Retrofit Aquarium - An Update - Orchid Board

Ross · #1 01-19-2007, 01:48 PM

I finally have the retrofitted 30-gallon aquarium up and running and am trying to "dial in" the interval timer for the misters. I plan an article on my experiences and recommendations. All of this was to experiment before having custom tanks built. No animals in this baby! Only orchids.

Ross · #2 01-19-2007, 01:51 PM

Almost forgot! Right now I am running misters for 5 seconds every two hours. Thinking about backing off to 3 hours. I get 84% RH immediately after mist cycle dropping to approx 75% just befor next cycle. Lights create heat - tank stays approx 72-73 degrees F. while they are on. Tank drops to approx 62-63 degrees F. at night. I'm happy with that.

Marty · #3 01-19-2007, 03:13 PM

Ross that's a crazy contraption

Ross · #4 01-19-2007, 03:41 PM

Yeah, but it does the trick. Esthetic it ain't, but I'm going for the learning mode before I commit to a more expensive custom job. I'm planning a couple changes already (this thing stays pretty wet and that's not good for orchids. Need more air from outside tank.

BTW, if I'm correct, the interval timer needs to be reset every time I make a change? Seems to remember the last settings without a reset.

Lin · #5 01-19-2007, 03:51 PM

Is there a cover on the top?

Would it help to drop another fan in there? I'm assuming that the fan on the right isn't really impacting the aquarium.

Ross · #6 01-19-2007, 06:48 PM

There is a flat sheet of acrylic on top. The fan at right is "blowing the heat away" so-to-speak. It helps to disapate the heat that would normally radiate down into the aquarium. So far, so good.

Tindomul · #7 01-20-2007, 12:02 AM

I would aim to dry the terrarium out at night only. I don't think that keeping it wet during the day will do any damage. My orchidarium stays pretty wet after one morning mist, and then it gets misted again in the late afternoon. Then I have it dry out at night. All my masdies and catt types and my bulbo are growing tons of roots and new growths!!!!! May you have more success!

Ross · #8 01-20-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul1of9

I would aim to dry the terrarium out at night only. I don't think that keeping it wet during the day will do any damage. My orchidarium stays pretty wet after one morning mist, and then it gets misted again in the late afternoon. Then I have it dry out at night. All my masdies and catt types and my bulbo are growing tons of roots and new growths!!!!! May you have more success!

Yours stays wet all day even with the venting at top? I have the mister going 5 seconds every three hours and it is only wet immediately after misting. But I don't have the mass of plant material you do. How long does your mister stay on?

Tindomul · #9 01-20-2007, 10:54 PM

I mist my orchidarium by hand, and I mist for more than a minute. I make sure all the roots get wet and become green, and I make sure I hit all the orchids. Then I just leave it alone all day till it eventually dries up. The tanks dries up by late afternoon, and I lightly mist/spray again, and shortly thereafter the fans turn on. With the fans, everything dries out within 2 hours and stays dry till morning when I mist them again. Even with this regimen, some of my orchids get too dry and shrivel up. I've lost a few Masdievelas, and Cischwenfia daysandra cuttings because it gets too dry in some spots in the orchidarium