My neighbor's old fish tank

[Phalcycle]

I was wondering if if put my phals in an old fish tank, could I use the light that came with the aquarium, or do I have to buy a new light bulb.
I have never grown plants with aquarium lighing, and don't know if the rays are bad for plants.

[katrina]

I grow a variety of lower light plants in an aquarium. I replace the bulb every year. Given the tank is old...I would say yes, you probably want to replace the bulb.

I use the Life Glow 2 bulbs. A bit better spectrum than the average tank bulbs. Not enough light to bloom a medium light plant well but it works for lower light plants.

[Phalcycle]

Thanks for the reply.
Would the regualr light bulb already attacheted hurt my orchids?

[11Orchid126]

I found my plants did better in the circulating air than in a confined, stuffy aquarium. I also live in zone 6 and have hot air heat.

[katrina]

The old light isn't going to hurt them...it's just most likely not going to be enough light for them. Which, I guess, wouldn't be good for them. Hard for a plant to thrive in sub-par light. At the very least...I would pick up a fresh bulb at HD or something so they are at least getting better light.

11orchid126 brings up a good point. I do have a clip on fan on my aquarium...directed into the fan... so there is a constant gentle air flow circulating.

[Phalcycle]

Okay thanks guys!

I am just trying to recycle the things I find around my house.
I will be off to homedepot to buy some light bulbs, and a regular clip fan would work? Yes?

[katrina]

Clip fan will work perfectly...it's what I have. And starting w/a reg bright white (I think they call them sunlight) fluoro bulb will get you started.

Plus, it looks really cool. I get a lot of compliments on my tank set up.

What type of orchids are you putting in the tank?

[Phalcycle]

I am putting four mini phals.
i was thinking of putting a layer of gravel on the bottom and make a "humidity" tray in the tank.
would that be a good idea or would it be too moist for it?

[katrina]

Phals should do well for you. I have gravel/rocks in the bottom and I do keep water in the bottom of mine. It keeps the humidity up a little...not a lot...but it helps a little.

The only problem w/water in the bottom is that it gets yucky and needs to be removed from time to time. I find it can grow algae if left too long.

[rcb]

When I first started growing the little ones, I used a fish tank as well.

One way to keep the yuck out, is try to find old copper pennies, and put a few in under the rocks. It will slow down the yucky growth a lot. Old ones cause they have more copper on them than the newer ones.

[katrina]

I have never heard of that Renee! Thanks for the tip!

[Phalcycle]

that is a great tip! never heard of it

do you have a covered top or screened top?

[katrina]

No top...I just have the hood strip (w/light) over the top. Nothing else.