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Fungus and Mould The most functional solution to avoid humidity excess and moulds, is to create a moderate air flow from the bottom to the top, this prevents humidity excesses and stagnant air, two main causes of plants disease. CPUs fans are unusable for Terrarium because a contraindication as too much intense air flow that could dry up some parts of plants, evaporating water might cool plants that may suffer, CPUs fans are not designed for working at high humidity levels and often sprinkle oil and lubricating substances. But if you are intentioned to use a fan, buy an hi-quality one. A way to generate an almost natural air flow is exploiting the "chimney effect". How it works. Hot air and tends to flow toward the rear aperture causing a pressure reduction in the lower layers establishing a continuous air flow. Building a Terrarium using the above system it's easy. The draw below shows as build a tank suitable as terrarium: In figure there are not shown: - The main cover. It can be an aluminium sheet with
proper mounting. Please note that are 6 holes. Three in side "B" and three in
side "E". These holes and the opening between "A" and
"G" allow air to circulate. How does it work? Fluorescent or discharge
lamps placed below the hat heats air,
hot air tends to flow out the opening between "A" and "G" and new cold air
flows from
the below holes. During the night, when lights are switched off, cool and wet air will lay on the peat simulating the nights in the wild. As the Terrarium starts to work it may produce a bit of fungus or mold that will disappear after a few treatment with very light fungicide. Good rule for outdoors Terrarium is to cultivate live Sphagnum due to its antibiotic and antiseptic properties. If you want to start with a commercial fish tank you may be in trouble due to high humidity level. Water could condensate on the internal windows causing harmful effect for most of plants. A solution is asking to a glassworker to lower 10-12 cm from the top one of the main windows as shown below:
This is the best solution for building a Tropical Terrarium .
Watering System On the bottom of the tank there is a sort of "mezzanine" drilled of small holes, it lays on plastic wedges, a bed of inert material as perlite sparates cultivating medium by mezzanine hence by water. See picture below: Yellow
circles are the plastic wedges which serves as support. A pump provides to create a water
flow. You'll have to shape mezzanine creating an opening protected by walls able to hold pumps without
letting peat to fall into water, hidden pipes brings water from the well
to the opposite corner through a bigger hole drilled in the mezzanine. Waterfalls are made using acquarium logs. This particular wood it's very strong and if properly treated never cause problems as rottenness, fungus, mould. To prepare woods, first put in a basin with tap water for several days changing water every 12h, you'll se water became tea like. When logs won't dirty water, put them into boiling water for a few minutes, this should destroy mould spores. Therefore choose the position into the Terrarium. To increase water oxygenation it is possible to recreate artificial waterfalls or water dripping through woods. Finally cover all pipes with growing medium. In any case don't forget to sprinkle water from overhead at least every 20-30 days.
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