summoner12
Avid Member
I am confused... how are you supplementing UVB and UVB right now? with lights in the house? or I am confused.
Greenhouses
- Thread starter Motherlode Chameleon
- Start date
I am confused... how are you supplementing UVB and UVB right now? with lights in the house? or I am confused.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
During the move before the greenhouse had water, electric or gas installed I had a couple of big cages inside the house with Zoo Med 10.0 bulbs plus large ficus's for them to free range. Now that the greenhouse is going I can just put Zoo Med bulbs over the cages in the greenhouse until I work out something with the Metal Halide.
As there is no doubt that natural sunlight is the best source of UV rays for chameleons I have a couple of outdoor sun cage that I can move the chameleons into on a nice day.
As there is no doubt that natural sunlight is the best source of UV rays for chameleons I have a couple of outdoor sun cage that I can move the chameleons into on a nice day.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Looks like moving off the ranch may have some pluses for the greenhouse. No more awesome grasshopper collecting during the summer like I would find on the ranch. However, the greenhouse originally on the ranch was on well water and the new location is on city water that has some chlorine. I think it is going to reduce the build up of algae on the sides of the greenhouse which is something I'm looking forward to.
laurie
Retired Moderator
Where did you move to? You were in a perfect place, so moving must have been awful.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
We only moved about two miles away except the fields where I did most of my collecting on are now horse pastures and do not have nearly as many grasshoppers.
I just checked on the chameleons and it is a gorgeous day out and everyone is sunbathing in the greenhouse. I'm going to move my panthers to my outdoor sun cages.
I just checked on the chameleons and it is a gorgeous day out and everyone is sunbathing in the greenhouse. I'm going to move my panthers to my outdoor sun cages.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
Looks like I have got an answer about a consideration that I thought may be a problem about moving off the Family Ranch. The chameleons have adjusted to drinking water from the tap instead of well water that naturally was high in calcium and had no chlorine. Actually there is a bonus of a bit of chlorine in the tap water, it is preventing the growth of algae from the regular misting on the greenhouse skin which is a huge plus.
summoner12
Avid Member
I am glad you are off the well water. Ya never know what will be in well water.
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
We actually used to have the water from the well tested to check the chemistry every couple years or if we noticed something strange.
A good note though the well water was high in calcium which was good for preventing mbd and providing good bone growth for chameleons.
A good note though the well water was high in calcium which was good for preventing mbd and providing good bone growth for chameleons.
summoner12
Avid Member
What levels of calcium did you have? Do you have a comparison to the levels in your tap water?
Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
We had pretty high levels of calcium enough that it was a problem for the plumbing on faucets and water pipes at the ranch house. I think in the main house that we had to use a water softener for the house water pipes. I could try to find the paper work that actually had the numbered levels. Its not going to be this weekend though. I had to constantly check the misting heads for calcium and algae build up.
summoner12
Avid Member
yeah, whenever you find the paperwork, it would be interesting to see what the numbers were.
laurie
Retired Moderator
Do you have any idea how extreme temps the greenhouse can withstand and how about weight from snow? I would need to do some research on just how much of the year I could have my chameleons in the greenhouse to see if it makes sense for me to even consider. Wow it would be nice to have.
chamelisa
New Member
Laurie,
A lot of people make greenhouses on a tight budget and most wouldn't hold any amount of snow. If you are seriously considering building a greenhouse at some point, then you should consider something of this quality (http://www.hartley-greenhouses.com/) and just have some of the panels replaced with Solacryl. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference because it looks like glass.
During the darker months, you can use UVB lighting in shop lights.
I have considered this scenario many times in the event we ever had to move. The deal is, if we have to move to another state, I won't go until the greenhouse is built. And I mean one of those fine glass houses!
A lot of people make greenhouses on a tight budget and most wouldn't hold any amount of snow. If you are seriously considering building a greenhouse at some point, then you should consider something of this quality (http://www.hartley-greenhouses.com/) and just have some of the panels replaced with Solacryl. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference because it looks like glass.
During the darker months, you can use UVB lighting in shop lights.
I have considered this scenario many times in the event we ever had to move. The deal is, if we have to move to another state, I won't go until the greenhouse is built. And I mean one of those fine glass houses!
laurie
Retired Moderator
Laurie,
A lot of people make greenhouses on a tight budget and most wouldn't hold any amount of snow. If you are seriously considering building a greenhouse at some point, then you should consider something of this quality (http://www.hartley-greenhouses.com/) and just have some of the panels replaced with Solacryl. You wouldn't be able to tell the difference because it looks like glass.
During the darker months, you can use UVB lighting in shop lights.
I have considered this scenario many times in the event we ever had to move. The deal is, if we have to move to another state, I won't go until the greenhouse is built. And I mean one of those fine glass houses!
Elisa I think my hubby is out cold on the floor! He saw those greenhouses and started giving me reasons not to have one before I even had time to look. Never did see a price. Does that mean if I have to ask I can't afford it? Those are the most beautiful greenhouses I have ever seen. That will take some thinking and pricing before I TRY to talk hubby into it.
chamelisa
New Member
Look at it this way, a greenhouse like that can be used to grow herbs and flowers all year round. It is a great way to keep you happy and busy when the weather is cold and dreary.
I am in my greenhouse half of the day every day because of the chameleons. But I also love to garden and love all kinds of plants. If I lived where you live, I wouldn't survive without one. It's nothing to jump into and it's a huge investment. But I can actually see you doing this. Then YOU would have the greenhouse to die for!
I am in my greenhouse half of the day every day because of the chameleons. But I also love to garden and love all kinds of plants. If I lived where you live, I wouldn't survive without one.
It's nothing to jump into and it's a huge investment. But I can actually see you doing this. Then YOU would have the greenhouse to die for! 
DGray
Avid Member
Greenhouse resources
Laurie, having a greenhouse in the extremes of Montana presents some serious challenges; I would definitely get a greenhouse from a manufacturer in a climate like yours. For your situation, I don't think I would trust any British g.h. mfg. (nothing political here, just practical). But if your house belongs in Architectural Digest...
In college, I remember there was a lot of wind and snow testing information out of the Colorado program (I believe it was CSU), before the industry collapsed due to imports. You might search for their publications at a library.
This company in Colorado looks good: CSI Hobby Greenhouses : http://www.myhobbygreenhouse.com
Then there's Shane Smith, who is in Wyoming, and has a couple of great books: http://www.greenhousegarden.com/
The Rough Bros. engineer a lot of houses for universities and public gardens. If I won the lottery I'd have them build my dream greenhouse...
http://www.roughbros.com/index.html;jsessionid=76BDA2EFCE2E4E94F7588449E709E6C6#
A little more realistic, are the ones from AgraTech: http://www.agra-tech.com/menu.php There are a lot of businesses here in the Bay Area that have their houses and we have some real wind here (no snow tho').
Oregon Valley makes a lot of super-strong structures for commercial growers: http://www.ovg.com/
A bunch of pre-fab types can be found at http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/ and at http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/home
For general supplies, books and ideas, (but not the best prices) there's Charlie's: http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/
Also see Lee Valley for all sorts of supplies: http://www.leevalley.com/us/
Back to securing your g.h. against the elements: You will want to consider an anchoring system of cables and buried tie-downs. We used these in the mountains of Oregon, and there they saved the greenhouse more than once.
You might also contemplate a hybrid wood/gas furnace that would still operate in a prolonged power outage. Having lots of automatic electronicly-controlled cooling and heating makes things safer and easier. They all cost small mountains of money. I know.
Laurie, having a greenhouse in the extremes of Montana presents some serious challenges; I would definitely get a greenhouse from a manufacturer in a climate like yours. For your situation, I don't think I would trust any British g.h. mfg. (nothing political here, just practical). But if your house belongs in Architectural Digest...
In college, I remember there was a lot of wind and snow testing information out of the Colorado program (I believe it was CSU), before the industry collapsed due to imports. You might search for their publications at a library.
This company in Colorado looks good: CSI Hobby Greenhouses : http://www.myhobbygreenhouse.com
Then there's Shane Smith, who is in Wyoming, and has a couple of great books: http://www.greenhousegarden.com/
The Rough Bros. engineer a lot of houses for universities and public gardens. If I won the lottery I'd have them build my dream greenhouse...
http://www.roughbros.com/index.html;jsessionid=76BDA2EFCE2E4E94F7588449E709E6C6#
A little more realistic, are the ones from AgraTech: http://www.agra-tech.com/menu.php There are a lot of businesses here in the Bay Area that have their houses and we have some real wind here (no snow tho').
Oregon Valley makes a lot of super-strong structures for commercial growers: http://www.ovg.com/
A bunch of pre-fab types can be found at http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/ and at http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/home
For general supplies, books and ideas, (but not the best prices) there's Charlie's: http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/
Also see Lee Valley for all sorts of supplies: http://www.leevalley.com/us/
Back to securing your g.h. against the elements: You will want to consider an anchoring system of cables and buried tie-downs. We used these in the mountains of Oregon, and there they saved the greenhouse more than once.
You might also contemplate a hybrid wood/gas furnace that would still operate in a prolonged power outage. Having lots of automatic electronicly-controlled cooling and heating makes things safer and easier. They all cost small mountains of money. I know.
DGray
Avid Member
DGray
Avid Member
metered at 80%?
Bill, do you have a UVb meter (Solarmeter?) and have you metered the actual level? Could you share the numbers, if so?
Bill, do you have a UVb meter (Solarmeter?) and have you metered the actual level? Could you share the numbers, if so?
