Pics of my first terrarium

19 years ago

I posted this on a UK forum. it has some current pics of my first terrerium. I am going to take pics and document the next one I build.

First, it is a 29 gal fish tank. the opening is at the top. I started with the false bottom and the walls. I made the floor of the terrarium a few inches higher than the bottom of the tank.

For the walls, I used foam and spread a mix of peat and a concrete bonder fortifier available at any hardware store. this mixture is spread on and left to dry. It takes about 3 to 4 weeks to dry completely.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134616

I made roots out of mixing mortar with peat and the concrete bonder. I then painted them with 'Patio Paint' available at local arts and craft stores. it's waterproof and comes in many colors.

I have a fish pump that pushes water up from the bottom to a small manifold that 5 small irragation hoses are attatched to. The water drips down the walls keeping them wet at all times.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134614

I made the hood out of some bamboo I had and cutt slits in the top for heat to escape.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134611

The inside of the hood has foil glued to it for reflection. I have 4 compact flourescent lights. i got all the parts for the lights at the local hardware store.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134606

The fan is a computer processer fan I got from a local electrinics store.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134607

The fan is wired to a dimmer switch I also got at the store. I got a plastic box to putit in.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134612

In Europe you are gonna have different power but I needed to get a converter for the fan. this was also purchased at the local electronics store.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134617

I have one open side where the water is visible.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134618

The whole tank.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134615

Inside the tank.

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=4131863&a=30765074&p=69134619

Things I noticed or would do different.

i would make the water reservoir in the tank larger as I add water once a week.

Make sure to locate the fan inside. I had the fan blowing outside air in and I would have to add water daily. i changed it and only add water about once a week.

Spray foam works great for making structures as well. Wait till it dries and carve it.

The next one I build this winter will be huge. I am really looking forward to it as it will be 90% orchids.

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Comments (15)

rodzuf
19 years ago
Looks great love the roots you made they look really realistic.
sahoyaref
19 years ago
coming along nicely! I really like the episcas. Do you know the name of the pink-leaved variety?

I also looked at the other pics. Great orchids! You really do have a talent for growing them! And nice backyard, too! I'd LOVE a greenhouse. Are arucanas some kind of fancy chicken? Why do you have pics of them? Do you raise them?
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Hi IME it is difficult to get the sand to adhere evenly or thick enough to disguise the foam Color choices are limited and of course some types of sand will release lime. have tried it with fracted glass,crushed garnet and Lapis. Were expensive and short lived. Coir ,peat,and crushed tree fern will work but I find it's not deep enough to plant and retains way too much water. Paint was the best all around solution. Obviously you can glue other materials to this. One tip. You'll find it's really tough painting inside a glass box ,particularly the corners where the foam is visible from both sides Black jungle uses silicone and puts the foam on top of this. I make jigs and form the foam outside the box , Then you can carve ,paint glue or whatever in a comfortable chair. Then silicone the pieces into position within the tank. Another thing about this method With a putty knife and some care you can remove sections at anytime and then put them back. Really nice with a plant that keeps falling off. gary
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$25 is a good price for a 10 gal with a light hood. Here they are $35. And if the space for the lights is big enough, you should be able to just put screw-in compact fluorescents in there, which are great for plant growth. Less heat, more light. WAY more light. Make sure you get cool whites or Daylight spectrum. Home Depot has them. So first decide if you will be happy with another 10 gal. If you will be, then go buy the bulbs (they are the coiled ones. You can just screw them into a regular incandescent fixture) and see if they fit. If they don't fit, return the tank and bulbs, and save your money for a bigger tank! I agree with MrB about the tillandsias. I would love that many tillandsias. . . I think my husband would be a bit upset at me though. =) Not being able to see out of the windows because of all the plants hanging in the way, that kind of thing. . .
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ladybug_guam
19 years ago
WOW! Mike! That's one h**l of a terrarium, specially all the work you put into it!
Congratulations!
Can't wait to see the huge one you'll make!
Where did you get the fan for it?
Ana :)
ladybug_guam
19 years ago
OOPS! Never mind, Mike, I saw the name on it.... duhhh! I wrote to them to see if they ship to Guam, better than hunt for it here :)
Did you see mine? Is the same size as yours, not finished yet, waiting for the lights, have some now but they are a mixed bag, one white hoood, 2 blacks, so I ordered just one hood with 3 fluorescent lights, same size as the tank, and I can add another one if needed. How many watts are your lights?
Ana :)
Persistence
Original Author
19 years ago
The lights are compact flourescents. They put out more wattage than regular lights. I will have to look at the package. it's also not the wattage but the kelvin rating(I think it's kelvin) it rates how much the light is like daylight.

I got the fan at Radio shack along with all the other parts. You could easily get one from an old computer or any computer store.

LOL I took the chicken pics for my sister to show her what the Arucana look like. They are the ones that lay light blue and green eggs. We are first time chicken owners. thought it would be fun. They eat the bugs in the yard, I compost the poop and we get eggs. All are hens, no roosters.

I have no clue what the names of the episcas are. Komi gave them to me so she would know. I am not one for tropicals and I think they will be the only tropical besides ferns in the next terrarium.
komi
19 years ago
Sahoyaref - I sent you mail.
sahoyaref
19 years ago
Thanks, I got it! Wrote you back too. =)
mrbreeze
19 years ago
All i got was spam... :( but Mike's terrarium is cool !!!
komi
19 years ago
ooohhh Mr. B - are you volunteering to take some gesneriads??
mrbreeze
19 years ago
no I was just whining cuz I never get any fancy fun emails from anyone cool...

but now that you mention it...no wait...i have no room for plants!!! I mean....i don't have a LOT of room...no wait...I have NO ROOM!!!! NONE!!!! well maybe a little bit...

what's a gesneriad? do I like them? must i have them?
sahoyaref
19 years ago
Gesneriads are a family of plants that includes african violets, episcas, sinningias, gloxinias, kohleras, chiritas, petrocosmeas, streptocarpus, etc. The good news for you, Mr. B, is that these plants are generally quite small, and take up little space! They also need less light than orchids (in general). And yes, you must have at least a couple! =) They are very enjoyable plants that flower more than orchids, are easier to take care of, and are cheaper. And especially the episcas have very nice foliage. Petrocosmeas are so symmetrical it will blow your mind! Check out the 'Melanie' Streptocarpus pic at the link below. I'm in love!

Here is a link that might be useful: Strep. pics
komi
19 years ago
...and if you decide you want a few (say, like the micro mini sinningias that might get as big as a quarter when mature... or some episcias or something), email me. Or, I could forward you a joke sent from a GWer's SIL....

but by all means, stay the hell away from gessies - they have a way of taking over.

For sahoy... I have a young strep from seed - with seed pods... (it'll be a 1-2 months until they mature) lmk:
{{gwi:1271230}}
{{gwi:1271232}}
Persistence
Original Author
19 years ago
That's not an orchid!!!!! No wonder your orchids are ailing. You are spending too much time with the lower class plants!!!!
sahoyaref
19 years ago
That is gorgeous, Komi! I have a gesneriad dealer near me who just this year got some of the famous Dibley streps, and my oh my, almost nothing will stop me from ordering some next year! They are just amazing! And yes, gessies are addictive, but I wasn't going to tell Mr. B that. =) I was going to let him find out all by himself. . . heh, heh. . . =)
komi
19 years ago
slander! how could you, Mike? My orchids are doing very well, thank you. (Well, most of 'em are.)

No, to clarify for Mr. B... gessies are not addictive. They are just a million times better at propagating themselves.

I'm gonna continue shamelessly hawking them off.

Pics of my first terrarium

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Pics of my first terrarium

Comments (15)

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