New and Improved Terrarium

I outgrew my 20 gallon a while ago, but I haven't had the time to build something bigger to replace it. I finally got a break this weekend and took the time to set up something a little bigger. I'm still not finished. I need to get a bigger and better lighting set up and possibly better fans for circulation, but this is how it stands today.

 

Tanner, if all the cooling components are up top, it's a real pain to come up with a lighting solution. The one I have right now is like that, so you have to light it through the door. If I were to go through the process again, I would definitely use a large wine chiller and cut a hole in the top for LEDs.

Thanks Chris!

 

Aww man... that one would have been so much easier to modify than the one I'm working with now. I'll have to keep an eye out for something similar.

 

It's a 30 long so close to 36x12x16. I've seen those Exos, and I'd love to use one. I just can't imagine spending $300+ on it at this point. I agree the front opening does make life a lot easier though.

 

Yea I'll probably build something front opening and that size once I outgrow what I have now. I think doing it that way will drastically cut down on cost. Thankfully, I have a large closet that I keep most of my tanks, so the roommates aren't really bothered by them... and they kind of like the inhabitants as well.

An update to the tank: I had a gift certificate to a local fish store, so I invested in a new 36" T5HO fixture for lighting.

 

Thanks for the kind words Jacob. I just looked over the pictures at the beginning of this thread again and was amazed myself. It's definitely a but more crowded in there now.

I have two fans "floating" in the middle of the tank. You can see one in the picture. They blow in opposite directions and run 24/7. I also have another pointed at an angle, providing air to all the Pleurothallids I have in pots on the floor. I honestly can't tell you the time it runs. It's on the same timer as the fans in my fridge, so it runs something like 15 minutes every hour at night/morning and all afternoon, maybe?

Some of my Angraecoids have really taken off since I've made all the changes, other have been re-homed. I've decided that I won't keep Angs and try to "force" them to like my conditions. I feel much more comfortable that these species will be around when I have a greenhouse and proper growing areas due to publicly and privately known breeding efforts.

One thing I have found is that my leafless species, mostly Ang relatives, love the tank. They're producing tons of new roots, so I'm quite excited about that.

 

It's time for a little update on this:

I just got back to my apartment form a week home for spring break. It's amazing how things change in a week. Monosepalum dischorense is in bud (flowers should open anytime). Bulbophyllum denophyllum looks to have a spike forming. Lots of new growth, including tons (inches) of root growth on Dendrophylax funalis, Dendrophylax fawcettii, Microcoelia gilpinae, and a couple Chiloschistas along with many other "leaved" orchids.

 

It really is. I can finally feel comfortable with what's going on in there and just sit back, water, and watch.

 

Exactly! My big issue was not enough light I think. After I added the dual T5's, everything really took off.

 

Yesterday was an incredibly stressful day for me because I was moving most of my tanks home from school for the summer. I packed up the fridge tank, this terrarium, and three of my frog tanks, and made the hour and a half long trip home. I've got three finals next week, and then I'll be moving my other three tanks of frogs.

Thankfully, my only casualties were two new growths. Hopefully, more will initiate in their place, but I have to be thankful that most everything worked out very smoothly.