FlyTrapCare Forums

So I recently got a 70 gallon tank off of craigslist for 40 bucks so I can grow highland-type plants in it. It's going to go in my basement, so at night I can open the windows a bit to cool off the room and get the nightly temp drop. However, I will be going off to college soon (locally though, so I could occasionally visit and check on the plants I couldn't bring), and my parents do not want to crack the windows every night (which, I suppose is understandable, but I mean, how could you not do anything for Nepenthes?). My mom doesn't want a large device like a room air conditioner to cool them off at night (though I might be able to persuade her, it would be useful during the summer if people want to retreat to the basement to really cool off).

So basically I'm thinking of making a peltier-based cooling system. I am wondering if anyone with experience in making these for vivariums could help me out.

Thanks!

Just get a couple of PC fans, and wire them to a timer. I use a more sophisticated system now with sensors but that will give you the drop easily.

If your temperature at night is something like 75F or higher it'll be extraordinarily unlikely that any amount of PC fans will cool that to the <60F temperatures that real HL'ers need.

Yeah. PC fans won't give you the 10-20 degree drop you really need. I researched this at length a few months ago, and it does seem like there is no perfect solution.

Temps drop to about 65 by themselves. I was wondering if it would work if I insulated the tank around 3 sides. However, would it be a better option to just see if I can use an airconditioner? The main species that I wanted to grow that is less tolerant is N. jacquelineae, however, if I can't work things out I'll probably just get the more tolerant (though much more expensive, for some reason) N. jamban.

Benurmanii wrote:if I can't work things out I'll probably just get the more tolerant (though much more expensive, for some reason) N. jamban.

IME, N. jamban has been very hardy. I don't think my N. jamban's room got below 75 all summer long. Its shelf reaches 98 degrees Fahrenheit.

I took this pic today. I'm looking forward to the day it starts producing upper pitchers. My growlist has pics of how much this plant has grown in 10 months.

Good luck!