my new orchid tank

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New guy in bloom

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[This Side of Paradise]

Just got two new tanks Exoterra 24x18x24 they will be vivariums for my dart frogs they will also be heavy orchid planted. I'll will make a pic heavy setup thread during the contructions.

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Viv contruction day 1

Pvc use to raise the subfloor, its drilled for drainage


Tank exo 24x24x18


Pvc spreaded out to raise the subfloor


Light diffuser(egg crate)


Light diffuser placed on the PVC


Small pond cut out


Covering the pond area


zip ties


Zip ties used to connect light diffuser


Zip ties are used for attaching screen

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Day 2

Wood sliconed on to take advantage of the upper portion of the tank

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Day 3
Clay Background, as many of you probably already know there has been a movement in Vivarium build to using more natural matrerials. So i thought i'd give clay a try for my new tank.

Sodium bentonite, my source of is Kitty litter


Redart clay used to add a earth colour


Redart clay


Peat moss added for texture


Decompressed cocohusk added for texture(photo is the compressed version just add water to decompress)


At this point I added 2 part Sodium bentonite to 1 part of everything else and added about 4 parts water then mixed thoroughly. Now folks learn a lesson i learnt the hard way MIX your dry ingredient together before adding water. I added water after the Sodium and it was near impossible to mix after that. This stuff is like concrete.

Then I grabed a plastic trowel and went at it. I did not mix enough to finish.







Thoughs so far much easier and quicker that the standard Great stuff(expandable foam) silicone and cocohusk.

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Background done.

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Substrate
I added a layer of weed block cloth

Then added 1 cm (1/2") of horticultrural sand as a drainage layer


Then added 2.5 cm (1") of homemade clay substrate the size of M&M(chocolate candy)



Clay recipe:
3 part red art clay
1 part sodium bentonite
1 part local clay
1/4 part Sugar
1/4 corn starch
3 part hot water

Placed in aluminium foil cooked in oven at 400C for 30min. Let cool break up the clay a bit then recook at 400C for 45 min.

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Planted
9 orchids, 7 broms a few odd plants







next job lid and fan/ventilation

[DelawareJim]

Nice rigs. I see you're into planted aquariums too. Cool.

Question-- when you water your s/h plants in the orchidarium, are you syphoning out the drainage from the s/h pots or are you letting it lay in the bottom of the case for humidity?

Cheers.
Jim