Considering buying a Zoo Med Naturalistic Terarium

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I am thinking about buying a Zoo Med Naturalistic Terrarium 12x12x18 or 18x18x24 for a collection of cool tolerant/intermediate mini orchids. I had originally thought I'd buy an exo-terra, but they are way expensive in comparison!

Does anyone see any downsides to using a Zoo Med Naturalistic Terrarium for orchids?

When I looked at it, the top was a screen mesh so I'm guessing based upon what I've been reading that I would need to remove the mesh and put glass or something similar on the top to hold in humidity.

The other issue I see is how do I get air movement if the top is covered? I'm hoping to maintain the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees in there and I'm not sure how to do that. I am currently using the smallest computer fan I could find for a 3 gallon tank which does have great airflow for that tank, but it probably would not be enough for a larger tank.

In relation to the last question, where are you supposed to put the fans?

Also, I do not have the slightest clue how I would custom build a mountain/forest type backwall for this. Any how to website information would be greatly appreciated. I need the terrarium to be as light as possible though.

I currently have an exo-terra fogger that I would put the hose on the top and let the fog roll down from the top. I am not currently thinking I would have a water feature, but that might change as I know bodies of water increase RH.

Has anyone used those computer cooling pads to cool a terrarium with any success? What about a tank the size I'm considering?


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[MartinM]

Size and placement of fans depends on how much air movement you need. I have a largish paludarium for which I use two 80mm 12v computer fans which run for 4 half-hour periods in twenty-four hours. The picture below, which is of the canopy-part of the paludarium half-way through a rebuild, shows how I did my fan placement.


The bright bar at the top of the photo is from my fluorescent shop lights, which are shining down through the cover glass. However, the entire "ceiling" is not glass. If you look carefully at each side of the photo, you can see window-screen panels that run from front to back, forming the ceiling at each end of the canopy. I merely place the computer fans anywhere on these screens and let them blow downwards through the screen. Mostly I keep them toward the front because this helps keep condensation off the front wall. If I needed more air movement I could put more fans on the screen panels, or I could leave them running longer.

It's a good idea to have more than one screened opening, or elongated openings, to favor cross ventilation. Also, to keep front panels clear, it helps to have openings top and bottom. I may someday modify my front panels to allow this.

Hope this helps.

Martin