Need help setting up an Exo Terra - Orchid Board

Beverly · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 03:43 PM

Hi,
My husband was a sweetheart and got me a terrarium for mothers day. I have absolutely no experience with these things. I've been looking through the threads here and have learned a lot, but I'm confused about how to set this thing up. Can anyone point to the info I need?
I also need help figuring out the right kind of bulb to get for the hood (it's the compact top).
I need to find a site that can give me the info I need without pictures of reptiles as I have a severe phobia.
Thanks
Beverly

cb977 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 04:20 PM

Hi Beverly

My Exo-Terra has the compact top too...and it was kind of difficult finding the right bulb for my uses. I finally decided on a "daylight" compact flourescent.
I have medium-high light chids in that tank and they are all doing well

I use this fan:
http://www.aquacave.com/cooling-fan-...life-1025.html

nenella · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 05:58 PM

Hi Beverly,
I can't help you at all, I'm afraid as I haven't got one but am very interested in how you set it up! Would be cool If you could post pictures of your Exo Terra project as you equip & fill it up! What plants are you planning to put in it?

RSS · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 09:01 PM

What size Exo-terra did you get, and do you or your spouse feel comfortable wiring things? You can get get computer fans cheap and "rig" someway to hang them in there, you would need an AC/DC convertor for the fan. Thus the need to wire stuff up. I have 6 of those fans running off 1 AC/DC convertor and everything is working great.

Something to think about, do you want some sort of medium in the bottom of the tank, I'm using some bare bottom and some with the expanded clay pellets. The ones with the clay pellets maintain a much more stable humidity level than the others. I put down about 2 inches of the stuff then cut out a piece of the white lighting egg crate to use as my new bottom.

I'm not sure what the Exo-terra hoods look like but I know you can get the screw in daylight compact flourscent bulbs are lowes/home depot for $2-5 per bulb. Just make sure you get the correct wattage.

You can really go crazy with vivariums so be careful

.

RSS · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2009, 09:19 PM

Pictures are better than words, so here are two of the ones I have. One is the clay pellets the other is a mud.

Beverly · #6 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 04:02 PM

Thanks for your responses.
I got a fan on ebay a few weeks ago.
I'm going to send my husband to get a bulb for it. I want to put some kind of rocks and maybe a little waterfall that I had in a closet.
I'm thinking about putting Angraecum didieri & leonis,
Pteroceras semitertifolia,Sedirera japonica, Haraella retrocalla, Aerangis bilboa and my ghost orchid in it.
I have plenty of plants that would be happier inside it.
I'll post pictures as I go along.

kinknstein · #7 (**permalink**) 05-15-2009, 05:03 PM

I have heard that Ghost Orchids, do not like alot of air movement. Having never grown one myself, I do not know for sure, but I am sure another member of the board will chime in