1. Orchids are Phalaenopsis hybrids.
2. Your aquarium light isn't bright enough.
3. Still don't know the temperature of your growing area. But that's okay. I can tell you the acceptable temperature range.
The acceptable temperature range for Phalaenopsis is 60 F - 90 F (16 C - 32 C). This range is good throughout the year and between day and night.
4. Those glass boxes have no drainage. Not good.
Here's why:
5. Phalaenopsis is an epiphytical orchid. They grow on trees.
6. Here's a link to some pics of them in the wild so you can have a point of reference:
Phalaenopsis in situ - Flickr: Search
Notice how they're growing in a tropical Asian swamp forest on the wet trunks or branches of small to medium sized trees that contain little to no moss. If I may also direct your attention to how they're positioned horizontally or pendulously on the trunk or branch.
7. Phalaenopsis have roots that breathe. Proper and sufficient air circulation around the roots is important. If it is not provided, the orchids' roots can suffocate and die.
8. Nice idea with the glass box. It does give the roots the opportunity to photosynthesize. Phalaenopsis have roots that are capable of performing photosynthesis, hence they're green when you water them and have green root tips. You also get to be able to see the roots.
Unfortunately...
Like I said, it doesn't have drainage and will suffocate the roots, eventually causing them to rot and die.
9. As you can see in the pics of them in the wild, Phals don't grow upright, but rather horizontally or pendulously. The reason is...when it rains, water can dribble away from the crown and avoid such problems as crown rot.
When grown upright, water has a greater chance of entering the crown and getting trapped inside, thus making a Phalaenopsis very susceptible to problems like crown rot.
10. Having your plants around the aquarium will most likely not make much of a difference in humidity.
An acceptable range of relative humidity (humidity for short) is 60% - 100%.
The higher the humidity, the less you have to water.
11. They grow in shade or bright shade.
lighting and humidity?
.....so i found myself buying some orchids....not one but 4.....
Linear Mode
