Vivarium set up suggestions - Orchid Board

gdupont · #1 08-24-2013, 02:22 PM

I'm looking to make a vivarium for a few of my smaller orchids, doesnt anyone have suggestions for what to but etc.? I dont want to spend too much money, but i think it would really help a lot of my chids.

catherinecarney · #2 08-24-2013, 04:19 PM

Hi and welcome to the board!

I grow some of my orchids in naturalistic vivs, but I am also a newbie, so take what I say with a grain of salt....You can also go much simpler than what I'm going to describe--there are a bunch of posts about "orchidariums" on this website which describe much more streamlined setups. I just happen to like the more natural viv look....

First, there are a couple of viv websites that have DIY threads featuring orchids--vivarium forums (the sister site to OB) is one, and many of the dart frog people seem to use orchids in their setups as well (dendroboard is one of them). You may find visiting those sites useful.

Black Jungle Terrarium Supply used to have a good step by step tutorial for creating this type of background, don't know it it's still there, but worth checking out.

Since I am an aquarist, I have a couple of paludariums set up with orchids above the water feature (so it's sort of like a viv, but with water instead of land as the "bottom"). The orchids are pinned onto the corck/branches above the waterline. The three I tried (Enc. polybulbon, Tolumnia velutina, and a min no-ID phal) were doing well in my palus until the power went out for 3 days this summer. No power=no lights and fan in 90+ degree heat--neither the orchids nor I were happy and I lost them (grrrr).

I am currently setting up a viv in a 20 high (possibly for a crested gecko but we'll see) that has a lava rock/coco-fiber substrate topped with sphagnum, and a DIY background of Great Stuff foam painted with Drylock, and a small water feature. So far the Haemaria discolor orchid (a small terrestrial) and Begonia partita I planted in the substrate seem to be doing well, but they've only been in there a week.

I plan to grow small/mini epiphyte species on the background. They should get enough moisture between the spray from the water feature and daily misting (I hope).

This setup is that it's not too expensive, it's visually attractive, and the resulting background/substrate doesn't add a lot of weight to the tank. I haven't bought materials in a while, but here's a list of what I used:

20 gallon high tank (some stores in my area have them for sale for $1/per gallon right now, you may be able to find a sound used one on Craigslist/freecycle for less or even free)

Great Stuff foam (1 or 2 cans depending on how thick you want to go--it usually goes on sale at my local hardware store in the fall)

Cork bark (to embed in the foam backround for added texture--it's gotten rather pricey lately from the local stores, internet may be cheaper)

Drylock (1 quart will do many tanks--usually goes on sale with the paint at my local hardware store)

Concrete colorant (liquid, used to tint the drylock so it's something other than "white", a little goes a LONG way--you will be able to do many tanks with one bottle)

Coco fiber "brick" (I bought mine in the reptile section of the pet store--it's more than enough for two tanks this size)

Lava rock (bought at the local big box DIY--used as the drainage base under the coco fiber)

Water feature is made up of a small "gladwear" container and a tiny submersible pump designed for reptiles.

Screen lid (optional for many, but my cats seem to think this setup is just for them)

Lighting is an aquarium strip light (I usually have several lying around) with daylight/full spectrum plant bulbs. This will probably be the most expensive part of the setup!

Total cost for all of these supplies is probably over $100 if I bought everything new (the lighting alone might be close to that depending on the fixture and bulbs), but much of it (the drylock, colorant, etc) can be used for more than one project. You can cut costs by waiting for sales, buying used, and so on.

Hope this gives you some ideas!

Catherine