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 xeallos
Sore wa himitsudesu!
Registered: 09/13/06
Posts: 678
Loc: The Woods of a Thousand Y...
Last seen: 6 months, 12 days
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 Aquarium Heater Selection 
#6056469 - 09/13/06 07:48 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hi Guys,
New here, really love this site. It's a fantastic resource and very functional and well designed! After reading through quite a few guides here after starting a standard PF Tek setup I was drawn to the Aquarium Heater w/ Cooler method for a solid incubation chamber. I was only getting 70-75 degree storage temps throughout other areas, so I thought it'd be a sure fire way to speed up the process.
I purchased a 100 Watt Aquarium Heater w/ the auto shutoff feature (safety first!) and suction cups, it's attached to a tall glass jar in the middle of the cooler; the pftek jars surround it. Its maximum setting is 90 Degrees, which I have set it for and maintained the last 12 hours. Upon checking the internal temperature guage of the actual chamber I am disappointed to see it is only peaking at 78-80; so my question is for those of you who have utilized this method. Do I need to return the original heater and move up to the 300 Watt? There were no specifications given for wattage or temperature capacity in any of the guides, so unfortunately I had to make a few assumptions about the heat dispersal and I figured a 90 degree jar would do the trick but I figured wrong! Also, should I be worried about excess moisture content even though I'm running PFTek jars in the cooler and not open substrate trays? Thanks for your time and any replies, sorry if this has been addressed - I searched high and low!
PS: You would not believe the trouble I had finding a tall glass jar "for Pasta", it was like a damn novelty item! I had to go find a Hobby Lobby... geeze!
Edit: Is this not a good method, or was this question too noobish? I apologize if so! 
Edited by xeallos (09/13/06 09:35 AM)
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SDP
ChronicAficionado
Registered: 01/21/05
Posts: 1,286
Last seen: 1 month, 8 days
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 Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: xeallos]
#6056770 - 09/13/06 10:08 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Are you familiar with the double-tub incubation unit?
You take 2 same-size tupperwares, set the water heater to 80 degrees, suction cup it to the bottom of the tupperware, then put 1 tall half-pint jar in each corner of the tupperware. Fill it up about 1/3 or so up with water, then put the other tupperware inside the one with the water in it. Push down with your foot until it hits the jars... The water should rise about 2/3 the way up the inner tupperware, if it doesn't, add more. Zip-tie the handles together on either side so it stays held down in the water. The inside if the inner-tupperware should be about 80-81 degrees once everything equalizes. You can also drill some vent-holes in the inner tupperware to provide air flow for your incubating jars. 
Magash covers this w/ pics in the incubator section of his tek:
http://www.shroomery.org/index.php/par/26177
It might provide you with a little more consistent temperature... and help you utilize your current heater.
Hope this helps! 
-SDP 
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Teonanacatl, open up my eyes
This sacrament, this prayer, beyond the world of lies
Guide me clearly through that which I dont understand
Give me strength to find the path
Help me fight any demons as you flow through me wholely
This is my prayer, that you protect me from evil, and bring me closer to peace
And open up my eyes, so i can see things as you do
Amen
Edited by SDP (09/13/06 10:09 AM)
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seg_x
was here,chillin
Registered: 08/31/06
Posts: 368
Loc: Some place south.
Last seen: 5 months, 16 days
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Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: SDP]
#6056788 - 09/13/06 10:13 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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If you weren't using water, then thats where your error comes in.
Since its an aquatic heater, it needs the water to transfer heat.
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My Fall Mushrooms
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xeallos
Sore wa himitsudesu!
Registered: 09/13/06
Posts: 678
Loc: The Woods of a Thousand Y...
Last seen: 6 months, 12 days
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Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: seg_x]
#6056816 - 09/13/06 10:20 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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I had not discovered the double tub method, thank you very much for the suggestion and the link SDP! It seems to me that it would be a more efficient method to heat the ambient space, as the entire incubation chamber would be surrounded by the hot water - rather than what I have now, which is an entire chamber surrounding a jar of hot water. It would also mitigate any excess moisture issues. I think I'll have to give this a try and report back on the temperature difference. Thanks again!
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Solidcell
tolerance++;
Registered: 01/20/06
Posts: 754
Loc: Memphis & 53rd
Last seen: 3 years, 8 months
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Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: xeallos]
#6057195 - 09/13/06 12:32 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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That's not the best fo the methods, but what the problem is is that the heater is heating the water to 90 and then shutting off. It keeps the jar at 90, but buy getting a bigger jar, the heater will need to work longer more often to keep the jar at 90, thus putting off more energy overall, which will in turn transfer to your jars.
Skip the cooler though, and just get two rubbermaid tubs and a few towels. You might also want an aquarium water circulator pump (NOT an air pump, a water pump) to mix the water so as to reduce hot spots.
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Psychedelic Jar Project
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." -Voltaire
"Everything that I accepted as being true up to now I acquired from the senses or through the senses. However, I have occasionally found that they deceive me, and it is prudent never to trust those who have deceived us, even if only once." -Descartes
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xeallos
Sore wa himitsudesu!
Registered: 09/13/06
Posts: 678
Loc: The Woods of a Thousand Y...
Last seen: 6 months, 12 days
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Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: Solidcell]
#6059999 - 09/14/06 07:26 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Wow, you guys are invaluable! I went out and snagged some tubs and flipped the setup around and before I even snapped the lid shut my temperature was reading at 78 degrees! Had a smoke break and came back and it was already topped out! I had to actually set the lid on halfway so it had some room to breathe as it was working so well it would peak at 88. It's now holding steady at 86, and you guys are all to thank for the professional advice! I think I'll need to donate to the site soon here, it's such a great resource!
Edit: Is it appropriate or recommended that I link to this post or the recommended double-tub teks from the articles that outline the jar method? I figure it might save some other people the trouble if that's what they read first like I did? I don't know the protocol and wouldn't want to offend anyone. Thanks!
Edited by xeallos (09/14/06 07:28 AM)
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Cubenisseur
Mad Props
Registered: 12/04/05
Posts: 1,392
Loc: Indian Land
Last seen: 2 years, 2 months
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Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: xeallos]
#6060061 - 09/14/06 07:56 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Thats fine to link to posts on this site...you can put them in your signature.
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xeallos
Sore wa himitsudesu!
Registered: 09/13/06
Posts: 678
Loc: The Woods of a Thousand Y...
Last seen: 6 months, 12 days
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Re: Aquarium Heater Selection [Re: Cubenisseur]
#6060190 - 09/14/06 08:37 AM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Cubenisseur said:
Thats fine to link to posts on this site...you can put them in your signature.
Woops, I must have not worded my question very well. What I mean is, should I add a comment or post that leads to this thread (or the recommended tek) at the end of the Jar/Cooler based teks I had found to be insufficient?
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