Terrariums - where to get?

From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1997.11.06 at 17:54:21(1586) An employee in my department will be having a surgical procedure performed this next week. A collection was taken and it came up with approximately $250. (She's obviously well liked.) I've been put in charge of trying to find an appropriate get well gift. She's interested in plants but lives in a small apartment. I thought that a terrarium with built in lighting would be the perfect gift. I could then put in some of the miniature aroids that so many are discussing. I've looked through the web but am finding very little. Can someone in this group help direct me towards a terrarium with built in lighting (decent lighting, not a dim 10 watt lavender "plant light"). In fact, is there such a set up? If not, this might be a golden business opportunity for one of you out there. Les

From: ERTELTJB at ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu on 1997.11.06 at 21:43:46(1589) Lester - Your friend is indeed well liked to warrent such a collection. . . unfortunately, a complete terrarium set-up with good lights (generally on a timer) and such are outrageously pricey. What I would suggest is shopping about a bit to see how prices are on aquariums, and combine that price with a two foot, 4 bulb unit from Lowes or home Depot or the like, along with a pice of thick plexi-glas or regular glass with the edges smoothed or lexan to fit the top of the aquarium. You cold likely get a good sized aquarium (that is, you _could_), a piece for the top, and the light fixture for the money you suggest, and probably have some left over to invest in gravel, soil, etc. You might want to look into building a stand for the light fixture, maybe from PVC pipe material. This would be the route that I would suggest, unless you know a cabinetmaker/carpenter that can build a case for the fixture to go into - that might be another avenue to explore. Good luck with this project - a wonderful gift for your friend. - Jonathan Ertelt

From: IntarsiaCo <IntarsiaCo at aol.com> on 1997.11.07 at 18:41:30(1592) In a message dated 97-11-06 14:04:58 EST, you write: << Can someone in this group help direct me towards a terrarium with built in lighting +More (decent lighting, not a dim 10 watt lavender "plant light"). >> Hi Les; Why not try a fish tank with a gro-lite in the hood. A glazier could cut a piece of plastic or glass for the top. Hope it helps. Mark

From: stacy holtzman <sholtzma at sunflower.bio.indiana.edu> on 1997.11.07 at 21:42:14(1596) >Lester - Your friend is indeed well liked to warrent such a collection. . . >unfortunately, a complete terrarium set-up with good lights (generally >on a timer) and such are outrageously pricey. Could you simply buy the aquarium setup that already includes an aquarium light (in its plastic casing) that fits over the top? It may not be enough light, but for not very much money you can buy another florescent light set that usually fits well along the top of the aquarium. Also, check out a company called Mail Order Pet Shop - they may have the lights you're looking for at a reasonable price. Stacy +More Stacy Holtzman sholtzma@sunflower.bio.indiana.edu --- Biology Dept., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 ---

From: Sue Haffner <sue_haffner at csufresno.edu> on 1997.11.07 at 23:36:24(1598) Slightly off subject, but a friend got a real good deal on some slightly damaged aquariums that a pet store was selling real cheap. While they were not suitable for fish anymore (must have had some subtle leaks), they worked find as plant terrariums. Ask at your pet store. Sue Haffner

From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1997.11.08 at 18:22:52(1599) Well after totally failing to find a pre-fab terrarium with strong lighting, I managed to find a quadruple light fixture for a 36 x 18 tank. The fixture allows a total of 4 twenty watt bulbs. Assuming that the tank I put it on isn't very deep, I predict that 80 watts of lighting will be adequate. It'll just barely come into budget. The fixture alone is running about $170 through a discount aquarium supply house. The full hood will supply the necessary water retention. Now to find appropriate plants in the near freezing November weather. It's too late to ship tropicals, so I'll have to depend on cuttings and local nurseries for plant material. This may be such a great present that I may have to purchase one for myself. Les

From: ERTELTJB at ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu on 1997.11.10 at 21:18:58(1601) Les - Your 4-bulb fixture sounds excellent for the 36x18 tank. My only caution would be that a fixture like that could produce a lot of heat for the plants - for some certainly more than they would prefer. I would offer several suggestions. Even though you wrote suggesting your lack of interest in constructing anything yourself, 4 pieces of 1x3 or 1x4 could easily be put together to form a rectangular "stand," raising the lights up and supported by the aquarium/terrarium walls. This alone would put the heat source further from the plants, and likely still provide enough light for most tropicals you would have in a terrarium that size. Another option would be to get into the fixture and remove the ballast (of course keeping the wiring correct) so that the ballast can be located a bit further away - the ballast being the main heat source with flourescent fixtures. A third alternative whaich was suggested on this or another of the plant list-serves to whichI belong is the possible introduction of one of the small square electronics cooling fans used in computers and such to keep the equiptment cool. This might be difficult to install into this set-up without doing a raised stand i.e. my first suggestion. I recently put one into a large plexi terrarium I have, and I have it hooked into a 24 hour x 1/2 hour increments timer, and it comes on 4 times a day. After some initial adjusting on the part of the plants, I think that all are doing better now, with minimal reduction in humidity levels. +More Good luck, and Good Growing. - Jonathan Ertelt

From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1997.11.11 at 14:49:18(1603) Good point about that heat! I guess I'll have to try it out before I give it to that employee. A mass of boiled aroids might not be the get well present she'd like (although if I pick carefully, they might be tasty). Les

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