Added orchids to an established riparium

[FL_Orchid_Collector]

So left-to-right, starting underwater there's Amazon sword, Java fern, three Am. swords.
Above water Bulbophyllum lasiochilum, Anubias nana "petite" (ha!), Dracula diabola (not visible), Haraella odorata, An. nana, An. nana foreground, Dracula diabola background. I don't have lux measurements but I'll take them once I clear some space on my phone for a meter app, temp 71-76f, low pH but high tds water with mosquitofish. It's similar to blackwater but not quite so tannic. There are frogs living above the water. Nutrients come from crickets and a bit of fish food, water changes are done infrequently. Source water is filtered through a high-end filter but not ro. I'm considering getting a small ro unit.

The light is adjustable on three color channels and it's set as bright as it goes if I remember right so I can turn it down if need be although I would hate to do something to make the swords lose their leaves - it would screw up the water chemistry and probably cause an algae bloom. I actually hate the swords, they're too darn big. I lowered the water level this afternoon so the orchid mounts will be drying out a bit. I'll post about each orchid on the appropriate genus boards.

[estación seca]

No image seen.

You can often buy reverse osmosis water cheaply at a large aquarium store. Bring your own buckets or carboys. If you use low mineral water you won't wind up with mineral deposits at the edge of the water and at the water line on the glass. But don't use pure RO - there will be no buffering capacity and pH swings can be wide.

[FL_Orchid_Collector]

Oops, fixed!

[PlumCrazy]

Very nice! How big is the tank? I have an Amazon sword in my fish tank. It's probably close to 12" tall and loses leaves and grows new ones on a regular basis.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

I buy RO water at my local Wal-Mart for drinking and use in a humidifier. There is a machine in almost every store.