Ventilation for vivariums

[Greg West]

How much ventilation is needed for a rainforest vivarium? You would want some wouldn't you? Also, where can you get live moss from that would eventually cover the substrate floor? What type would I be looking for?

You guys have sparked a bug with me and wanting to set up just a plant vivarium

Greg

[Mark Pepper]

Hi Greg. In the acryllic tanks I have been building I have been putting in 2.5-3" diameter ventilation wholes. This provides adequate air exchange, while keeping the humidity up, which my frogs need.

The amount of ventialtion needed really depends on the size of your setup, and what you are trying to achieve. In One of my vivs that is nearly 5' tall, I have considerable ventilation towards the top, and a small fan to increase circulation. I have some pleurothalid orchids growing up there, and they require more ventilation. there is a humidity gradient in this tank, near ninety at the bottom, and 60-70% at the top. This allows me to grow a greater variety of plants in one tanks.

There is no standard amount of ventilation required, It all depends on what you are looking to produce, just as long as the air is exchanged periodically, or slowly, you shouldnt have too many problems. If you have lots of mold growth continuosly, its usually a sign you need a little more ventilation(its perfectly normal to get a little mold after you first set up the tanks, often this will go away as the tank stabalizes.)

Java moss (which Dilshad had mentioned in another thread) is an aquatic mos that can be trained to grow out of the water and terrestrially.