From empty tank to bioactive leachie enclosure – full build process

A few people asked how this setup came together, so here’s the full build process from start to finish.

The enclosure itself was originally bought about 6 years ago from a pet store. It used to be a display terrarium with a pre-made background, but everything else was rebuilt from scratch.

Process:

– Full teardown + deep cleaning with hot water

– Electrical setup: UVB, LED daylight curve (programmed via LED controller), 75W halogen (dimmed), misting ring system

– Drainage layer: expanded clay → substrate mix → leaf litter

– Hardscape fully boiled and cleaned before use

– Hardscape installed and fixed with silicone

– Plants added + initial layout

– Cleanup crew introduced

– Final step: dialing everything in

It’s still very fresh, so I’m letting everything grow in naturally first.

I already have additional cork bark and plants ready, but I plan to add them once the gecko is in, so I can adjust based on its behavior instead of guessing.

Always open for feedback or ideas 🙏