Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 7/6/2005

Question
Ok, excellent. I have one more question though. As far as terrarium temperatures, what's the ideal minimum and maximums? Sometimes during the day my terrarium can get up into the mid 90s. Is this ok?
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Followup To
Question -
You said you recommend that the plants be 2-3 inches away from the lights. Right now my plants sit about 8-10 inches under my lights, since the fixture sits atop the 10 gallon tank. Will this be ok?

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Followup To
Question -
Thanks for the reply! So just to make sure: I have the two warm light compact flourescents on the bigger tank (along with the cool white tube) and on the smaller tank I have the two Daylight compact flourescents. Right now I'm not mixing and matching the Daylight and the warm white light-This is ok? I just have daylight exclusively on one tank and warm white on the other (with the cool white tube of course). I'd like to keep it that way just because it looks better. Sorry to bother you again but I just want to make absolutely sure this is going to work :) Thanks again!

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Followup To
Question -
I just changed up my terrarium setup by adding another tank and some new light bulbs/tubes. Here's how my setup goes:

The new terrarium I got is a 10 gallon. I also got a new reptile light hood that holds two incandescent bulbs and one flourescent tube (I got this after your suggestion to make my setup less busy, because I had all kinds of weird light configurations shining on my tank! I did completely agree with you, so I made the change). So I got new bulbs to go with this new hood: Two 23 watt (equivalent to 100 watts each) Energy Saving Warm White Light Compact Flourescent bulbs and one 15 watt 24 inch cool white flourescent tube.

The plants that will be grown in the 10 gallon are basically all my sundews I got from you guys (Lance Leaf, Dewthread, Roundleaf, Spoonleaf, Cape, Pygmy) and several plants I rescued from Home Depot (several Venus Flytraps and a Butterwort).


My second terrarium (the old 5 gallon terrarium that I used to have all my plants in) is now being lit by two 19 watt (equivalent to 75 watts each) Daylight compact flourescent bulbs. This tank will now be the home of all my Nepenthes (several that I got from you guys and a few I also rescued from Home Depot).


Now my question is: Will this all this work? Should I mix and match the Daylight and Warm White Light compact bulbs to get balance, or just keep it all the way it is? I know on your website you guys state that you should either grow plants under 40 watts of tubing or 100 watts (equivalent) of compact flourescents, so I'm not sure if you guys mean cool white light, warm white light, or daylight. Is this enough light for my plants? Thanks for all your help in advance!


Answer -
Hi Mitch,

I think your set-up will work just fine.  The reason you  don't see us talking much about the spectral output of the lights is because it isn't as important as the intensity.  Since your  mixing warm white with Daylight, your going to have good spectral balance.  In general flourescent  lights have good spectral balance anyway.  Incadescent lights, howver, have very poor spectral balance, and are always lacking in red and blue light.

Good  Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
Answer -
Hi Mitch,

Your not bothering me.  This is why I'm on all experts.  

Your light set-up will work fine as long as your plants are close enough to the lights.  I would recommend 2-3".  Since carnivores are high-light plants you want the intensity strong.  The cool-white tube with the warm-white compact should work quite well.

One counter example I can give you of where we have used artifical light is with HID lights.  I have one 400w Metal Halide, one 400w High Pressure sodium, and one 1,000w High pressure sodium.  Since sodiums are very orange, you would guess the Metal Halide would have the best plant growth.  Nope.   The 1.000w sodium had the best since it's so bright.  Go for intensity.

Good  Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
Answer -
Hi Mitch,

In a compact space like that you should get lots of reflected light from the sides of the aquarium.  Just observe your plants over a few weeks.  If you are seeing good growth, strong colors, your light levels are good.  If you are seeing weak spindly growth with little color, you need to get them closer to the tubes.

Good  Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

Answer
Hi Mitch,

Sorry it took me awhile to get back to you.  We've been moving.

Depending on what you have in the tank, temperatures around 90 during the day will be fine.  If it seems too warm just increase the ventilation.

Good  Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com