My Odd Little Vivarium Project - Micro Mini's

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Since I'm new here I thought I would start off with one of my little projects. Yes, yes there are orchids but you have to wait!

Some general info about the tank, it measures 17 3/4" long X 5 7/8" wide X 6" High. The lighting is from a Current Nova Extreme 18" T5HO strip light. The bulbs I'm using as the saltwater versions as they do not make a freshwater 18" version :((. 1 20W 10K and 1 20W actinic. Nothing in the tank seems to mind the actinic light so I'm keeping it. I think replacing it with another 10K bulb would be too much lighting anyway. No fan as of yet, I'm still trying to figure that part out.

The first few pictures cover the construction of the substrate, as you can quickly see there will be alot more in here than just orchids.

1st Picture - 4 Apr 08 - First I layered down some laterite the red stuff :), the non-orchid plants seem to love this stuff. Then went in a good portion of sphagnum moss in the front area.

2nd Picture - 4 Apr 08 - The next picture I added some pond mud that I've had really good luck with, its an ADA product we got while we were in Japan and I'm hording it :evil:. Its easily the best stuff to grow emersed aquatic plants I've found, but thats for another forum. I put in a thin layer maybe 1/4" over all the non-sphagnum mossed areas.

3rd Picture - 4 Apr 08 - Then I placed the driftwood, some Aquasoil and some more mud. Now we wait while I let the mud dry out and harden up a little and fight some fungus from the excess humidity. You can still see the fungus on one of the driftwood pieces, all the white stuff, its gone now but I'm getting ahead of myself.

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