How to build a highland terrarium

[kentosaurs]

Boo!!! Coolers

Go!!!! Ice bottles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well i measured the temp of 2ice bottles in an odinary stylofoam size boxed and leave it about a little less than half open and it stays at 18C the whole night but if i add in 1 more bottle it goes down to 14C the whole night....All the bottles are 500ml..

Ken

[kltower]

Cpnut,

My way means the water stays clear from the plants and pots. That way the water remains clean without filtering - maybe algae will not grow since there are no nutrient.

The water flowing down the walls has two faults:
1) The water will get dirty through the contact of pots and media.
2) Believe me your plants can get pretty wet. I used to have a small terrarium filled with an inch of water. The plants sit on those grated plastic (used for under gravel filter). I have an ultrasonic mist generator (UMG) to generate mist. The plants close to the UMG got really wet from the spills.

Highlanders like wet environment. If you have stayed at Cameron Highlands/Genting Highlands, you will notice the grass are very wet in the morning. In the highlands you also have rain a few times a day. And if the rain don't provide the high humidity, the mist does.

KC,
The volume of water needed chilling is small. So a lower temperature can be achieved.

Choong

[edwardyeeks]

I find that a HL terrarium like yours, Choong is a little too expensive for me. However, I must say that it looks efficient and good. Too bad my parents doesn't like me to INCREASE the electric bill no matter whatever.

Ken, perlite can be acquired from Ace Hardware stores. The other day, I was asking David where to buy peat moss and perlite. You can go to Ikano Power Center or Mid Valley to find the Ace Hardware shop. I am going to mid valley this sunday.

Cheers

[kentosaurs]

Ikano power centre also can get????? What does the shop look like???? Orange board???? So what do they call it??? Just ask for perlite?

Ken

[Aliamyz]

As far as i know,HL neps likes a lot of humidity.Almst above 70% for all.But if you are having problem increasing the temperature,then the humidity must be very high for the plants to do well.

As what Edward said,you can grow the plant in a styrofoam box when it's small but thuink about what will happen if the plant get bigger so that's why id on't want an aquarium or any other small things to become a terrarium for my plants.

I took the drink fridge from my dad's shop and now waiting for the plants to arrive.
This fridge is 3 door so it's very big and good for my large growing species..etc; rajah.

[edwardyeeks]

Not, bad, Ali! I hope it will work.......

The name of the shop is Ace Hardware, kenneth. You will have to go to the gardening section.

I spray mist my ceph and (Secret Nepenthes) 4 times everyday. 2 times ice water and 2 times normal water. Plus I have water in the bucket which will increase humidity.

Cheers

[edwardyeeks]

Here's how my setup looks like.



In the nightime, I put two ice bottles next to both my CPs.

If there are any comments, I would gladly accept it!

Cheers

[NepNut]

Choong,

You have a point there, the algae problem is also my first concern. Using your method, even the water has no contact with the inner tank, I think algae will still develop if the light source is strong enough, I think it's just a matter of time before you have to add filter and/or start scraping the glass walls... Algae will develop no matter what, provided there's a bright light source (unless the water is sterile and have no contact with air), I also got some experience from planted tank before.

Since we're discussing this topic, how about using a mini bar fridge to cool the terrarium? Electric bill will probabaly not be too expensive or will it?

Ken & Edward,
The cooler box method will work for short term, but can you guys keep on doing this for years to come?? Day after day? What would you do when the collectons and plants got bigger? So soonner or later, if you plan to grow HL neps, you'll need a chilled terrarium... .

[edwardyeeks]

I have personal plans with my family, which will solve all problems should my plants grow as big as a rajah or elephant.

Cheers

[kentosaurs]

Hi Edward

Thanks for the help on the store.............And also Ali wish you all the luck with ur fridge.......Excited on the new nep.....I guessed some of them already if i got it right please tell me hahaha (i'll keep the secret don't worry heheh)

Hi Cpnut

Well yeah stuff like this will work for max a couple of years maybe 2? There are some ideads from other forums which are more space conserving and can definitly keep a nep for almost forever.....Just that you need to cut it down every 4-5years??? Its by a guy name CarnivorousNoob check out his terrarium......

Heres the link to the page
http://pitcherplants.proboards34.com...ay&thread=6849

Ken