The first set of falls, pump is underneath this waterfall. To the right is the large bromeliad, and above is wild-collected epiphytic ball moss, a type of tilandsia.
The same area of the terrarium, from farther back.
The stream that cuts through the Upper Terrace of the land section. This is the stream bed that came with the Viquarium kit, but I have siliconed rocks, gravel, and other things to it to make it look more natural. This view is looking downstream from the first falls towards the second falls. Bromeliad, fern, fittonia, and jewel orchid on the left, and in the right foreground, a cryptanthus, moss, and selaginella.
Full view of the upper terrace.
The upper terrace from above, looking in.
The lower terrace of the terrarium. In front is the aquatic portion, which is less than 1 inch of water. The shoreline is a piece of cypress driftwood. Plants in this section include java fern, mondo grass, and water fern (which isnt doing too well). On the back is the lower, boggier (not wet) terrestrial portion, where I am trying some lucky bamboo, a dracaena, another cryptanthus, another jewel orchid, and some ficus pumilla. Moss is also doing really well here. I have some cuttings of the European lipstick plant and some Rabbit's Foot Fern rooting here as well. I have also included an aquarium-safe Greek temple ruins, just to fill in space and give the terrarium a "theme."
This is the lower terrace as viewed from the outside. I dont know what type of plant that is in the foreground, but it is LOVING the environment in the terrarium. You can also see the second set of waterfalls, leading from the stream to the aquatic portion.
The second waterfalls, leading from the stream and trickling into the aquatic portion.
The terrarium from just right of center, the second falls are located in the center foreground.
Closeup of the stream just above the second falls (not visible), looking upstream toward the first falls.
Overview of the lower terrace, the second falls, and the aquatic portion.
Fog is generated by an ultrasonic humidifier bought at Wal-mart. I have attached a 3/8" airline tube from a petstore to the humidifier outlet, sealed it up, and piped it up into the terrarium where it drops its cool fog safely into the tank.
The fog rolls down off the upper terrace into the aquatic portion by following the stream bed and cascading down the second falls, which gives it a great visual effect. I look forward to the fog every 8 hours!
The lower terrace and the Greek temple in the ever-thickening fog.
The removable screen frame I fashioned in response to the unique shape of the terrarium. I used balsa wood to create a frame, then nailed window screening into it, which I then covered with craft sticks to make it look better, and on top of those I have put plastic sheeting over the wide middle section to help keep humidity up.
The humidity is a constant 80%-90% in the upper right hand corner of the tank, far from ground level and near the bright lights. I suspect it is higher near the ground due to evaporation and transpiration. I have seen the humidity as high as 95%, but this caused lots of condensation on the glass, and I would rather have a clear view of the terrarium with lower humidity. The temperature is a constant 80-82 degrees Farenheit all day and all night.