Currently in my tort table I'm using cypress mulch. I like it in a lot of ways and so far its been the best substrate I've used, but there is one thing that really bothers me about it. When I wet it down it doesn't soak up the water. I pour my water over top, then if i dig up the mulch I can see a big puddle of water sitting on the bottom. Not sure if this is because the mulch I'm using is too course or what, but I'm not a huge fan of having standing water in my enclosure.
I've been thinking that I would give a layered substrate a shot. That way I could get the best of both worlds. Some sort of "absorbant" layer underneath the cypress. Does anyone have any suggestions? I know that Mark suggests the bioactive substrate, which I'd be interested in hearing everyone's experiences with that as well (also,how deep does the substrate end up being?). But other than the bioactive substrate, does anyone have any ideas? I was thinking maybe Coco-coir of even sphagnum peat moss (not the long-fibered, but the coir-looking stuff), but I'm open to suggestions.
I've been thinking that I would give a layered substrate a shot. That way I could get the best of both worlds. Some sort of "absorbant" layer underneath the cypress. Does anyone have any suggestions? I know that Mark suggests the bioactive substrate, which I'd be interested in hearing everyone's experiences with that as well (also,how deep does the substrate end up being?). But other than the bioactive substrate, does anyone have any ideas? I was thinking maybe Coco-coir of even sphagnum peat moss (not the long-fibered, but the coir-looking stuff), but I'm open to suggestions.