Just got a 55Gal tank for my first terrarium

[Ro3bert]

Orcids are all new to me. Growing plants isn't a problem for us (wife and I), we both have rather "green thumbs".

Here are the first four mini-phals I expect to go into the terrarium.

This is the tank. Just got it Saturday and a couple of temp and humidity gauges.

I've been haunting the internet is search of ideas and so far this forum has the most and seemingly, to me, the best information.

Still looking for ideas for what to do with it but know there will be a water feature (small) with a spring in a scarp (I'm leaning toward) and enough riparian in case I decide to include some fauna (no fish).

This a huge experiment for me. The biggest problem (if you will) will be the design.

I'll include images as I go along. It may be slow for monetary reasons. Once I have a design formulated I'll start looking for ways to accomplish the installation.

I know there must be pumps, filters, lights and fans so those will have to be integrated into the design, don't want them to show at all.

Robert

[Leafmite]

Sounds like it will be a work of art when it is finished! I can't wait to see it finished. Good luck!

[WhiteRabbit]

Cool!

[Ro3bert]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Sounds like it will be a work of art when it is finished! I can't wait to see it finished. Good luck!

Hope it is a work of art. I've never attempted anything like this so maybe you should wish me luck, I can't wait (but will have to) to see it finished. Still have a lot more questions and research before I actually start.

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Cool!

Thanks Sonya.

Robert

[Paul]

Definitely a lot of work ahead of you. The planning will be invaluable, so take your time. Once you settle on one or more methods for building your water feature(s) and background, I'd suggest creating a practice version first in order to iron out any issues that may crop up.

Do keep in mind, that even "small" water features tend to eat up a LOT more of your tank's floor space than you'd likely expect.

Make CERTAIN in your design that all parts of the water system -- pump, filters, etc -- are easily accessible without requiring you to tear the beast apart. If you don't, you will at some point curse yourself for a fool when you have to rip everything apart. With a tank like yours, that will pretty much entail the parts being accessible from above. That, in turn, indicates that the piece(s) hiding the equipment should be designed in well fitted sections.

A false bottom will likely be a must as it can enable you to drain and or recirculate water as it runs through the media.

An airy, freely draining media will probably be wise as water from the water feature will almost inevitably get into the media -- perhaps even to the point of saturating it.

Consider how you will light it as well as whether there will be a lid/cover over the top of the tank. (If yes, then one or more fans will prove useful for air circulation.)

The phals you have, I suspect may prove too large for your tank. I would suggest mounting them in such a manner that they can easily be removed should they prove to be too large at some point.

[Vanda lover]

I have a tank just like it and have been considering doing the same thing. I hope to see yours finished. There is something about having a miniature rain forest that is very appealing.