Orchidarium Journal/setup photos included

[aquanut415]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Wow, such an interesting orchidium! And beautiful too!!

thanks a bunch, hope you can use some of my ideas to setup yours!

I have about a million questions. . you might want to grab a cup of coffee:

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

The "poo" pile. . .lol. . .represents the distance from the back wall to the false front wall? What is that, maybe three inches?

yup, more would have been better.

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

What is going on in the third picture?

this is the tank sitting upright. im just showing the installed false bottom, and the cut-out for access to plumbing and wiring.

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

The forth picture looks like something I could handle. You're just using the foam and cork to create nooks and crannies for the little orchids to tuck into. Before the foam is completely dry, you squish in small bits of spaghnam moss?

almost exactly, but no moss, i smoosh in cork between cork and fill with foam. usually the tank is so wet, you want to eliminate water retention from areas around the roots.

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

How do you attach the orchids to the background. Wire through the foam & twistie in the back?

that would work. ive mounted all mine on tree fern poles, and are hung on hooks, not mounted. if something needs to be moved, it can be moved easily.

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

What happens when the background gets wet? Does the spaghnam come off?

it will deteriorate over time and go away, or fall off, but its held in place by silicone and holds pretty well. usually by that time enough bacteria has grown over the foam to color it dark and invisible..

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

What do you do with all the water sitting in the bottom of the tank? Circulate it with a fish tank pump? Do you use a filter?

its being circulated with a smaller pump, there is an elaborate filter and screening setup, its the design and construction of the whole tank.

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Is this type of orchidium safe for frogs?

sure is, just need to secure a screen over the access over the false back.

[Tindomul]

I really like this tank, and those orchids seem great!!!!! I especially like the trailing habit of your Bulbophyllum alagense 'large form' (where did you get it from?). Is the false back removable?

[aquanut415]

the Bulbophyllum? im not sure where i got it... i only recently began a log to keep track of my orchid acquisitions. its proving useful...im thinking i got it at the SF orchid society meet a while ago now... its very hardy and blooms in mass. ive got a few nodes of it i could remove for you.. wanna trade something?

no the false back is not removeable, but if you wanted i guess it could be... it would take some more planning.

[Tindomul]

Sure, I just realized I've got a healthy Pleurothalis tribuloides up for grabs. I'll pm you a pic later tonight.

[aquanut415]

cool...if you like i could also include a few nodes of the maxillaria if that interests you at all... they both do great in enclosures and could also tolerate a trimming..

[Tindomul]

Oki doki!! Thanks, I'll try anything.