If youre case is 4' tall, you could put bricks in the bottom to
support the eggcrate grid described earlier, fill with water to
the grid, and submerge the heater (make sure it says
"submersible" on the box), which will raise temps and humidity.
Or you could do what I did and put in a tall, straight-sided
vase of water, and submerge the heater in that In either case
keep a close eye on the rate of evaporation, as the heater will
crack and be a fire hazard if the water evaporates.
I've also wanted to experiment with a small solar powered fan for air
circulation under the growlights, but have never tried it.
>>
>>
>>2. The Max side of my min/max thermometer says the Max reaches ~95 F.
>>This is a bit too high, I think. I suspect it should reach about 90 F
>>tops. I suspect the temperature stays there for maybe an hour. I
>>have cut flaps into the case to alow the heat to rise out. But, in
>>doing so, I lose lots of humidity. Is there a good way to allow
>>ventillation and maintain humidity. What do those of you who use
>>Terrariums and Sunlight do.
Hmmm. I never had a min/max in my terrarium, so I don't know the
highs and lows, but whenever I checked the regular therm. in there
it was a low of 70 and a high of 80.
>>
>>
>>3. In an unrelated question, I am trying to set up my growlight system
>>for my baby N.Rajah. I purchased a duel bulb flourescent system which
>>I fear is way underpowered. It uses 2 15-watt bulbs. The whole setup
>>is a in a white reflective cube. It receives no sunlight. At about
>>two inches from the bulbs, I read about 500 ft/candles. Pietropaulo
>>recommends 1000-1500 ft/candles. Am I grossly under lighting the
>>plant? It is
I'd say so. 15 watt bulbs aren't that great IMHO, and will only
work if you have supplementary sunlight.
>>a tiny plant (almost could be regarded as an older seedling?) Will a
>>two tube 40watt assembly give me what I want? Also, I read in the
>>archives that there is a problem with heat from flouresent bulbs. An
>>Orchid book I read said that there is no problem whatsover with the
>>bulbs even touching the plant. Have people had drying out problems
>>with Flourescent tubes?
Make no mistake, the tubes can burn the plants. I have charred
leaf at home which proves it. However, that was touching the leaf.
If you leave a couple of inches you should be fine.
R.