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shroomsynergy
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Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology.
#15945703 - 03/14/12 10:30 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ok, so I have a growlab GL80 sitting in a box, and thought I'd convert it over for mycology. I will be growing mostly Edible mushrooms, so it will be fairly important to keep it cool in the summer...thats the part that I'm having the most trouble trying to figure out. I have speed controlled 4" inline duct fans for air circulation that I'll set on digital timers, and will run a single or double bulb T-5 flourescent fixture at the top for lighting (unless that would be unwise with higher humidity).
Here's a link to the one I have. (I hope it's ok to post this link) https://www.aghydroponics.com/GrowLab-80-p/tent-gl80.htm
...anyways, I'm going to make a PVC rack to custom fit the inside with shelves but am interested in some ideas to keep it tempurature controlled and nice and high RH.
My first question is if a Coolmist humidifier would do the trick to keep the humidity high in the tent?
Second question is how to keep the tempurature controlled (cooled) for those cool temp mushies without spending my lifesavings?
Any other tips will be greatly appreciated too! I'm going to try to take my time to build this right but am limited on funds, so ghetto rigs are OK, but I'm trying to not go TOO ghetto. Once I get this up and running I hope to make a journal here as to get more fine tuned advice depending on individual problems.
Thank you very much in advance for any help and input on this!
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Edited by shroomsynergy (03/19/12 12:05 PM)
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15946296 - 03/14/12 01:33 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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I would recommend using an ultrasonic on a relay timer to provide humidity and an impellor type of humidifier to force my FAE.
A PVC rack should work fine.
As far as temps go, I am lucky to live near the ocean and I just grow whatever likes my temps. I suggest that you try to do the same...something like King Oysters when it is cooler, and Volvariella and Blazei when temps go up in the summer.
Good luck,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15946604 - 03/14/12 02:41 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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thank you for the reply. I was thinking similarly about the Ultrasonic, but am not familiar with impeller humidifiers. I'll try to find some info on them. I can get humidistats at my local hydro shop pretty cheap I think.
Thank you also for the recommendations about changing mushrooms seasonally. I may also have to do that here if I can't figure out some way to cool the tent.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15946655 - 03/14/12 02:55 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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http://home.howstuffworks.com/humidifier4.htm
The Vicks that you see there is the classic model referred to a "a Vicks" here often.
Now, these are known to have become almost useless due to defective manufacturing. I bought a newer generation model, and now keep it completely outside of my GH. I have hopes of keeping this one running for an entire year. (Ee gads!)
The newer model: http://www.amazon.com/Vicks-V4500-FilterFree-Humidifier/dp/B000FFIYEE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1331758047&sr=8-6
An upside here is that I found that a brand of tubing carried by Home Depot fit perfectly into the Vicks. Zero adhesives required.
Good luck,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15947055 - 03/14/12 04:33 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Awsome. thank you for the link.
You use that for a FAE? On timer, humidistat, etc?
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Terry M
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15948148 - 03/14/12 08:04 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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This is really interesting, Javadog! So a Vick's outside the fruiting chamber with a duct as shown does both humidification and FAE? I've been struggling with balancing these for more than a year now. Whenever I use enough electric fanning for good FAE, I seem to drive out the humidified air in my mini greenhouse, and thereby lower the humidity.
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15948266 - 03/14/12 08:27 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thats what I was thinking too..that it'd be a constant battle between FAE and humidity.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15948291 - 03/14/12 08:31 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hey Terry,
Yes, we are all continuously banging on the perfect-hydration issue.
I liked using my milk jug duct to force a Vicks, set on the bottom of a GH, to force fresh air to be circulated better. ....but that Vicks still died, likely after a spore dump.
So, I tried putting the Vicks outside and ducted the air into the GH. This Vicks still died. They have apparently move their production to somewhere even less reliable than before.
This is my latest and greatest attempt. This uses the newer model of Vicks and is completely separated from the GH.
I used a repti-fogger, as you can see. The inputs are positioned so that the Vicks drives the fog evenly about the GH.
I used a relay timer. Anything plugged into the power strip on the wall is controlled by the timer.
I have experimented with keeping the Vicks on 7/24 but I have been drenching too may efforts that way.
You can see my new hygrostat (reporting 95% RH which only means 95+). I am not using it to control anything yet, but I will get around to that.
Here are some better shots:
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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t3chnobily
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15948315 - 03/14/12 08:35 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ever since I picked up a ultrasonic from mainlandmart and installed it in my vicks coolmist its my GH has been styling.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15948320 - 03/14/12 08:36 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
shroomsynergy said: Thats what I was thinking too..that it'd be a constant battle between FAE and humidity.
Provide FAE using a fan, and this will consistently be the case. (unless you are in a jungle with 90+% ambient humidity)
Providing FAE using a humidifier should not present this problem.
...this being said, I used one of the lamer sponge-type humidifiers when I was just starting, and that actually had the ability to dry stuff out. It just made a gale of wind.
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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Terry M
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15948516 - 03/14/12 09:16 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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JD: I've been using the identical hygrostat and repti-fogger as you. Have tried various numbers of computer fans with these, and even a window box fan on a duty cycle timer. But tomorrow, on to the pharmacy for the Vick's, and then Home Depot for the duct!
- Terry
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15948549 - 03/14/12 09:23 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Good for you Terry.
I am sure that spore bombs did not help my previous Vicks units. I have every hope of getting through a year with this setup.
I will be forced to the fogger bucket in time, but even then the fogger units have a tendency to fail over time.
Good luck!
JD
P.S. I tried, hard, to find you an SKU # for that piping. It fit *perfectly* but I could not find it on the Home Depot site.
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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chefinainteasy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15948594 - 03/14/12 09:34 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have the same reptile humidistat, and after running my humidifiers and fans on it for about a month, i realized it was off, and when i put another hygrometer in the FC realized it was about 10% off. Reading 95 when it was about 85ish. Not sure if it was just me but i switched to a cycle timer instead.
-------------------- Check out my youtube videos. the Mushrooms Naturally series by chefinainteasy My new business is now on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MushroomsNaturally?ref=hl MY Garden
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Terry M
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15948635 - 03/14/12 09:42 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Some useful info about those repti-foggers. The quart bottle threads are completely compatible with generic supermarket white vinegar quart bottles. So you can have extra, full water bottles ready to exchange. Simply screw the black plastic fitting onto one of these bottles, and pop the full bottle right in.
You don't want to know about my disastrous experiment to automatically feed water into a repti-fogger using a bottle connected to plastic tubing, plus a venturi air pump to create vacuum pressure needed to prevent water from overflowing the fogger!
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15948801 - 03/14/12 10:17 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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LOL, yeah, and you can forget about the "let's see if a 2 litre bottle will work as well?" theory.
;0)
I believe that a slightly larger bottle can be used, but have not tested this yet.
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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Terry M
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15950047 - 03/15/12 08:39 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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I tried to find a larger bottle with completely compatible threads, but found nothing. I searched through the stock of the major US plastic bottle manufacturers. The larger size regulation vinegar bottle has a much large opening. A 2 liter coke bottle is pretty close, but it doesn't work because the bottle wall is too flexible, and collapses under the downward pressure of the water. This causes the water to spill right out of the repti-fogger. Thus began my ill-fated and expensive adventure with the venturi pump.
So I already bought my model V4500 Cool Mist from the neighborhood pharmacy. I'm wondering how you made the round hole for the duct. There are fixed curved plastic discharge vents on the top of the unit. Did you cut these?
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15950252 - 03/15/12 09:50 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Hey Terry,
I checked that model, and it is the one that I have in the photos above.
The hole is, thankfully, below the "grill" and it is more narrow as well.
This means that you can cut the grill blades near where they attach, and not right at the surface which makes things easier.
Just cut them off, using wire snippers or some such. You will find that the pipe only has to distort slightly and this distortion will hold the pipe in place.
I am trying to take a photo, actually have, but my system that I use to access the camera is down right now. I will be back.
Good luck,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15950339 - 03/15/12 10:27 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Awsome info about the Humidifiers and Repti-foggers everyone. thank you all for the great tips.
I actually just ran up to Walmart, and they did have the new Vicks, so I grabbed one, and a cheap rack for inside my tent until I make my custom rack. It should be just right to fit into the tent next to a new incubator that I'm working on. I didn't have the capital to invest in a repti-fogger quite yet. I hope that the vicks will do ok on it's own for now.
Time now to get started assembling everything, and work on the technical aspects of this beast.
Another question I have now is about lighting. I have a single bulb 2' T-8 fixture that I was planning to put in there over the rack, but should I worry about the high humidity effecting the light, or becoming a hazard?
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Edited by shroomsynergy (03/15/12 10:33 AM)
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15950392 - 03/15/12 10:47 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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A Vicks alone can do fine.
Unless your lighting is designed for outdoor use (and maybe even if it is) you will find that it will rot from the high humidity. Please the light outside and next to your GH.
Good luck!
JD
P.S. Here is the better photo of the duct fitting into my Vicks:
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15950542 - 03/15/12 11:32 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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damn. thats a bummer. Unfortunatly putting the light outside of the GroLab is not an option. Check out the link in the first post and you'll see what I mean. It is completely enclosed with black fabric exterior.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15950627 - 03/15/12 11:57 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Right. Sorry. I did see that.
Well, there are options. I have not used one, but wouldn't an LED "rope" handle the moisture well?
Someone else will have to chime in on this. I have all of my lights outside my FCs, so I cannot suggest something more specific.
Good luck,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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Terry M
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15950672 - 03/15/12 12:13 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Great, JD. Thanks!
Is that a white piece of plastic or something cut to fit and covering up the other vent slots?
Regards, Terry
Quote:
Javadog said:
JD
P.S. Here is the better photo of the duct fitting into my Vicks:
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15950733 - 03/15/12 12:33 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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I was wondering about that too on his vicks.
A light rope (or 3, lol) was one of my first choices if my current assortment of lighting wouldn't be safe. I don't know much about them tho.
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15950772 - 03/15/12 12:46 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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No. All I did was snip off the grill of the intake and shove the pipe into the hole.
You may be seeing a piece of tape that I put onto the sides of the unit.
It is not the quietest of units and doing this lowered the noise level.
(then I mounted it to a wall....now I need a foam pad for it to sit on)
Good luck, and let me know if this did not make sense.
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15950784 - 03/15/12 12:49 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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I see what your saying. Makes sense to me.
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Terry M
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15951268 - 03/15/12 02:37 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Makes sense to me, JD. I was just reading the photo wrong.
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Terry M]
#15951357 - 03/15/12 02:52 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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ok, so I think I'm gonna start a journal about my Grolab. Should I just start it in Gourmet forum or is there a special place that I'm not seeing?
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15951428 - 03/15/12 03:08 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Well, if it is active, then Mush Cult fits. If it is incredibly exotic then the Advanced Forum might be a good fit. ...but if it is edible and not ethenogenic, then the Gourmet Forum will do nicely.
This all being said, the Grow Logs forum might be the best place.
(I just recently found that place. Sheesh!)
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15951705 - 03/15/12 04:17 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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cool. I'll go check out the growlogs pages. It'll be 99% edibles with perhaps an occasional Pan Cyan or Cube grow...maybe...hahaha...
mainly edibles though.
So far I got the tent up and am putting shelves and incubator together. I've never used an incubator for edibles, but if it speeds things along a bit then heck, why not? It should help humidity a tad too...
Regards, SynErGy
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15966685 - 03/19/12 10:07 AM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ok, so I looked thru the GROWLOGS threads, and saw that it is like 99.999% psychoactive growlogs.
Would it be ok for me to put up my journal/log here in gourmets/edibles? It just seems like the more fitting forum for my journal, but I don't wanna get in trouble or have it removed.
Trying not to piss on anyones shoes, but I'd get more action here I think.
Regards, Synergy
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Javadog
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: shroomsynergy]
#15967451 - 03/19/12 01:46 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Well, first of all, if it needs to be moved, then a forum moderator will move it for you, with or without your request/permission ;0) So that is not a concern.
(they are not pissy about it...it just happens)
Separately, the Grow Logs forum is for Grow Logs.
Secondly, there is the description of the forum itself:
"A forum where users can detail their mushroom growing experience by showing their methods and progress."
This means you! :0)
Take care,
JD
P.S. If you prefer a less edgy environment, then you could use the "Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms" forum.
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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shroomsynergy
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Re: Questions about converting my Growlab for Mycology. [Re: Javadog]
#15967756 - 03/19/12 03:08 PM (12 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ok. thank you for the input. I think I'll start it here, and then we can go from there.
I appreciate the reply JD! thanx.
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