Please help with set up of exo terra terrarium!

[grahamjo1985]

Hello! My name is Graham. I Just cleaned up a terrarium i had for a chameleon who has passed and i would like to turn it into a place for my orchids to thrive! I have read a lot of different ideas and it is kinda confusing! I am curious as to what is a good choice for the substrate, and i have bought 23 watt CFL bulbs in bright white and natural daylight. Which bulbs are a better choice and how many should i use? It is a 18x18x24 tank.

[stonedragonfarms]

Hello Graham... First, do you want a planted terrarium or something more like a miniature indoor greenhouse--both have their merits, but it's a bit of consideration. I grow most of my Sophronitis (and Soph. hybrids) and a smattering of other minis in a collection of repurposed acrylic fish tanks and rimless aquaria; on this end I am a fan of no substrate--its incredibly easy to clean up and the open space is largely filled in by a collection of potted miniature bromeliads (mostly Neoregelia lilliputiana & hybrids thereof) which appreciate the light and the spray from misting--many of the plants that I grow are mounted. Either light should be suitable; I use a combination of daylight and cool white LED's in all of my vivs--cool white, to my eyes looks cleaner, but plants display better under daylight bulbs (ie the color of blooms looks truer to what we see in nature); the number of bulbs you use will largely depend on what types of plants you'd like to grow. What are you planning on trying? Is there anything that you have in mind (or have your heart set on...)
Adam

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[grahamjo1985]

Hello Adam and thanks for your response... I am not going for looks as much as i am for productivity of the plants. I have a Bulbophyllum medusa I was planning on puting in there. I also have a Miltoniopsis " Bright Eyes" That i know grow in very wet conditions but was not sure if it was ok for a terrarium.

[Tindomul]

It sounds like you want a mini greenhouse. In my opinion they are easier to setup and can look very nice. You keep the plants in their pots or mounts and you are able to remove them as you please. Personally I prefer the planted terrarium and love to watch as the plants grow in their new home bloom etc. However with that approach, many plants die, or don't thrive since they cannot be moved to new locations.

As for lighting, I use t5 high output lights 6500k. I keep a fan running on the outside of the tank to keep the lights from heating it up.

Here is a pic of my tank.

Exoterra Terrarium 12/2013 by César, on Flickr

[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

It sounds like you want a mini greenhouse. In my opinion they are easier to setup and can look very nice. You keep the plants in their pots or mounts and you are able to remove them as you please. Personally I prefer the planted terrarium and love to watch as the plants grow in their new home bloom etc. However with that approach, many plants die, or don't thrive since they cannot be moved to new locations.



As for lighting, I use t5 high output lights 6500k. I keep a fan running on the outside of the tank to keep the lights from heating it up.



Here is a pic of my tank.



Exoterra Terrarium 12/2013 by César, on Flickr

Great looking terrarium Tindo!


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[stonedragonfarms]

I agree, sounds like what you're thinking of is more like a wardian case then a terrarium, ie a contained space that functions as a microclimate in a larger space. That being said, I'd probably start by aquarium gluing a pair or hooks at the top of the back glass and on both sides; from these hooks hang plastic egg crate (on which to hang mounted plants); I'd probably go super low tech on the bottom of the terrarium; i.e. cut 2" square dimensional poly foam to run the full perimeter of the terrarium and lay a piece of egg crate across it; easy drainage, easy to clean and accumulated water helps with rh. I would mount a 120mm pcu cooling fan in the terrarium (probably situated across a corner, at a 45° slant) to circulate air and keep the atmosphere buoyant. Light, as mentioned depends on what you're growing; in my big case I'm under 100W of LEDs, in my primarily Sophronitis species case I'm under 52W of LEDs; I'll probably push higher in the big case in the near future though.


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[ronaldhanko]

Waht size is your set up, Tindo?

[Tindomul]

Hi, it's a 60cm x 60cm x 45cm enclosure (exoterra). 10 cm of height are lost to soil and false bottom, so there is only a max of 50 cm vertical growing space.

That's an old picture, it looks very different now with overgrown moss.

[grahamjo1985]

Your enclosure is beautiful! Thank you guys very much for the advice it is greatly appreciated! I will postt updates as I progress.

---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 PM ----------

I do have some deadwood and quite a few air plants, and I was thinking about incorporating them in as well just to add a lil something. I have a feeling I will end up turning it into a full blown scene from Ferngully anyways!

[Tindomul]

That's great!!
I have a very large tank that I want to get started on and have been dragging my feet. I think I will post a photo journal of it here as I go along. I can get people's advice and suggestions, thoughts. You should do the same.