The new tank, with pictures.

[tmaxwell]

Hey Everybody,

Here is the new tank, complete with new plants. Uh-oh, just built it for more space, and filled it instantly. You just can't win in this game.
I'm short on time, but will briefly describe construction stuff.
It's 55 gal, with a plywood back. I busted the glass plate... This size tank is made with tempered glass, wish I would have thought of that before trying to drill the drain holes....
The plywood is varnished, with 1/2 in. hardware cloth affixed for mounts. The seams are all routed in, and sealed with silicone. I'm happy, in the end, with the plywood back, it looks WAY nicer than glass.
The lid is simple, but is upgraded in many ways from previous attempts. It's routed to fit snugly over the tank. The birch top is recessed into the sides. It's looks slick, compared to clunky like my others.
The fans were a pain, but I think I like them. They push quite a bit of air at the front glass, which helps with condensation.
I've got some rad new plants from thailand. I will post another about my experience importing plants. It was nerve racking, time consuming and confusing, but fun.

Good growing,
tyler

[ardera]

I am getting a 30g tank from craigslist, and you just gave me some great ideas for it. Last month I had set up a 10g (only had 4 plants at the time), and I have already run out of room!!

[camille1585]

Very nice setup! You also gave me some ideas for my future tank, that I hope to set up in the spring. Sounds like you are quickly going to run out of room if you keep ordering more plants! Is that a Soph cernua blooming in the before last pic?

[tcrane]

Tank looks terrific! I've already filled mine as well, but it's only a 15 gallon.

[calvin_orchidL]

Very sweet looking tank. Any worries about the humidity and the CFLs? Love what you've done with the light hood. Do you think the varnish is sufficient to keep the plywood dry? I'm always worried about water!

[tmaxwell]

Hey folks,
Thanks for the kind remarks!
Calvin, I've not had any issues with the cfl's in the tank, Some of the better bulbs have lasted 2.5 years now.
As far as the plywood staying nice, I really have no idea. I treated it with penetrating stain stuff, and used spar varnish, which I've used on boat parts and the like. It seems tough. I also spread silicone up from the bottom seam about two inches, to keep standing water out.
Worst case, it rots in a couple months, And I figure something else out. It was only 6 bucks in exterior ply, plus a couple in varnish, so not too bad (I do hope it lasts longer, though)
I can say that the hoods have never had any problems, but also avoid direct spray. We'll see, right?
tyler

[schwing]

Tyler: could you explain how you wired the lights and fans inside the hood? Are those big computer case fans?

[Connie Star]

Very, very nice. I like the way it looks like fine furniture, especially with the top so well done.

[tropterrarium]

Do you get enough light in the tank? You may be able to get more out of it by painting the inside of the lid white (or line with aluminum foil). What temperature range do you have in your tank? Could you tell us about your plant and which are good performers, and which may have given you trouble?

[tmaxwell]

Hey everybody,

Calvin, I have not had any issues with CFL's in the tank, some have been running for almost 3 years. As far as the plywood, time will tell. I used exterior ply, 1/2 in, with a waterseal type oil stain, and a topcoat of marine varnish. I also spread a thin layer of silicone at the bottom edge, maybe 2" up, for standing water. The tank drains down to just about empty with the siphon hose. I figure that's about the best I can do. It was really an experiment in the face of necessity, I'll keep y'all updated.

Schwing, the fans are indeed computer case fans, 80mm. I buy them on ebay, from good-old Hong Kong. Very cheap. They are wired parallel, meaning each fan receives power directly from the power supply, as opposed to series, where the supply is like a big loop, each fan only gets one power supply line. Does that make sense? The lights are the same. The reason NOT to wire in series is explained by cheap christmas lights. One goes, they all go. Hope that helps!

OK, As to light, with 5 23w CFL's, it's plenty bright for just about anything. I try to mount all the higher light plants up high. The thing about fluorescent is that the plants can get really close. The light is really "even", like it spreads out fast. I think it's the spirals. I could probably squeeze in one more bulb, or replace one or two with 42w, but time will tell with this also. I grew most of these plants in this light "density" (about 1 23w per 10gal) far the last two years, with decent results. I am, though, thinking about lining with foil, I never though of painting it, that might be easier!

For the plants, I'd say the most vigorous have been as follows
Aergs. pumilio
Tol. variegata
rupiculous laelias (and similar catts)
Various bulbo's
Stelis barbata (quadrupled or more in a year, non-stop flowering, 25+ spikes currently)
Scaphosepalum macrodactylum (crazy amount of leads, like, 75+!)

It's hard to say which have been troublesome, I guess I killed my Cochlioda noezliana. May have been temp, I think it was bad rot in the media. I did not have good drainage system at the time. Much cleaner now!
I have had odd fungus spring up. when I moved into the new tank, it was so nice and warm, and humid, all the pots with sphag sprang up with fine white mycelium. looked like mycorrhizae to me, it was really, really fine, and evenly distributed. It's gone now, seemingly no issues.

I've got so many new plants, I will be able to judge the atmosphere more accurately in the near future.
I will say, the plants from Thailand seem pretty darn happy, even after a really long, dry, cold journey. Some kept spikes, the Gastrochilus obliguus kept two pods. So, I guess it's a bit like Thailand in there!
tyler