Exo-Terrra Repti-glo Compact Fluorescents?

[Garuda]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and am setting up a palludarium. I've gone the Exo-Terra route and bought their 3-bulb, compact fluorescent canopy. I'm using 2 Repti-glo (26W "2.0") full spectrum bulbs and one reptiglow UVB light (26W "10.0"). Seems like they should be bright enough for bright-light miniatures, but now I'm worried. I've ordered the following orchids (D. rigidum, D. bellatullum, Plerothallis endotrachys, Sophroitis cernua, and Tetramicra canaliculatum -- all from Andy's Orchids)and plan to place them <1 ft away from the bulbs, but does anyone know if that will be enough light? They'll be near the top of my set-up. (see images in link)

Palludarium - a photoset on Flickr

[kiki-do]

Garuda, Welcome! I don't know a thing about the set up of Palludariums or the lights, but wanted to say "Hi" and welcome you to the Orchid Board. Hope someone with experience can offer you more help. kiki

[caseydoll]

Hello and welcome! I am very inexperienced with lighting set-ups but I actually have an Exo-terra and use the 3 bulb fixture you have. I have a raised bed of Primeagra at the very bottom and then I have it raised a few inches higher using pvc and egg crate at the bottom. There is a couple 6 inch pots sitting on top of the egg crate and at the level of the top of the pots my light meter reads about 800 footcandles. That's just under halfway up the tank. I'm not sure what kind of light palludariums require but if they are in the 800-1500 footcandle range they should do fine in the upper levels. I have paphs, phrags, and phals in mine and they are all loving it. One of my little phals has purple leaves now and I've even accidently burned a few of my laelias leaves by leaving it too close to the top without acclimating it first. I hope that helps. If you want I can post a pic if you need more help.

[Garuda]

Thanks for an example that it can work -- (better than a "not a chance" response that I feared). I guess, as with most of these things, it depends on the species and the exact conditions where I place it. I'll just have to give it a try and see how things go. I probably ought to keep them fairly mobile until I figure it out. Glad yours are happy!