Need help with new terrarium - Orchid Board

Paul Mc · #1 01-19-2012, 09:31 PM

OK, so I'm thinking about taking the plunge and buying the new Exo-Terra 26"L x 18"W x 36"H terrarium. But now I need your experienced help to guide me with what I need for the set up.

Based on a thread that was just posted about misting systems, I plan on going with a MistKing, but I don't even know where to begin with that. For example, what package, what extras, etc...

In regards to light, I was hoping to use T5 or T8 fixtures (maybe 2 of them) and try to find someone to build a top case to hold them in for me. But I understand that Exo-Terra also sells light fixtures specifically for this model. Would their model be sufficient to grow orchids in?

As far as air movement, how strong of a fan and how many fans are we talking about?

With your help I was able to build my first (small) terrarium. I'm hoping to get your expertise once again while I consider the ins and outs of this BIG purchase.

Paul Mc · #2 01-19-2012, 10:30 PM

One side note. I will see what humidity and temp is while building. My goal is to grow mini's in this, not necessarily a specific humidity or temp range.

Discus · #3 01-20-2012, 08:58 AM

I just got a mist king system delivered (took months via surface mail from Canada to Africa, but such is life!) to add to my balcony setting - they're really nice kits, although I haven't seen mine in action yet.

I think you'll find their little mounting brackets ("screen top wedge") quite handy for adding to your terrarium, particularly if you don't mod it. I don't think you'll need too many nozzles, but I'd definitely suggest getting the seconds timer. You'll also likely find putting a drain in there is a good idea (not played with exo terra gear - you may need to drill the glass, or get someone to do it for you).

Depending on how humid you want it, you may need to modify the exoterra from screen mesh to glass or acrylic panels in places.

Incidentally, the original makers of epiweb make some really cute exoterra-compatible IIS backgrounds with a build in watering system you may like to look at. see Epiweb

In terms of fans, you can use normal voltage "muffin fans", but I'd suggest you'd be a lot safer using 12V computer ones with a suitable transformer mounted well out the reach of any water. I'd probably put a GFCI/RCD on the system if it were mine, and deal with any nuisance trips, rather than nuisance trips to hospital! Of course, if you're going on vacation you may like to think about a way of bypassing the GFCI whilst you're away.

You will probably want a way of not only moving air around within the terrarium but also exchanging air with the outside; this might mean building rheostats into your fan circuit(s) will help.

The herp people also have ultrasonic mist-makers that sit in or out of the tank, which might be worth a look, although if you're going for mist king you probably won't need them.

I think you'll find the orchidkarma blog Orchid Karma :: An orchid blog a useful source of orchidarium building tips!

Good luck.

<looks over at the tall fishtank standing in his office and ponders>....

p.s. I'd probably suggest the ultimate value system MistKing Misting Systems by Jungle Hobbies Ltd for flexibility - the one nozzle kit probably won't have all you need. Also, whilst you're shopping at mistking, you can buy extra nozzles if you think you want/need them; their bulkhead drain fittings (MistKing Misting Systems by Jungle Hobbies Ltd) are quite nice too, although I'd personally prefer a straight connector option too - but I suspect most people will find the 90 degree bend more useful.

Paul Mc · #4 01-20-2012, 09:54 AM

So where can a get a terrarium that has the drain holes already? I've looked but not found anyone yet.

Discus · #5 01-20-2012, 10:42 AM

I suspect if you order a custom terrarium, you can have as many holes drilled as you like...

Quick google turned up Drill Holes - Protean Terrarium

keithrs · #6 01-20-2012, 07:56 PM

If you take your terrarium down to a mirror/glass shop they will drill holes for you for a small fee. Or buy a diamond hole saw($$$$chaching$$$$) at your hardware store and drill them yourself.

I would use a fogger to keep up the humidity rather then using the mistking system. You may induce rot if you over water. You will still need a misting system to water your plants. (mistking starter system works great)

As far as fans go 12v 80mm CPU fans work good. I would start with two and see how that works. You will need a 12v power supply to power them. Keep a couple on hand in case one fails on you.

Two things I suggest you do first is figure out what temp range and light levels you'll need for the plant you want to grow.

---------- Post added at 03:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:45 PM ----------

Also you may want to look into buying a 50 gal. tall fish tank, may be inverting it and have a glass place make doors and such. I'm not sure what price that exo is. I got my 70 tall for about $1.36 a gal.
10 Gal. vert tank build

Paul Mc · #7 01-21-2012, 10:16 AM

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions. I've been re-reading and taking notes.

Keithrs, I had contacted a few glass places about the possibility of drilling a drainage hole, but the problem is that I don't know if the glass is tempered or not. I would suspect being for a terrarium it would be. The issue was that they could not guarantee the tank wouldn't shatter if it wasn't tempered, and I didn't want to spend the $340 on it just to have it shatter, lol... Do you know if they are tempered glass or not? I tried googling it many times and came up empty handed.

I have explored the possibility of fish tanks as well, and again came up with the same question of the glass being tempered or not. I would suspect that they are, but not sure. It did seem like the cheaper option, but I was not impressed with the width in relation to the height and length, especially for my cramped space. Maybe I just haven't found the right company for that yet. BTW, the Exo Terra is 36x18x36 - I mistyped that earlier.

That's a good thought about the Mistking in conjunction with a fogger. I had not thought that all the way through. I want it to be as automated as possible so I can set it an forget about it other than the occasional maintenance. Any good foggers out there? The only one I've found was made by Zoo-Med I believe, but after a few months of use it is loud and the water resevior is extremely small. I find myself having to fill my current one after every time it's been on if you set it to high. I would suspect with the size we're talking about it would have to be set to high to compensate.

I agree with you most of the way Keithrs about determining what humidity and light range I'm wanting. I was thinking I would build it, test, see where it's at and modify as needed. I'd like to see a standard 80% humidity if at all possible and temps not exceeding 75F or so. I would not be building a cool terrarium for sure.

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:06 AM ----------

OMG - Protean Terrarium! They were the one's I thought about contacting to build a terrarium to custom spec's! I had forgotten the name and was getting ready to search through the threads here. They had posted a while back about their terrariums. Thanks for the reminder and link!!!

---------- Post added at 08:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 AM ----------

Would love to do the epiweb, but that's not available in the US. Sigh....

billc · #8 01-21-2012, 11:11 AM

I think Ray @ Firstrays.com has Ecoweb.
https://www.firstrays.com/cgi/cart/c...exact_match=on

Bill

keithrs · #9 01-21-2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions. I've been re-reading and taking notes.

Keithrs, I had contacted a few glass places about the possibility of drilling a drainage hole, but the problem is that I don't know if the glass is tempered or not. I would suspect being for a terrarium it would be. The issue was that they could not guarantee the tank wouldn't shatter if it wasn't tempered, and I didn't want to spend the $340 on it just to have it shatter, lol... Do you know if they are tempered glass or not? I tried googling it many times and came up empty handed.

I have explored the possibility of fish tanks as well, and again came up with the same question of the glass being tempered or not. I would suspect that they are, but not sure. It did seem like the cheaper option, but I was not impressed with the width in relation to the height and length, especially for my cramped space. Maybe I just haven't found the right company for that yet. BTW, the Exo Terra is 36x18x36 - I mistyped that earlier.

That's a good thought about the Mistking in conjunction with a fogger. I had not thought that all the way through. I want it to be as automated as possible so I can set it an forget about it other than the occasional maintenance. Any good foggers out there? The only one I've found was made by Zoo-Med I believe, but after a few months of use it is loud and the water resevior is extremely small. I find myself having to fill my current one after every time it's been on if you set it to high. I would suspect with the size we're talking about it would have to be set to high to compensate.

I agree with you most of the way Keithrs about determining what humidity and light range I'm wanting. I was thinking I would build it, test, see where it's at and modify as needed. I'd like to see a standard 80% humidity if at all possible and temps not exceeding 75F or so. I would not be building a cool terrarium for sure.

---------- Post added at 08:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:06 AM ----------

OMG - Protean Terrarium! They were the one's I thought about contacting to build a terrarium to custom spec's! I had forgotten the name and was getting ready to search through the threads here. They had posted a while back about their terrariums. Thanks for the reminder and link!!!

---------- Post added at 08:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 AM ----------

Would love to do the epiweb, but that's not available in the US. Sigh....

Contact Exo..... They can tell you if its tempered. You need a microscope to tell for sure. Some times you can use polarized glasses at 45 deg. to look for blacks lines. also look for letters like "L" or "A" "B" "C" at the edge of the glass.

Ultrasonic misters

Paul Mc · #10 01-21-2012, 03:45 PM

Duh, lol... Why didn't I see the answer to that! Thanks! Contacted and waiting for response.

Meanwhile, what do you guys think of the exo terra lights? Will that be enough for orchids?