Posted by elfmagic (04/21/16 11:54 PM)
There is now an alternative to geolite called 'Growstone' made from recycled glass that is clean, strong, reusable and can be baked.  Perfect hybrid of perlite and geolite. I got mine shipped to store at Home Depot.
Also, I use a ton of salt in the water to keep bacteria from growing.  Place cakes on jar lids, add scoop of vermiculite in lid under cake.
I still fan my poor man's pod for pins but no bottom/side holes.

Edited 4/22/2016 2:10 AM
Posted by stevef (04/06/15 05:41 PM)
excellent   my friend 
Posted by spearsgary74 (03/04/15 08:20 PM)
Great info.
Posted by Monkeypositive89 (10/06/14 09:03 PM)
I wonder if adding a small percentage of chlorine to the water, say >.5%, would be sufficient enough to combat the algae or bacterial build up and not have any adverse effects on your cakes. Another possibility might be adding antibiotics to the water. Thoughts anyone? On a side note I'm glad I heard your opinions on perlite cause that's what I have. I didn't know it wasn't reusable. I was under the impression you could bake it for 20-30 mins to sterilize it and re-use it. I don't know why RoggerRabbit would recommend perlite in his videos if it weren't re-usable
Edited 10/6/2014 10:04 PM
Posted by 1-Up Shroom (05/21/14 09:29 PM)
I am in the process of testing my PMP's, I have two set up to one pump. I am not worried about the air being too little, I bought a air pump for a 100Gal tank. Between 4 bubble wands, I think it will be fine. I have perlite ready, but now I'm iffy about perlite being said that it has to be discarded after each use. I will look for geolite. My question is that if I have to change the water every few days, how would I do that with the cakes inside? I will be moving the cakes from the jars to the PMP's in about a week once the brf jars are ready. A fast response would be very much appreciated. Also, what is the humidity percentage or measurement suppose to be at so that I can monitor it along with the temperature? Much thanks! =]
Posted by SuperSilverHazey (11/08/12 08:33 AM)
The top appears opaque; how do you provide light during fruiting?
Posted by AzureBlue92 (02/16/12 02:30 PM)

Poor mans pod my ass! lol
Posted by zoner (12/27/11 11:03 AM)
As far as my hygrometers, both are digital. The humidity numbers maybe skewed but its very high inside the container. The air was almost foggy when I pulled the lid off after letting it run over night.
Posted by zoner (12/27/11 10:45 AM)
I have been toying with one of these for 2 days. I have 2 18" bubble tubes in a 105Qt clear tub. 2.5" of water at the bottom. a big air pump hooked up made for 30-45 gallon tanks. I have a random grow light on top and a hamster heater on bottom.
 The whole setup is wrapped in black visqueen and in a closet. I have seen good numbers so far.
 First with NOTHING done to the tub and no heater I was at 72F and 99% humidity.
Added the heater and got a stable 81F to 83F at 99% RH. Water drops started forming around the edge of my container lid because that is where the air was escaping.
Added a lair of white caulk to the top edge of the container all the way around and melted 25 nail holes in the lid.
Next is to observe for a few days and see if I have complications. This system has to stay hidden from my room mates or I would just set it on a desk and use a shotgun.
After I get good stable conditions I should be able to adjust the humidity by adjusting the size of the holes and airflow from the pump. Im afraid it will be too high.
Temp should be easy. Just put the heater on a timer. Same with the light.
BTW this is my first set. I haven't received my spores yet but have everything for my PF Tek, except Verm and BR which I will grind with a coffee grinder.
I might consider building a box for my heater with HEPA capabilities. A small tote with a HEPA filter on top sealed on. Would eliminate almost all contams from getting in the water.
I have been stalking the boards for a while and I really liked this set-up because I had almost everything and I could hide it in a confined space but still (hopefully) get good air exchange.
Posted by ouregodies (03/01/11 05:40 PM)
why do you need anything at the bottom anyway? couldn't you just have a container of water in there with the cakes and the bubble stone in the container of water..? dosent the only reason people put perlite and other things in the bottom to hydrate the surrounding area? i could be wrong im fairly new at this but my next batch i wana try this setup but can i eliminate the geolite? 
Posted by arkon420 (12/07/10 02:34 PM)
just have to add: perlite CAN be used if need be, but it is wasteful as you have to dispose of it after contamination. geolite can be sterilized and re-used.

the water needs to be changed every so often due to contaminent build-up and often algee growth because of the unfiltered air being pumped into the water.
Posted by Myblarcis (02/22/09 02:06 AM)
Is it true that the water needs to be changed every so often, if so, why?
Posted by free (07/16/07 06:30 AM)

wouldnt the vent hole need to be positioned toward the bottom of the setup just above the level of  the perlite due to co2 being heavier than air? that way the fresh air would push the co2 out the bottom.

Posted by jbryant (02/18/07 02:17 PM)

This is a great modification of my original design for a two chambered terrerium using 2-liter soda pop bottles with air circulation through the water layer using aquarium pumps which I developed as a prototype and which I submitted the designs for it to the owners of this board 2 years ago..  I have since implimented a bulk casing method which is exactly identical to this and it is a sweet system. I appreciate others insights into this and I had been using perlite which is messy and will switch to lavarock. 

I consider this a hydroponic growing system by definition.  And they say there aren't hydroponic mushrooms.

THANKS  I GUESS GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE !!!

JBB