I don't have an official actual orchidarium although I do practice orchidarium growing.

Personally, I do not think it's a good investment, if you look at the price and functionality of the unit. With 2000 dollars, you could easily create several beautiful wonderful habitats using commonly available materials (and it's much more fun too!) I don't see any special features that warrant this kind of price, besides the luxury of having something ready built without the work.

In terms of tree frogs, I have never heard of anyone using one of these orchidariums for this purpose in my limited time on the various forums. Most people use exoterra terrariums which come with a rock substrate and are designed to be transformed into rain-forest type habitats. Either that, or they design terrariums themselves out of aquariums. To do something like that with one of these 2000 buck things would be a waste, in my opinion, since they seem to be designed for optimal growing rather than aesthetics.

Hope this helps a bit!

-Calvin

I'm with Calvin. My good orchid buddy here bought the one you linked to or just a bit smaller. A lot of her orchids died in that orchidarium because it was too difficult to control the environment - humidity, temps, light, air circulation. The top is fixed, and there's no air flow except from a small fan inside the closed environment.

We kept figuring out ways to make her orchids happier, but all involved significant changes to the orchidarium - taking off the top or drilling big holes in it, for starters.

A few weeks ago, I discovered Exo Terra terrariums/virariums, and we both knew that's what we were heading w/ her orchidarium.

The downside is that retail places don't ship the larger sizes. Fortunately, one of our reptile stores carries the large ones. Maybe a store in your area would special order a larger size for you, if you're interested.

Things I like -

- front-opening case, rather than an aquarium type case that you need to reach down into
- metal screen top that won't rust
- light fixture for the top that still allows air circulation because there are...
- air vents on the front that create circulation between there and the top screen
- option for water dripping down the back panel
- option for a waterfall

Caveat - no one I know has used one of these for orchids, and there are no doubt loads of people who have orchidariums and love them.

Hope this is helpful.

Whitecat8

Here is a link that might be useful: Exo Terra cases

I'm actually adopting two tree frogs and they come with an Exo-terra terrarium. I'm going to try to stick some orchids in there. And maybe some broms! I'll probably end up upgrading their exo-terra to the largest size eventually for all the orchids, ferns and broms I could put in there!

I'm using an Exo-Terra medium for some orchids. I've got C. luteola, Phal stuartiana, Phal equestris, Dossinodes 'Indra's Net', a button fern, Selaginella uncinata and kraussiana, and two mini AVs (though these guys are temporary). They are being lit from above with an 85W CFL, and the top is covered with the doors from the first attempt shipping the Exo-Terra to me... that one was shattered like no one's business. It's very attractive, and I didn't have to build it! Still, I prefer the case I built, and I'm planning on building another one.

{{gwi:154964}}

Hi
If I were you I'd build your own .There are many websites on Vivariums which will give you some ideas. Check out the "Dutch Vivarium sites" They are not only working vivariums but works of art lol.
A terrarium needs a different design than an aquarium though many people use them.
I have a 150 aquarium that leaks and can't be fixed so I'm converting it to a terrarium. Going slowly as it's in the shadehouse outdoors with many problems that "normal " terrariums don't have . So far have put in the background waterfall ,and a few cuttings of plants I think might work. Awaiting the summer heat lol
The trick with orchids would be the type that like constant moisture warmth humidity.
I do maintain a 75 gallon paludarium in the house. personally I find them far more interesting than either aquariums or terrariums. gary

If you choose orchids that require any sort of climate control, i.e., cooler temps, your case will have to be a "closed system." Andy built one for the World Orchid Conference in Miami last year, and it was massive. There was at least a fogger underneath to charge the air, and there may have been a small A/C unit as well. Very impressive!

-Bruce