the new 75 gallon orchidarium

[dravenxavier]

Hello all. I'm new to the forums here, and figured I'd start out with a picture of my old and new setup. Also, this is my first time using this thumbnail feature, so I hope I get it right.

First, the old setup. it's a slightly modified 18 x 18 x 24 Exoterra, with a 96W Coralife Aqualight 6700K powerquad PC fixture for lighting. It also has a small circulation fan hooked up to a dimmer switch for gentle circulation.



Obviously, I was out of space. So, I got a 75 gallon to take its place. This has 2 circulation fans, one on each front upper corner for circulation, and 2 2x64W 48" Coralife Aqualight 6700K PC fixtures, for a total of 256W of compact fluorescent lighting. The bulbs are a little old, and need to be replaced, but they will work for the time being. The right half also has a layer of window screening under the lights for shading. This will probably be doubled when I switch the bulbs.

First, in construction:






And now, the finished (so far) product. Needs more plants!

[Orchidophile]

Welcome to the OB dravenxavier, those are some awesome orchidariums!. I am useing that coralife fixture on my 18 cube Exo Terra, it is so bright. Great job!

[Becca]

Wow that's a miniature lovers dream! I have an exo-terra tank as well that is the same size as yours. It hold's most of my mounted mini's but I also have several other larger sized 'chids that sit in the middle. I use T5 lights with mine. I also have a larger orchidarium that I bought from orchidarium.com. Now that I know what is needed to put them together I'll never buy another one again! Your pictures look great!

[cb977]

Very nice setup! I love seeing what orchidariums can look like with a little imagination and a lot of work!

[CoolPhrog]

Welcome, Welcome! Glad to have you here!!

I love your setups...I have one question, in the 75 gallon tank, the plant ont he far right of the tank, is that a pleurothalis?

[dravenxavier]

Do you mean the tall one in the pot? If so, yes, that's Pleurothallis stricta. That, along with the Platystele ximenae are almost always in bloom. Also, one of the flower's base remained after the petals dropped, and it's begun to swell, so perhaps a seed pod in the making? I'll try to get photos later.

If it's not the tall one, the one behind it is a Masdevallia "Copper Cherub" I believe? (it's my roommate's) and the farthest right on the mounteds is a Masd. minuta.

I'll try to get together a full list of the plants in the tank later tonight, too.

Originally Posted by CoolPhrog

Welcome, Welcome! Glad to have you here!!

I love your setups...I have one question, in the 75 gallon tank, the plant ont he far right of the tank, is that a pleurothalis?

[CoolPhrog]

Yes, I was referrring to the stricta. I'm not having great luck with mine. Grows like a weed, even put up kiekis that I've potted up but in the year I've had it, it's never bloomed.

[dravenxavier]

Mine's started to yellow (as you can see in the pics) though I'm suspecting my bright lighting in the last tank as the culprit, though it occurred over a period of time. The newest leaves it's put out are staying pretty green, though. Also, I've never fertilized, which I'll be starting soon, so hopefully that will also help. The roots of mine have also started scrambling on the surface of the soil, and I'm not quite sure what that's about. But it's still growing, and still blooming.

[CoolPhrog]

I always understood plueros wanted low light and fast draining media....I'm very confused!

[Paul]

NIce pot of Heliamphora in the back right 1st photo! Is that a pot of Cephalotus next to it? If so WOW! If you ever divide that puppy let me know

Nice looking set up! I wonder if the screen for shading will even be necessary? Seems like many low light plants don't need shading from fluorescent bulbs but then I've never used bulbs for aquariums before. I'll stay turned to see how things develop