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Cool vivarium - IT'S DONE!

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by orchidkarma, May 9, 2010.

  1. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    I figured I would start a new thread on this now that the build is done!!! :D Yes, ok... there is still some dialing in to do and A LOT more planting, but still. This enormous engineering project of a build is finally completed - and I am oh so pleased with the outcome!!! I am proud to present my very own Peruvian cloud forest - located in my Swedish apartment... I had quite a few Pleurothallids ready to move in already so it looks alright for starters, but there is a lot of room in here... ;) I am also picking up a lot more from Ecuador at a show in a couple of weeks.

    The vivarium measures 175 cm wide, 160 cm tall and 65 cm deep. I have installed EpiWeb walls with an ILS drip watering system, and a Vivaria rain system (x8 nozzles), a Honeywell 5 liters ultrasonic fogger, Dulux 80W lights (x4), 80mm computer fans (x4), a cool air intake with the help of a bathroom fan connected to a vent to the outside. Most of the year it will hold at temperatures of 18-20 day and 10-12 at night.

    I have written a lot more about this build on my blog (the projects category is a quick way to get to all the posts on the build)... The earlier thoughts on this can be found in this thread. Here is a slideshow of all the photos I took documenting the build.

    Here are some videos on the systems at work...
    Rain, drip and fog running
    Drip irrigation
    Fog at work

    afarm5.static.flickr.com_4011_4591138773_1edd0e386b_b.jpg
     
  2. harrywitmore

    harrywitmore Member

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    Very well done indeed. All I want to know is how you got the man's head in the left bottom corner in the fog video? Looks like it's made of EPIWEB!
     
  3. Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Congratulations! Job well done.
     
  4. This_guy_Bri

    This_guy_Bri weirdo

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    super neat!
     
  5. Tom_in_PA

    Tom_in_PA I am not an addict

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    very nice indeed
     
  6. orchidsmyhobby

    orchidsmyhobby New Member

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    Soooooooo Cooooooool !! Your going to have to Market some of these !
     
  7. Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    That looks fantastic, and I'm sure you're very happy to have it done! Job well done. I hope you have a blast filling it with plants. Keep the pictures comiing as you add to it. Congratulations! it really is amazing.
     
  8. Boytjie

    Boytjie Out hiking Supporting Member

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    That is an amazing project, and a great accomplishment. Well done - and the best part is that now you get to sit back and enjoy filling all that space with tons of new plants!
     
  9. mrbreeze

    mrbreeze Anglican Supporting Member

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    That's totally freaking awesome.
    What will you do with the water that runs into that container via the funnel? And, what's the capacity and brand and type of your humidifier? I'm looking for a couple after my previous 2.5 gal went kaput. :mad: It has become very difficult to find one with a round opening.
     
  10. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    THANKS A LOT GUYS!!! :D

    Harry, that is the Dear Husband in the video, admiring the works.... ;)

    Mrbreeze: I still have to test this thing, but so far it seems that the small addition of water from the rain system makes up for the loss from the drip system, but I still need to dial it in. The humidifier is a Honeywell HH 200E ultrasonic. It has a 5 liter container and very simple straight forward design with few moving parts. This one cost about 200 dollars... but works well.
     
  11. Tracey

    Tracey Interloper

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    Congratulations, that is amazing :clap:
    I look forward to seeing more photos as you fill it up
     
  12. Pook

    Pook Disneyed

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    Give yourself a pat on the back! That looks fab! I'm totally green with envy!
     
  13. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    It looks great! Nice Job!
     
  14. Akhenaten

    Akhenaten Member

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    orchidkarma, it is very beautiful :) Some you ideas insighting me how to grow big orchids in orchidarium at the perpendicular wall.
     
  15. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    Thank you all very much! It has been a fun, albeit demanding project... glad to hear that it is inspirational to some of you. Now the real fun starts!! I promise to share a lot more photos as I fill it with orchids. :D
     
  16. xmpraedicta

    xmpraedicta Prairie angraecoid nut Supporting Member

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    Absolutely amazing....thank you for extensively posting your photos - it will be very helpful as a guide!
     
  17. jim4eq

    jim4eq Member

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    very neat! I bet it was fun to build and figure out, now to fill it up.
     
  18. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    Thanks! :) Yes, it was a lot of fun to plan and build - but it will be more fun to fill it! I am picking up a bunch at a show this weekend, fresh in from Ecuador.... I am happy to hear you found some inspiration in all those photos too Calvin. :)
     
  19. Uluwehi

    Uluwehi angraecoids, dendrobiums and more Supporting Member

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    This is wonderful Karma! Thank you for documenting it so well.
     
  20. orchidkarma

    orchidkarma Member

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    Thanks!! :D You should only see how everything is thriving in there!!!! Even my Telepogon (from Peru Flora in April) is setting a bud right now!!! I really need to post some more pics...