Exo Terra terrarium growing

[Alla]

The top setup wasnt expensive actually.. acrylic $20 and if you go on a weekend, there is an employee at Lowes that could cut it to fit for you, then fans were 10 each, controller was 6.50, power adapter 15 bucks, then silicone about 10 bucks and then mystking about $150 including second nuzzle, reservoir bucket, etc.. And a bit of patience of course

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Alla

My boyfriend helped me cut 4 acrylic pieces for the top. 2 pieces were drilled to fit misting nozzles and fans.

Top came with metal mesh, we took mesh out and siliconed the acrylic instead. After the first try , the acrylic came off due to air and moisture. We re-siliconed with a layer under the acrylic panel and above the acrylic panel to attach it to the frame. The double silicone seems to be holding well. We used waterproof GE brand from Lowes.

I can get humidity to 95 but it is not needed for my plants. I have a variety there from Catts to Neos to oncidium, miltonia, brassavola, vanda.. all kinds of stuff.. Between 60 to 80 works the best.

To answer the question, why on earth would I put plants that dont require a vivarium into a vivarium- well, I wanted a rainforest, I only have 1 t5HO grow light and need to fit it all together and I am lazy to water- my misting system is on a timer and , as they say, you cant overwater mounted plants. If a plant starts declining, I will take it out but thus far each plant seem to be growing new foliage and much faster than outside the vivarium.

I will try to remember to post a picture of the remodeled top once I get home tonight.

Thanks for posting!
I too have exo terra terrariums. I have left them with the mesh at the top for the moment and all I have done is put a layer of Leca beads at the base.. which I keep moist It is a wish to one day transform them with misting units & lights...
I look forward to seeing how you get a long. Thanks again and I hope you keep on posting.

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[Phal grower]

Very nice Alla. Now I wish I hadn't sold my 55 gallon aquarium.

[Paul Mc]

No kidding! I had an 80 gallon. Man, the things I could have done with that, lol... Hindsight, usually 20/20...

[Ferns Daddy]

Thats one nice set up

[PlantTeeth]

Very cool! This is exactly what my boyfriend wants to do eventually.

via mobile

[stylingpat]

Very cool, do you house any low light plants in there as well?

[Alla]

I have a couple of Pleurothallis there and I had a Phal as well. Pleuro is doing great and one is blooming. Phal seemed to be ok but I removed it since it was taking too much space. Mostly I have high light plants there ( Catt, 2 neofinetias, vanda, oncidium, miltonia( bushy one at the bottom), 2 maxillarias ( growing like crazy), angraecum, brassavola, a vanilla ( which will probably outgrow terrarium fast but looks nice for now), aerides, chiloschista (blooming),dendrobium loddigesii ( mini), doritis, ornithocephalis. Oncidium might outgrow vivarium as well ( seems to like the light and humidity)- has tons of roots and leaves.

[stylingpat]

Do you happen to have a light meter? Your tank being 36" tall, I'm trying to figure out a lighting situation for mine at the same height.

If you do could you give me 12" 24" 36" footcandle readings from the bulbs. And the info on the bulbs. And I should be able to figure out what I need.

Your lighting set up and tank seems to be pretty successful!

[Alla]

Originally Posted by stylingpat

If you do could you give me 12" 24" 36" footcandle readings from the bulbs. And the info on the bulbs. And I should be able to figure out what I need.

I do not have a footcandle light meter, I am sorry.

The light fixture I used is ViaVolt 4 ft. 4-Bulb T5 High Output Copper Fluorescent Grow Light Fixture-V44 at The Home Depot

Its 4 foot, 4 lamp HO t5 bulbs.

Someone in comments for the lamp made measurements for this light and they are as follows:

1 feet: 2700 fc
2 feet: 1200 fc
3 feet: 700 fc

Not necessarily what my tank gets considering it is next to the window and is probably getting a little bit of natural light as well.

Thing to consider is with a light like mine it gets pretty hot under it so you will need fans on top of plants to cool off anything that is growing close to lights especially if top is not mesh and there is no place for the hot air to escape. I have a digital thermometer/hydrometer that is hanging in the top portion of the vivarium so I know that anything below the device is higher humidity ( due to water basin and waterfall) and lower temperature ( due to being further from lights).

Hope this helps and good luck with your setup!