Orchids for behind my fish tank.
 

I recently started up a 12 gallon planted fish tank in my room. Just yesterday I installed the light.
I was admiring how it looked when I realised there's a whole foot of space between my tank and my light. A whole foot!
So! I want to fill it with orchids. Small ones of course. But I'm not really sure where this fixture gets me outside the world of aquatic plants.
It's a 24" dual t5ho. Aquasun specifically. The reflector is quite good I think. The bulbs are 6,500 and 5,000 k.
What kinds of orchids should I be looking to stick up there? High light? Low light?
Any plant suggestions?

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Really? That's catt lighting? Wow...
I thought it would be way less.
I now have to change my game plan lol.

Thank you! I've had no one to share it with.
I'm now using you as an excuse to post a picture of it.
I buy everything locally and waited near a year before I found driftwood I liked.

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Looks like a great setup--plenty of light along with warmth and humidity from the tank below.

You might try species listed as mini or terrarium plants--Encyclia polybulbon would probably thrive, for example. Andy's orchids lists mini/terrarium species on their website, and the IOSPE site gives pix and info about thousands of species....

Good luck and keep posting pix for us!

Catherine

I should email him!
I was looking for mini or compact plants I think.
I sure will once I get it going. For now I'm gauging what light levels o have to work with.





I do get some sun there and alot of indirect lighting as well... so maybe I have more light than I thought.







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And because I can. My driftwood! I suck at taking tank pictures, do you can't really see the depth the wood truly has.
It's two pieces stuck together.
It looks so nice to me I thought maybe I'll just mount orchids on it lol...
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Love the closeup of the driftwood--very cool!

Andy's has a website, so if you google them it should pop up. I ordered plants from them on their cyber Monday sale and have been very pleased with what I got.

BTW, I have catt hybrids under single bulb T-5's and they are sending up buds, so your light levels should be good.

Happy orchid shopping and keep us posted.

Catherine