Planning a new terarium - Orchid Board

borofan · #1 09-04-2018, 05:18 AM

I am a very lucky boy and have been given what I think is an Eco Terra vivarium 2'x 18"x 2' high with a mesh top plus a hood with light fittings (no lights) that covers half the top. I am now agonising about setting it up, I have read quite a lot on the internet but still could do with some advice!

1. If I put clay balls or some such in the base and keep them well watered and have a mesh on top to prevent the orchids getting too wet than does anyone have a problem with mould and how do you change out any stale water and replenish with fresh?

2. How best to heat it? Some people seem to put a heat mat in a substrate but with the humidity "tray" in the base there will not be any substrate.

3. I have read of someone who puts an extractor fan in the top to suck out air which will then get replaced by fresh air through a grill near the base of the tank. Is that a good idea?

4. If I use an extractor as described will I still need one or more circulatory fans in the tank?

5. I cannot place the tank near a water supply so misting will have to be done manually or utilising a device that gets water from a bottle nearby. Any comments on this stem will be appreciated.

6. The hood has connectors for three bulbs of screw in type with a maximum wattage of 25W. There seems to be a lot of variety on type of lighting so any recommendations will be appreciated.

7. The current hood only covers half the top of the tank. Will there be adequate light distribution?

8. Someone is bound to ask just what I plan to growing the tank and I guess I don't have any real plans but I do have a number of orchids but am not sure how to organise heat and light regimes for them. My orchids are:
COOL:
Bletilla Brigante
Bletilla Striat
Bletilla Junpaku
Cypripedium "Michael"
Dactylorhiza Praetermissa
Dendrobium Nobile "Spring Dream"
Lepanthes Tigrina - mounted
Maxillaria Variablis
Platystele Misera
Pleione Tongarino
Pleione noID
Stelis Microphylla

INTERMEDIATE:
Brascidostele "Gilded Tower"
Dendrochilum Filiforme
Maxillaria Meleagris (bought as Camaridium Meleagris)
Promenaea Citrata x Limelight
Tolumnia hawkesiana - mounted
Tolumnia hawkesiana - in moss
Tolumnia hawkesiana - in orchid compost

WARM:
Dendrobium Unicum
Dendrobium Unicum on cork mount
Phalaenopsis - several
Robiquetia Bifidus on bark mount (bought as Megalotus Bifidus)

I realise this is a big request but I would appreciate any advice.

Mike