...changing an aquarium into a vivarium. As I am an noob in this area, don't take the setup for something that will work. But I have good faith.....
I'm using a tank thats 55 cm * 140 cm and 70 cm deep. I came across the tank over the net and didn't think to much of the size of it.
I am using Epi-Web as the background material. It is made of recycled PET bottles and should be proven good to grow orchids in, atleast the ones that like to be mounted.
I have a false bottom and on top of the floor i placed a sheet of plastic that let through water. Its originally used to prevent veed growing in rabates. On top of that I got pine. The sheet of plastic I hope will prevent that to much dirt enter the water. All of the bottom is filled with water about 3 cm high.
The water is used for watering the plants in 2 ways. A hose with a number of holes is mounted ontop of the Epi-Web letting the water flow down the epi-web. It holds the water foor the roots.
A second hose with tiny sprinklers is used to keep the surface of the pine wet and watering the moss and fern on the bottom.
3 Pce's of hardwood roots, mangrove, is givving the setup some depth. They will hold moss and ferna nd maybe some orchids.
It is lighten with 4 pce T8 36w daylight floroucent. It might be that it is a bit to low for lighting but luckaly, the bottom is only 55 cm from the top where the lights are placed.
Will this work, well time will tell.
I'll add some pictures later on so you may see whats done, if You like.
And as it's said.
It's not the goal tat matters, the journey is half of the pleasure....
PS.
A link to Epi-Web pages here
Epiweb
DS