ExoTerra Terrarium Tips??

[Tindomul]

I agree on the humidifier issue. Mine has a fogger hooked up to it, but thats for looks rather than need.

[Andre]

Have the extra large tall version. Have bromeliads small warm growing phal species. I use a misting system I find LED spot lights penetrate to the bottom nicely. It is more of a vivarium for my giant Madagascar day gecko. The top mesh limits lighting placement and the plastic framing on that removable top distorts with heat. I also use a 150 infrared element to bring temps up in winter. They make great orchid enclosures.


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[TheOrKID]

Thanks Andre! I've still made near no progress, being 14 I have a smaller budget but the websites I found haven't been to well put together...

[RandomGemini]

I set up my terrarium really cheaply. The most expensive part was the terrarium and the lights. The substrate I use is mostly hydroton pellets. Over that, I have a piece of fiberglass screen, over that, I have a layer of sphagnum moss. It's easy to change out when it gets old, because it's only the top half inch or so of material. If you want to get crazy, you can install a water feature, which I did. Buried a teeny pump in the hydroton and it pumps water up the back of the terrarium, to a small hole in the background, where it trickles down the back wall and creates air movement and lowers the temp in the terrarium by a couple of degrees. Cost me about 10$ to do it, for the pump and black airline tubing from the hardware store.

[Andre]

look at LLL Reptiles you tube channel


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[harpspiel]

Are you still working on getting this set up?

Personally, I found the NEHERP DIY guides very helpful (and all their articles really): New England Herpetoculture LLC - Vivarium Care Menu

I disagree with others about a humidifier - if used with a fan, it can help drop the temperature, especially if you turn it on at night (make sure you have a fan though - that way water won't sit on the leaves all night long). For cool/intermediate growers, often a significant nighttime drop is more important than keeping the temperature down during the day.

In my situation, with LED lighting, a fan and a humidifier, here are my temperatures:
day - house is 70F, tank is up to 75F
night - house is 60F, tank is down to 59F

Also, many of the cool growers, like D. cuthbertsonii and the Pleurothallids, need very pure water. Since I don't have an R/O system I just use distilled water purchased from the store for $1/gallon. 1 gallon lasts me about a week.

If you are set on cool/intermediate growers, I can certainly give plant recommendations. It would definitely be much easier to grow warm plants though, unless you plan to have the tank in a basement. My winter temps have been good for the cool growers so far, but for summer I am going to have to set up a complicated system involving a dorm fridge and tubing to blow cool air into the tank.

[TheOrKID]

Thanks so much! Actually yes I am working on it and am almost complete now!! All I need is some cork bark, the fan and plants to stop the stagnancy of water in the bottom I will add a mister. I am set on tees because I love most of these species and have nowhere to grow them yet. My terrarium will be on a cold wall and the cooling fan will be within the great stuff/cork background. It's almost complete now and yes I would love some plant suggestions!

[harpspiel]

Keep in mind that my experience is still limited, but here are some plants that I personally like/have had recommended/have had success with:

Pleurothallis grobyi (easy to grow and floriferous mini-miniature)
Mediocalcar decoratum
Lepanthopsis astrophora 'Stalky'
Dendrobium limpidum (just got one from Andy's and it's fascinating both in and out of bloom)
Schoenorchis fragrans
Pleurothallis prolifera
Barbosella cognauxiana
Maxillaria schunkeana (on my wishlist, awesome black flowers)
Epidendrum porpax (just got some of this, and from its growth habit it looks like it could be weedy)
Any hybrid masdies, which are gorgeous and tend to be easier than the species.

All of these are readily available plants that are somewhat forgiving as far as temperature range, although they prefer growing on the cool side.

A great place to go for inspiration is this guy's blog, Orchids in Bloom. Not sure if he's a member here, but his blog has wonderful photography and usually great care advice as well.

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by harpspiel

I disagree with others about a humidifier - if used with a fan, it can help drop the temperature, especially if you turn it on at night (make sure you have a fan though - that way water won't sit on the leaves all night long). For cool/intermediate growers, often a significant nighttime drop is more important than keeping the temperature down during the day.

The humidifiers I am familiar with really aren't any good. In any case, in my opinion unless you seal off your tank, a humidifier won't make much of a difference and is just an added expense. A fogger works a lot better. And if you have a fogger, there is no need for a humidifier.