"TANK" DESIGN QUESTIONS??
 

Hi,

I'm a newbie to the site.

I am building an orchidarium in the holidays an am looking for some finer details.
I live in JHB, South Africa and we have very hot summers and very cold, dry winters and my orchids hate this varying temperature.

My orchids range from a Vanda, Odontoglossums to Phals and have a few questions:

1. Lighting: LED's or Florescents?
I have tracked down some new LED's that have the specific blue and red frequency that is required for photosynthesis and flowering. They deal with the humidity and moisture better than flourescents.

How do you calculate how many lights you will need?
The Orchidarium is 1.2m high by 1m long by 600 wide with a 200mm egg grate shelf half way up.

2. Temperature control:
A ceramic reptile heater caught my attention and can also deal with the humidity. Where would be the best place to place it ?

3. Humidity:
There is a humidity tray under the case and the bottom of the case is an egg grate shelf. But my Vanda needs considerably higher humidity than a humidity tray can provide. So is a normal room humidifier eg Carmen modified going to be enough for the space ?

I've also heard of a fish tank heater being quite effective?

You can get a reptile fogger, how do you calculate if it will provide enough humidity before buying it?

4. I have one normal computer fan placed in the middle of the back wall. Will this be sufficient?

5. The different requirements of the orchids like odontoglossums like it a bit cooler, but can i grow them all in the same case?

Any suggestions will help.

Thanks

:waving

You would be better off looking for the "phosphor" type of LED. They are blue or UV LEDs that - like a fluorescent tube - excite a phosphor into giving off white light. Ones with a color temperature of 6000°-6500°K will most closely replicate sunlight. They can be VERY intense, so you'll have to consider their lumens output, and number to use. Here is a thread at another board discussing them: LEDs for orchids - Orchids Interactive

An aquarium heater would increase the cabinet temperature and raise the humidity.

Knowing the volume of the tank, you can use this calculator (Max Moisture Calculator) to calculate the amount of water that will result in 100% humidity at your target temperature. If you want 50% RH, cut that volume in half. Then, based upon how much air exchange you will have, you know how much water has to be added to the air - which tells you what size mister.

For circulation or air exchange? (I don't know the answer for either, but you do need to consider that.)

Probably not, as you will be unlikely to get sufficient temperature zones in such a small volume.

Thanks Ray for taking the time to answer so many questions....
Only been on the OB a few days and really loving it and all the feedback is awesome.

Hi Cally,
I'll be brief... getting ready for turkey day.
As far as lights, I've liked using CFL. They're cheap, easy, and give good light (use 6500k).
Heat, if your lights are within the tank, is not an issue. Heat from the lights will be circulated by your fan. If the lights are outside the tank, an aquarium heater will work. Better yet, a heat pad below the tank.
You should have little problem keeping humidity high if the tank is reasonably sealed.
As to air, lots of internal circulation is good. You can't really have too much air moving, as long as the humidity is high. Venting is another story. If you choose to draw air in, as I have in the past, use a 15 min. timer on your fan. It does not take much to dry the heck out of the tank.
Growing Odo. in a tank, may be tricky with warm growers around. Some speceis should be fine, others will undoubtedly tank at 80+f.

good luck, growing in a tank can be awesome.
tyler

Hi Tyler,

Firstly, Happy ThanksGiving!!
Thanks for the feedback.

I think I will still seperate the lights from the case as in summer the extra heat will need extra cooling.
I'm trying to track down CFL's here, who would have thought they would be difficult to find. Oh well guess that's what you get for living on the other side of the world.

Can't wait to get building...
Thanks