Confused on terrarium lighting hoods

[Paul Mc]

OK, so since you guys know so much about lighting perhaps I should just ask you what you would use given what I am wanting.

If using CFL's, I want to get the terrarium clip lighting stand offered by Zoo Med but I do not know what kind of fixture and bulb to get. I have yet to find a fixture that would work on this stand that can accomodate around a 45w CFL full spectrum bulb.

Since I know nothing about LED, what would you suggest? I cannot hang anything up for the light source, so it must either have a stand to hold it up or sit on top of the terrarium.

My terrarium is 12x12x18.

BTW, I emailed Zoo Med about their Naturalistic Terrarium Hood that fits my terrarium and they replied with the following:

"Thank you for contacting us. This fixture can accommodate a bulb that is up to 60 watts. We have a mini compact fluorescent bulb that is a 6500K, 10 watt bulb. This hood should not be used with any 'spot' type bulbs as the sockets are horizontally oriented."

[tropterrarium]

As you have the base parameters and know what to look for, now it is time to google around. You can now intelligently read the descriptions and figure out what may work. This may take about a week or so. You seem to be sold on the Zoomed hood, so that will narrow your options quite a bit. I seem to recall you want to grow Phalenopsis, so those are rather shade plants and won't require too much light.

As your Terrarium is very small, you may have to use CF bulbs; straight T5HOs are at least 24 inches, if I remember correctly.

Re LEDs they are very new, so very few people have personal experience with them. I don't. Given the great light output per watt and corresponding low heat output, they are a very interesting source. If I would build a new terrarium (or once my current fixture fails) I may well go with LED. For shade plants, LEDs may almost be overkill, but you can dim them.