new terrarium (sorta) for miniatures

[VickiC]

I have an orchid grow room for my larger plants, but I wanted somewhere to put higher humidity minis, so I bought a $13 aquariuam at Pet Depot and am trying to convert it into somewhat of a terrarium. My husband took a 12v pc fan from an old computer in the attic of his shop and installed it on one end of the tank ceiling for me. The only venting for the fan are several very small holes in that top, a very small opening in the back where the wire from the fan comes out.....as well as a 2 1/4" square opening next to it (which I have kept partially closed with a piece of cardboard so that humididy cannot escape). There is an open-or-close opening/door in the front of the top that I have also kept closed.....once more to avoid humidity escape. I really haven't had my one and only mini (Dryadella zebrina") long enough to know exactly how often I will be watering it. The "terrarium" sits in front of a south window, but also has 2 supplemental lights inside the removal plastic top of the tank (which I have been turning on when the sun coming in the window is dim early in the morn. and late in the day.....as well as on cloudy days). At this time, I have 2-13v flourescent bulbs there. The pictures that I have attached do not show the sheer cloth that I have been draping over the tank when the sun coming in the window is bright. The humidity in the tank seems high (as I was hoping for), but the hydrometer that I ordered has not arrived yet so I don't know the exact humidity level to tell you. The problem is: The temp. gets up to 90 degrees and I don't know how to lower it without losing humidity by opening more "vent areas" (assuming that opening them would indeed lower the temp. ??). Would someone please advise me what I should do?
Thanks in advance,
Vicki

[Tindomul]

Move your tank away from the window. Rule number 1 when you have a terrarium/vivarium even aquarium, do not put these in direct sunlight. You will create a mini runaway greenhouse. Anything in there will cook to death, unless you are growing cactii.

[Ross]

I agree with Tindo. The heat source is primarily the sun (or window on cloudy days). To get control over that environment, you need to turn every factor over to your control. You are doing fine on humidity and air movement (it seems). Shading won't do it alone. Can you move the lights outside the tank? That will help. The bulbs run at 95 degrees by design and will warm the tank even on warm days. Mine will raise temps from 67 F in the winter to over 75 degrees in as little as an hour. You can even up the anti on the bulbs (get the biggest/baddest bulbs Home Depot sells) and keep them outside the topmost glass and do wonders. You'll get the light you need and see maybe 10 degrees or more, reduction in temps. Just try moving things around. My 2 cents.

[VickiC]

Hi,
I can move my tank back farther away from the window, but if I move it to another location where there is no window, I really hadn't planned to spend the amount of money that I'm guessing it would cost to equip it with sufficient artificial lighting for my plants. I had hoped to keep this little project simple and inexpensive. The tank is only a 10 gal aquarium tank with an inexpensive plastic cover that has 2 "compartments" for light bulbs. The light housings were designed for tube light bulbs, so a regular incandesent plant light bulb is too big around to fit in the heat shield. attached. I have my new orchid grow room....which is my main grow area, but although the humidity level in the room is adequate for the larger orchids I have there, it is not high enough for the minis I recently decided that I would like to grow, as well....so thus the terrarium idea. I imagine that if I could find proper bulbs for my project, they would be quite costly....in comparison to the $5-6 23w fluoresent Lowes bulbs that I have in the tank now.

I appreciate your help and if you can offer any other advice, I would be grateful.
Thanks,
Vicki

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Move your tank away from the window. Rule number 1 when you have a terrarium/vivarium even aquarium, do not put these in direct sunlight. You will create a mini runaway greenhouse. Anything in there will cook to death, unless you are growing cactii.

[VickiC]

Hi Ross,
I wish I could take the route of removing the existing black, plastic tank cover and do what it would take to close the top of the tank and then mount lights outside above that, but in this case, I need to take a simple and inexpensive route, if poss. That's the question....."if poss." ?? Do you mind reading my reply to Tindo and take a look at the pic? What I said then sums my problem up in a nutshell. If you have any other suggestions, I really would appreciate your advice.
Thanks for your help,
Vicki

Originally Posted by Ross

I agree with Tindo. The heat source is primarily the sun (or window on cloudy days). To get control over that environment, you need to turn every factor over to your control. You are doing fine on humidity and air movement (it seems). Shading won't do it alone. Can you move the lights outside the tank? That will help. The bulbs run at 95 degrees by design and will warm the tank even on warm days. Mine will raise temps from 67 F in the winter to over 75 degrees in as little as an hour. You can even up the anti on the bulbs (get the biggest/baddest bulbs Home Depot sells) and keep them outside the topmost glass and do wonders. You'll get the light you need and see maybe 10 degrees or more, reduction in temps. Just try moving things around. My 2 cents.