My tanks re-arranged

Here is my grow area now:



Two reptile tanks in the corner of our unfinished basement.

Fan is installed.

Installed is probably too strong a word. All I did - just hung it on the s-hooks in the top left corner:



I didn't really have any problems with mold yet since I don't keep any water at the bottom of the tank and usually open front doors and top lid for the night when the lights are off. Air flows through the tank and brings down temps from 25C to about 20 and humidity from 85% to about 70.

Also I re-built the levels to make them a bit lower because light was too strong for the middle shelf. Here is how it looks now:



I put masdies in the corner with fan:



Seedlings in compots are hiding under the larger plants:

Fan for the orchid tank

External computer fan with usb connector arrived yesterday. Usb can be connected to the iPhone charger transformer and plugged into wall outlet.





Cute little shiny device, it has pretty long retractable cord which is still too short to reach my plug outlet. Very quiet. On the left there is a knob that allows you to control the speed.

I am not sure where I am going to put it yet. Should it stand on the floor of the tank, or hang closer to the ceiling? In the middle or on one side? Maybe I should have bought two of them?

I am leaving all these questions to be solved next weekend...

On the light topic - I removed one tube from the light fixture. 4 tubes appeared too strong for my phals that have tall leaves. Cornu-cervi red and pulchra got too much of purple freckles that don't look very healthy. Since I hanged lots of seedlings on the back wall and they don't want too bright light, I moved fixture a bit forward and removed front tube. Will see how it goes.

Orchid tank: exploring hanging space

Walls of the orchid tank is an additional place to squeeze some more orchids.
To use all that space I bought some s-hooks and galvanized steel wire from Home Depot:





I twisted piece of wire, tied it to a plastic net pot and voila - it has cute but strong hanger.
S-hooks fit perfectly into the cells of the egg-crate, they are steel to match the hangers.
Here is my phalaenopsis seedling enjoying the view hanging above all other 'chids:




Twisting the wire is a pain and it is easier to do with plier.

Masdies in orchid tank

My masdies and draculas got their last chance.
Even though space in my orchid tank is very limited and should be used very wise - I put them into the far left corner at the bottom.
That place is very humid and doesn't get much of direct light:



The temperature might be a problem since during the day it raises up to 25C, but probably 25C in 80% humidity is still better than 22C in 35% humidity, so I think they should be greatful.

Actually now I have this frustrating puzzle-sort of a game - "how to fit more orchids in a tank", and I can never win this game.

Yesterday I decided to put one vandaceous in there too, just to see if my lights will be enough to bloom vanda. Lucky plant is Vandachostylis Sri-Siam, it is blooming sized, has lots of roots and not too large. I raised it a bit above phals, so it could get more light:



Another observation - I noticed that my phals leaf color becomes lighter and lighter every day, it is especially light on bellinas. I am wondering if they are burning under these lights or is it a good sign of sufficient lighting.

Orchid tank update

I got clear acrylic sheets from Home Depot and covered the top opening of the tank.
Now humidity is between 75 and 80% when doors are closed and lights are on.



When light are turned off at night, humidity climbs up to 85-90%, so I started leaving small openings in doors and top for the night.
To increase air movement I have ordered computer fan, this one:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B002OJN250/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00 .
I choose it because it works from usb, so I don't need to do any wire cuttings and other electrical stuff.

I also re-arranged the plants in the tank. Took out vandas and cattleyas back onto their windowsill and replaced them with my phalaenopsis seedlings, so I could turn off two heat mats that were working 24/7. There they are on the back shelf, I moved the light fixture a bit forward, so no direct light gets on them:



The lights are so strong that large amount of them gets reflected on the area in front of the tank. I put small coffee table there with some other plants:



I also bought one more sheet of egg-crate to cover the left side of the tank, it was missing there.

I am closely monitoring the plants to see any sign of uncomfortable light intensity, but so far none of them displayed any purple color on the leaves, maybe it is to early yet, I don't know...

Orchid tank: lights are here.

Hydrofarm light fixture with four T5 HO bulbs arrived today with UPS. Everything was in place and everything was working. Now plants have lights:



My initial idea of placing the fixture right on the top of lid didn't really work out because plants appeared too close to the light and I could feel the leaves literally getting too warm. So pieces of wood were urgently cut to put between the light box and the tank:



As I suspected - temps in the tank raised to 25C - which is good, but humidity dropped down to 60% - not so good:



I misted the plants pretty heavy with sprayer hoping to raise humidity up a bit, ut don't know if it was such a good idea for phals and if it even is going to help.



Now I need to buy a small humidifier that would fit the tank and keep some moisture in.
Are there any other options?

Orchid tank with plants now

The lighting fixture was shipped on Monday and is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow.
All the plants were re-potted into fresh moss, took me two evenings to complete this task.
They filled up the tank pretty fast:



And I realized that I need couple more such terrariums to fit all my plants in.
Tank keeps 70% humidity and 20C temps without doors, when lights arrive I am hoping the temps will increase from bulbs heat, but humidity might drop, so I will put on the doors then.

I wanted to get the light measuring device too, but was unpleasantly surprised by their prices. I guess my plants would need to go through experimental process of light adjustment.

For air movement I am planning to buy a small desktop fan, but didn't find one that I liked yet.

Orchid tank

I spent almost whole day today creating the layout of my new orchid tank and here is what came out of it:



I used egg crate sheets to make shelves on different levels. Shelves are resting on the glass vases of different height - I have whole bunch of them since I moved my vandas to clay pots. Vases are not as noticeable in real life as came out on pictures.

On the top back shelf I plan to put small cattleyas and vanda seedlings. Rest will be taken by phals. Compots with seedlings can go on the bottom.

My plants can't wait to get into their new home, but we have to wait for lights.

Since this was made originally as a reptile tank - top lid has large 36 inch long cut out filled with steel mesh:



I have ordered 4 ft Hydrofarm designer light fixture that looks like a brown thin box, so I am going to put that box right on the top of my lid.

DIY alternative to Orchidarium

I have ordered Grand Cayman orchidarium in August 2012, now it is January 2013 and I still didn't get it nor have I an idea of possible approximate shipping date.
So I got tired of waiting, cancelled the order and decided to try and do it myself.

First I searched local web for a suitable terrarium and found this glass reptile tank with front sliding doors, sized 60 X 22 X 22 inches.
It is actually one foot wider than orchidarium but almost a foot shorter too. It is not as sleek and professional looking (and judging by picture - needs some cleaning from dust), but might do the job for the price that I paid for it.

It filled the space I intended for orchidarium quite nicely too:



So, this is a start...
And here is the whole process.