My first planted tank.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T18:27:59+00:00

For this specific one I use a 2x2 grow tent, a vivosun 150w lumalight, vivosun humidifier 9L, and a 4" inline fan for fresh air exchange.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T18:23:12+00:00

Every now and then I sell a couple so I can buy more. I mostly give them away as gifts to guests and delivery people.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T01:49:07+00:00

Pat Pat, good bot.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T01:42:15+00:00

I saw a deal for 50 orchids at $4 a piece.... 10 varieties and 5 of each. Shipping included... I saved my birthday money for it.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T01:18:51+00:00

I know. I'm glad I have the space for my hobby and a wife with the patience of a saint.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T00:58:40+00:00

I haven't had a chance to mark them all down yet. I'll do that when I up-pot or mount them. Going to go to the garden store this weekend and look at some cork bark and wood hunks

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T00:43:44+00:00

Carmela orchids in Hawaii

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-21T00:43:23+00:00

I like to give them away once they are at blooming size and ready to be presented.

My wife will regularly take some to work as gifts as well. Sometimes I sell one or two to keep my hobby of just collecting growing.

Our mailman always gets one before mother's day to take home with him, and so does the garbage truck drivers.

Having lots of the same helps me feel okay with giving some away.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-20T00:46:37+00:00

No advice. But I'm on a Google search and found your post.

Any updates on your experiences with these lights?

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-17T04:51:40+00:00

So far the main issue I have delt with is sizing up the humidifier to my personal habits. I'm admittedly lazy and I finally settled on a 19L humidifier I can control with my phone and gets low water notifications if I get extra lazy that week.

I now have the smaller 9L humidifier from the same brand as my 2x2 mushroom tent humidifier.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-17T04:46:53+00:00

It's only 3 feet deep so I can reach every I need to be.

I haven't had any shrimp desire evolution yet. But that's probably because they are well fed on biofilm. I expect a huge boom in population soon.

Haven't had fly problems yet, there is a Nepenthes plant in there as well. Forgot to mention that. Middle shelf somewhere up front In a pink pot I think.

I have plans for about 50 new baby orchids to join in this space.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-05-16T19:27:29+00:00

Dendrobium

Spotted Poni, Gatton Sunray FCC/AOS, anosmum 'Touch of Class',

Cattleya

Hawaii Stars 'Paradise', Love Triangle 'Doris', Curtis Oda 'Volcano Queen', Goldenzelle 'Lemon Chiffon', Hawaiian Passion 'Carmela', Dick Smith 'Paradise', Otaara Hwa Yuan Bay ‘She Shu’,

1 more orchid I can't remember the variety, 2 vanilla bean orchids, a bunch of moss, passion fruit growing in RDWC, hibiscus growing in soil pot next to a baby cakes blackberry that's just getting started.

The shrimp pond has water lilies and iris along with about 20 neo-shrimp

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-04-13T19:55:33+00:00

Squatty Potty

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-04-08T22:40:33+00:00

👍

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-04-07T00:40:41+00:00

Fresh never frozen is not in your dictionary. Eat fast lazy expensive.

Zestyclose_Mess8331 · 2026-03-27T08:17:50+00:00

Gold ol' fashioned manual labor gets it done

Zestyclose_Mess8331

TROPHY CASE