Hello All,
I'm new here and new to CP's.
I had vft's as a kid and killed them all.
I've played around with phal. orchids alot and finally figured out how to grow them for my windowsill conditions. I also keep and breed freshwater tropical fish. Right now I have over 20 tanks focused on various species of swordtails -- montezumae, nezahualcoyotl (spotted and unspotted), signum, clemencae and a black hi fin lyretail breeding program. I also have 2 species of killifish -- blue gularis and Fun. arnoldi; a West African dwarf cichlid Pelviachromis taeniatus Moliwe; veiltail mollies crossing with wild sailfin mollies and a neat little livebearer (the size of guppies) from Brazil called Phalloceros caudimaculatus reticulatus. Killifish have always been my first love and I have raised many many species -- especially the peat moss spawning South American annual ones.
Anyway, I started getting interested in CP's this year. I stumbled on the pft site and thought it was great. I checked out these forums and everyone seemed especially friendly, helpful and knowledgable. Then a guy I work with showed me his 125 gallon CP tank. That did it. I have a bunch of old tanks in my garage and one real old metal framed (stainless steel style from the 1960's) 55 gallon slate bottom tank just called out to be a terrarium.
So, I brought it into the living room. I put a single 40 watt 48" aquarium light on it along with one of the new triple bulb 40 watts each 48" aquarium lights. The triple bulb fixtures are neat. They look good, don't take up alot of room and have electronic ballists so they are light weight.
So, that is where I am at. What else should I get? A max/min thermometer? A humidity tester?
I am planning on keeping the plants in pots in trays for those who need the tray method. I mainly want different types of VFT's, lowland Nepenthes and a sundew or two.
For air cirrulation, I noticed someone had a jar of water and an airstone in it bubbling. Would that be good for humidity and air cirrulation? I have an inch opening all along the back of the sheet of glass on top. I could add a strip of plastic like on an aquarium glasscover but I thought the open part might be good for cirrulation. I would like to avoid a fan. My house stays at around 50% humidity, sometimes more, rarely lower.
My bulbs will be a Coralife 10,000K and 3 GE Aqua Ray aquarium/plant bulbs. OK?
Should I cover the sides of the tank with white reflection material or could I put the cork slabs on them for hanging plants and to look cool?
VFT's need the water trays but I take it Nepenthes do not?
Also would VFT's do ok in a south window with bright sun without a terrarium or even outdoors in a small bog? I live in Houston. What about standard American pitcher plants -- also ok outside in Houston?
Sorry for all the questions. I am reading SAVAGE GARDEN and I have been lurking here all week so I had a chance to really think about what I wanted to ask. Thanks ahead of time for your help and ideas. (I can answer fish questions
.)
Bobby Ellermann
I'm new here and new to CP's.
Anyway, I started getting interested in CP's this year. I stumbled on the pft site and thought it was great. I checked out these forums and everyone seemed especially friendly, helpful and knowledgable. Then a guy I work with showed me his 125 gallon CP tank. That did it. I have a bunch of old tanks in my garage and one real old metal framed (stainless steel style from the 1960's) 55 gallon slate bottom tank just called out to be a terrarium.
So, I brought it into the living room. I put a single 40 watt 48" aquarium light on it along with one of the new triple bulb 40 watts each 48" aquarium lights. The triple bulb fixtures are neat. They look good, don't take up alot of room and have electronic ballists so they are light weight.
So, that is where I am at. What else should I get? A max/min thermometer? A humidity tester?
I am planning on keeping the plants in pots in trays for those who need the tray method. I mainly want different types of VFT's, lowland Nepenthes and a sundew or two.
For air cirrulation, I noticed someone had a jar of water and an airstone in it bubbling. Would that be good for humidity and air cirrulation? I have an inch opening all along the back of the sheet of glass on top. I could add a strip of plastic like on an aquarium glasscover but I thought the open part might be good for cirrulation. I would like to avoid a fan. My house stays at around 50% humidity, sometimes more, rarely lower.
My bulbs will be a Coralife 10,000K and 3 GE Aqua Ray aquarium/plant bulbs. OK?
Should I cover the sides of the tank with white reflection material or could I put the cork slabs on them for hanging plants and to look cool?
VFT's need the water trays but I take it Nepenthes do not?
Also would VFT's do ok in a south window with bright sun without a terrarium or even outdoors in a small bog? I live in Houston. What about standard American pitcher plants -- also ok outside in Houston?
Sorry for all the questions. I am reading SAVAGE GARDEN and I have been lurking here all week so I had a chance to really think about what I wanted to ask. Thanks ahead of time for your help and ideas. (I can answer fish questions
Bobby Ellermann