it depends on the temperament of ur BD , does it jump alot? Move fast? Then it will end up hurting their joints(i got rid of it cause I started to notice my bds front feet were pink and sore underneath them) if you can start off the tank being bioactive Thatd be better (ive gone through 90% of all “substrates” and bio setups are superior in my opinion) and it will be less stressful for ur bd instead of going through multiple changes, bioactive setups are super easy , its just costs more than tile only negative in my opinion.

 

[ZoeyTheBeardie]

Bleach bleach and more bleach, dont even dilute it, you want to have to clean off bleach rather than fish crud , u need that tank sterile, not clean but sterile, i cant particularly recommend tile , it depends on the temperament of ur BD , does it jump alot? Move fast? Then it will end up hurting their joints(i got rid of it cause I started to notice my bds front feet were pink and sore underneath them) if you can start off the tank being bioactive Thatd be better (ive gone through 90% of all “substrates” and bio setups are superior in my opinion) and it will be less stressful for ur bd instead of going through multiple changes, bioactive setups are super easy , its just costs more than tile only negative in my opinion.

She's pretty docile I'd say, what's a bioactive tank made of?? I've heard of it but never really looked into it

 

[Sadie]

Please get some Rescue or F -10 if you can find it I have tried looking and the only place I can find it now is in the UK -- or Zoo Meds Wipe Out --- basking lights are going to be trial and error -- start w/ a 100 watt bright white bulb but I am thinking you may haft to go w/ a 150 make sure you are using a digital probe thermometer to get actual basking temps --- UVB you want a 24 " fixture w/ a reflector like a Zoo Med w/a Reptisun 10.0 bulb T 5 -- depending on the screen it may haft to go inside the tank --- tile is good you want a slated ceramic tile some w/ texture for non slippage-- you need to cut it to the size of the tank measure inside I would recommend not grouting or sealing -- mine are layed in loose so I can pull the tiles for deep cleaning I use thick blue paper towel underneath to catch the watery urate - makes for easy clean up -- and you will need a tile saw to cut it so you dont get jagged edges --- you can get it at your local home improvement store
here is what I am using
you can check out the biodudes website for bio info

 

[ZoeyTheBeardie]

Please get some Rescue or F -10 if you can find it I have tried looking and the only place I can find it now is in the UK -- or Zoo Meds Wipe Out --- basking lights are going to be trial and error -- start w/ a 100 watt bright white bulb but I am thinking you may haft to go w/ a 150 make sure you are using a digital probe thermometer to get actual basking temps --- UVB you want a 24 " fixture w/ a reflector like a Zoo Med w/a Reptisun 10.0 bulb T 5 -- depending on the screen it may haft to go inside the tank --- tile is good you want a slated ceramic tile some w/ texture for non slippage-- you need to cut it to the size of the tank measure inside I would recommend not grouting or sealing -- mine are layed in loose so I can pull the tiles for deep cleaning I use thick blue paper towel underneath to catch the watery urate - makes for easy clean up -- and you will need a tile saw to cut it so you dont get jagged edges --- you can get it at your local home improvement store
here is what I am using
you can check out the biodudes website for bio info

Thank you so much!! Where do you buy the tile??

 

[Skybug]

She's pretty docile I'd say, what's a bioactive tank made of?? I've heard of it but never really looked into it

Thats good , id definitely go with tile starting out, get something with texture so shes not sliding around, if you’re handy use a safe silicone in the gaps so you dont have to destroy the whole tank to clean up poo (trust me this will be a lifesaver down the road, then u can just cut the silicone with a razor blade if u go bio active) , in a generic bio active starting from the bottom up; you need a drainage layer(clay balls, stones, some kind of air pocket so water can evaporate)-(if it has plants or you need high humidity) for a BD bio id say you dont need a drainage layer, just mix in some stones into the “mix”, if u do a drainage layer make shure there’s a divider so ur top layers dont mix into the bottom (a cut up tshirt can do just fine) for your middle layer aka “the mix” you want organic soil (minus the perlite and green hydroballs) sand (specifically “play sand”) only sand that is rated playing is okay. You need bugs in this middle layer (Springtails, Isopods, Earwigs, you can throw a couple meal/super worms in this layer too) these bugs help keep ur setup clean so the work is minimal, for your top layer you want leaves and large pieces of bark. Look up “biodude” on utube, he does a bio setup for a bearded dragon .

 

[Sadie]

Thank you so much!! Where do you buy the tile??

Home Depot or your local home improvement store