New in terrarium growing - Page 3 - Orchid Board

calvin_orchidL · #21 03-10-2010, 12:27 AM

Nice list, Keltera

Just out of curiosity, what lights are you using?

Keltera · #22 03-10-2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin_orchidL

Nice list, Keltera

Just out of curiosity, what lights are you using?

iam useing a brand called "sun blasters" and its just one of there smaller bulbs in a desk top lamp. Its pretty bright too! lets see if it works! i also purchased a heater, thats FLAT, i was so worried about the glass aquarium heaters being so big that i would have to put ALOT of water in the tank, but this one is awsome

Keltera · #23 03-10-2010, 08:58 AM

Plants have been orderd, he won't ship till may cause were still cold up here, so it gives me time to finish the setup.
The flat heater I said was great? Suck in the water, I left it on all night and the water was the same temp! Grr! Maybe it will do better out of the water? Or maybe I should just return it and get a glass one :/. Is the glass one fine if it is on it's side?

Connie Star · #24 03-10-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Yes, i stood them up on their narrow sides, and I aerate by the use of a computer fan. I set aside some space in the front and make it a screen opening so they are not completely sealed in.

How big are those aquariums? I have a couple of 10 gallon ones and also a big 50 gallon one that would be high if I set it on its side. I'm still trying to decide whether to do this or not- I'm not very handy, although I do have the fans, complements of my computer engineer father.
What kind of light do you have?

calvin_orchidL · #25 03-11-2010, 01:25 AM

Are these from clouds? Why not just get him to bring em to the next SOOS meeting?

Just to share some experience, which I learned the hard way...I have a 90 gallon and a 60 gallon tank, strictly for utility orchid growing (ie not terrascaped in any way). I also have several 10 gallon tanks and they are SMALL - you might have some problems cramming all that in there, but hey worth a shot!

I'm not trying to be downer and please feel free to ignore anything I say - just wanting to save you some pain...

In my experience, water at the bottom of a tank, even with a pump, quickly filled with algae and became a disgusting mess. Somehow this doesn't happen with a planted tank, or maybe it's because there's enough substrate that the ferts get soaked up. Other people get this to work...not sure how...maybe my tank was too big and the pump was not powerful enough to prevent stagnancy.

Anyway, it didn't work for me...I discovered that with small tanks, you don't really special humidity devices...a good daily misting is sufficient, if the vents are not too exposed.

Anyway, just my

...I've done the whole shabang, from ultrasonic misters to mistking nozzles (which are great, don't get me wrong), from an egg crate base suspended over water, to room-humidifiers hooked up to tubing pumping moist air into the tank. In the end, the most effective has been my trusty pump sprayer, which I use every morning after breakfast, a few computer fans, and a partially opened lid...the smaller the opening, the more humid the inside is!

For the heater you can probably get a heater for reptiles... although typically the lights are hot enough that the tank heats up considerably.

Anyway, that's just what has worked for me which could be completely different from what works for you, but just throwing it out there in case anyone cares

Keltera · #26 03-11-2010, 09:14 AM

"Anyway, that's just what has worked for me which could be completely different from what works for you, but just throwing it out there in case anyone cares

"

Thank you! I can use any bit of info I can get! Now, when you say "planted" what does that intell? More of just haveing them in pots? Is there still water in the tank? If I were to get an alge eating fish would that help?

I sent an email to clouds asking if he will be at the next meeting, but now that I think of it, it's not really saveing me money as I would have to go bus it out there, just means I will have plants earlier!

Tindomul · #27 03-11-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connie Star

How big are those aquariums? I have a couple of 10 gallon ones and also a big 50 gallon one that would be high if I set it on its side. I'm still trying to decide whether to do this or not- I'm not very handy, although I do have the fans, complements of my computer engineer father.
What kind of light do you have?

The twins are 20 longs, and the big one is a 40 breeder, which is wider than other 40 gallons.
I use for both setups compact flourescent t5s. Between 6500k to 8000k. Two bulbs per fixture. I got these from aquarium stores too.

Now I agree, a good old fashioned hand misting cannot be replaced. And for the 20 longs, that is good enough. for the 40 breeder, I have to mist twice a day if I want to keep the humidity high.

As far as algae, I got my hands on one antibiotic pill and placed it in the water, after a few day no more algae. Most algae is a kind of bacteria (cyanobacteria) so it mightwork.

Keltera · #28 03-27-2010, 04:32 PM

hey guys! ive got my terrarium up and running with plants! now i just have to find my camera so i can take pictures!