New Highland nepenthes setup ideas?

[KaptainKraken]

I currently have A highland nepenthes setup of a simple ac and grow tent. But I'm soon going to a smaller living space and a grow tent will no longer be possible. I was wondering what my options are. I tried an aquarium chiller and they are stupidly expensive and the active aqua chiller I bought new for a still very steep price was way too loud

. What options I have left

. I feel like chest freezers were too risky as they can malfunction and wipe out your collection. Not sure if Peltiers are a good idea but their inefficiency means Id end up with a very small setup. My last option that I know of is a wine cooler which seems like a good idea as people had turned them into orchidariums: https://www.orchidsforum.com/threads/wi ... ids.17741/
https://www.orchidweb.com/blog/learn-ab ... hidariums/

 

[adnedarn]

Any device can malfunction and cause a problem, you need to put redundancies in and maybe monitoring devices to catch the problem. Freezers are really not all that different than a wine cooler device other than the controller making it cool instead of freezing and more insulation. I guess the cooling device may be smaller making it harder for it to ultimately get down to freezing temps but I wouldn't rule it out. Peltier don't work for this unless it's really, really small and very insulated.

 

[KaptainKraken]

Any device can malfunction and cause a problem, you need to put redundancies in and maybe monitoring devices to catch the problem. Freezers are really not all that different than a wine cooler device other than the controller making it cool instead of freezing and more insulation. I guess the cooling device may be smaller making it harder for it to ultimately get down to freezing temps but I wouldn't rule it out. Peltier don't work for this unless it's really, really small and very insulated.

I was thinking the wine cooler setup as it keeps my plants visible and you can easily find used ones for a fair price. I'm considering a fair size one for 75-50$ just wondering how to install the lights. my whole malfunction was worry was lights or get stick on and cook your plants. that was my concern but a temperature emergency off switch would be great for piece of mind. if you have any more advice please let me know.

 

[adnedarn]

I think I've seen people do vertical strips before for taller/Vining plants. That was a while ago and I don't remember their consensus on it though. I know a few people using this brand, I just gotnsome, which are available in different colors and lengths. https://amzn.to/3Y02xNn

 

[Vbkid]

How much of an area do you think that 8 pack might be able to provide for?

 

[adnedarn]

I just linked the 1' long ones so it could make 8' total. But there are other lengths as well.

 

[grisha218]

I've been growing my heliamphoras and I just aquaried a nepenthes lowii by just tossing frozen water bottles into a plastic container they are in and closing it at night time.. I get it down to 55 in there, heliamphoras aren't as demanding as some highland neps are tho...

 

[rotorhead808]

You could try a terrarium using a car refrigerator and a water cooled evaporator for pc’s to cool it.that’s the setup I use on my 40 gal terrarium and it get it down to 50 at night an holds it at about 53.If you want details I’m more than happy to provide them!I did a lot of research and figured this set up would be the best and smallest size

 

[grisha218]

You could try a terrarium using a car refrigerator and a water cooled evaporator for pc’s to cool it.that’s the setup I use on my 40 gal terrarium and it get it down to 50 at night an holds it at about 53.If you want details I’m more than happy to provide them!I did a lot of research and figured this set up would be the best and smallest size

Hey cam you share your setup? I need to switch soonish as some of my highland neps are vining and using icepacks doesn't get the leaves below 63 the bottom stays 49/50 the whole night though

 

[rotorhead808]

Hey cam you share your setup? I need to switch soonish as some of my highland neps are vining and using icepacks doesn't get the leaves below 63 the bottom stays 49/50 the whole night though

I got a vevor c7 12v car cooler and filled it with water.drilled 2 holes for the 2 water lines on the lid.I got a small 12v water pump piped it to a pc radiator with built in fans.I insulated the water lines with foam insulation tubing.I set the temp to 36 degrees and most of the water freezes. enough stays liquid to allow pumping and it slowly melts then starts over the next day.took a little bit of tuning but nothing to crazy.one thing that is important is insulating the glass with a blanket at night or like I did just add a thin silver bubble wrap on the back.glass is a terrible insulator and a lot of cooling can be lost through it.Ile be putting a back round on the the tank to drop PPFD and make it look better.I have a 50 gallon aquarium so it could easily be scaled for something larger.larger set up would probably just need a larger cooler and radiator.I will post pictures in the morning hope this helps!

 

[KaptainKraken]

I got a vevor c7 12v car cooler and filled it with water.drilled 2 holes for the 2 water lines on the lid.I got a small 12v water pump piped it to a pc radiator with built in fans.I insulated the water lines with foam insulation tubing.I set the temp to 36 degrees and most of the water freezes. enough stays liquid to allow pumping and it slowly melts then starts over the next day.took a little bit of tuning but nothing to crazy.one thing that is important is insulating the glass with a blanket at night or like I did just add a thin silver bubble wrap on the back.glass is a terrible insulator and a lot of cooling can be lost through it.Ile be putting a back round on the the tank to drop PPFD and make it look better.I have a 50 gallon aquarium so it could easily be scaled for something larger.larger set up would probably just need a larger cooler and radiator.I will post pictures in the morning hope this helps!

just took a look at this after forgeting about this *facepalm* your setup description sounds interesting if you could provide links and photos would be much apprecieated if you see this.

 

[WannabeWoodsman]

I'm really behind the times if LEDs are used now. I remember when fluorescent lights (shop lights) were used