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tadziu
Monster Maker

Registered: 08/21/09
Posts: 99
Last seen: 2 years, 11 months
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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK 3
#11050932 - 09/13/09 09:34 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Like a lot of people on this forum I keep asking questions that have been asked for years... so...
To answer everyone’s questions regarding the types of humidifiers to use and how to set them up for your martha, I’ve researched the shit out of this and this is what RogerRabbit and other Trusted Growers say (so all credit to them, and a lot of this are actual quotes taken from (his) their posts):
Cool mist humidifiers with impellers are the only way to go... not wick types, not vaporizers, etc... they are not suitable for mycology. Wick types never seem to get higher than 70% humidity. You do not need a cool mist AND an ultrasonic... just go with the cool mist impeller type (Vick’s V400 (or equiv). You may run an additional cool mist outside of your Martha purely to help keep your outside ambient humidity up a bit but it’s usually not necessary.
Put the humidifier inside and on the bottom of the Martha. Place it on the floor of the Martha and to the side of the shelves so they aren’t being blasted by the vapour. RR does not recommend running hoses from an impeller type cool mist because the static pressure that develops forces mist into the motor and motor bushings, ruining them after a short time.
Depending on how clean your tap water is you should be fine using it. If you have really hard water you can use distilled water to help reduce/ prevent mineral build up. I have read, however, that RR does not recommend using distilled water in your jars, etc; rather, to use either tap or spring water (if this is incorrect, somebody please post a response but back it with with evidence).
You MUST clean the unit at least once a week, and change the filter when required; otherwise, mould and other gunk will build up and wreak havoc.
The time to worry about contamination is during the inoculation and spawn run stages, not the fruiting stage (tho it is still a consideration). To protect your crop from contamination during the fruiting stage, the answer is the more FAE the better. Not enough and mould, etc can build up.
The humidifier is not for FAE, only for humidity. Cut a few slits in the walls to allow for cross venting and FAE (or make a couple of windows). The air turbulence inside the Martha caused by the cool mist will draw fresh air in thru the slits and also expel air. The Martha should also ideally have a gabled roof.
A cool mist by itself 24/7 is serious overkill for a greenhouse as small as a martha. He suggests to have it on a timer set for 2-5 mins on and 6-10 mins off. This will, of course, depend on the ambient temp and humidity, size of greenhouse, etc. so you’ll just have to play around with it to suit your needs. He uses this timer (scroll down to the repeat cycle timer) http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/controls2.shtml or something similar that allows you shorter intervals.
You get moisture build up when the cool mist throws out water faster than the air can absorb it. Shorter cycling with a timer prevents that problem. As you're tweaking the system, lay wax paper over your substrates to protect them from too much water. Essentially, you don’t want water build up on your cakes or fruit. If water droplets are forming on your walls, etc then you need more FAE... possibly cut more slits and/or shorten your misting intervals. Bottom line, you want 95% humidity and lots of air exchange, with no standing water or moisture on the walls or floor.
Take some plastic sheeting and make a “diaper” on the bottom of the Martha and put trays of perlite on the floor inside. The trays of perlite absorb drips that fall when the mist penetrates shelves and some of the water droplets adhere to and then drip back down. If you don't use perlite, you'll likely have a mess on your hands. The benefit of perlite trays on the floor is that they return the drips that fall into humidity in the air. You should also fill any empty shelf space with trays of damp perlite. This will help you maintain good humidity, and you can then cut more windows or slits for FAE.
If RR or any other Trusted Cultivators want to add or change anything that is written here then I’m sure we’d all appreciate the info!
-------------------- This forum is here to discuss issues and to HELP other members...
If your answer to a posted question is simply going to be "use the search function" then why not make your post worthwhile and useful by providing them with a link that points them in the right direction... otherwise, keep it to yourself!
Edited by tadziu (09/15/09 04:35 PM)
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truskool
WTF?? FTW!!



Registered: 06/28/09
Posts: 11,194
Loc: Over the rainbow
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: tadziu]
#11050966 - 09/13/09 09:47 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thank you very much for this. I was wondering about this just a couple days ago.
-------------------- Ask AMU for the best mycology advice out there
Roll it While I troll it.
I don't mean to boast, but dam if I don't brag.
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cloudsaregathering
pasturbater



Registered: 08/08/09
Posts: 1,283
Loc: ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Last seen: 10 months, 22 days
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: truskool]
#11051403 - 09/13/09 11:52 AM (15 years, 4 months ago) |
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nice researching there, made me check out my humidifier, bleh it's the wick type...
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"the root of the problem has been isolated"
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controlled_chaos
Stranger
Registered: 01/24/11
Posts: 39
Last seen: 11 months, 10 days
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: tadziu]
#14012230 - 02/23/11 07:47 AM (13 years, 10 months ago) |
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Hey, I know this is an old post but i was just wondering if it a good idea to sterilize the perlite, and if so what is the best way to go about doing this?
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Timehole



Registered: 04/28/12
Posts: 156
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: controlled_chaos]
#16242434 - 05/16/12 08:37 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Hey chaos I know it's been over a year since your posted but, no you do not need to sterilize the perlite unless previously used.
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



Registered: 02/15/12
Posts: 12,283
Last seen: 20 days, 1 hour
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: controlled_chaos]
#16598453 - 07/27/12 08:52 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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hey, another necro. but i was in a WoW guild called controlled chaos
fuck that game btw
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PureHash



Registered: 08/16/11
Posts: 1,126
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: Psilosopherr]
#16598472 - 07/27/12 09:00 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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This is my GH/Martha setup. I just quted myself from a different post. I use a reptile ultrasonic humidifier for humidification, and a small fan for FAE.
Quote:
PureHash said: Ok so for my greenhouse I wanted full automation, with minimal maintenance. Meaning I dont want to fill water chambers every day. Mine last a good week solid before i replace the water. Witch in my eyes is perfect.
I run an automated mister system, ultrasonic fogger system and FAE all in 1 unit, off 1 5gal bucket and some ingenuity. This is the system from the outside.
 And this is the the automated mister system, It uses water from the 5 gal bucket aswel.
 
The fogger runs for an hour every 3 hours, Keeping my RH at 99%. The fan on the bucket runs 24/7, this provides constant FAE, and with slits down the sides of my GH, CO2 can escape.
When the fogger is running it looks like this
 and when its off

The pink piece of foam is a float that keeps the fogger at the perfect water level for making fog, This means my humidifier is always running at 100%, is doesnt matter what the water level is. (as you can see from this picture.

A 3/4" tube runs from the bucket to my GH so the fan can push the mist into the GH an provide humidity and FAE at the same time. When the timer shuts off, just the mister turns off, the fan keeps running to provide contant FAE
The mister system is extra, But its an idea for you 
The way it works is I bought a 40PSI diaphram pump (impeller pumps dont put out enough pressure) It runs at 12v 4A, so i also bought a 12v 4 amp DC charger and rigged it to power my pump. youve already seen the picture, but this is the whole setup.
 and with the lid I made..

The pump is run off a micro timer that was purchaed off ebay, It can run on-off times anywhere from 1-180 (seconds, or minutes. Selected by 2 dipswitches) So mine is set to mist my GH for 2 seconds, every 3 hours. This is the micro timer

With this setup you can finely dial in your GH to your own needs. It is completely automated, and can go a week + without you having to touch it at all.
The greenhouse has slits cut the hole length of the greenhouse to allow heavy CO2 to escape while the fan and mister setup pump in Humidity and a small amount of FAE, where as the long slits draw in fresh air from the sides as well.
Hope this helped, Goodluck
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OH1Ogrown
Student



Registered: 04/23/12
Posts: 1,214
Loc: Treasure Coast
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: PureHash]
#16598818 - 07/27/12 10:23 AM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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That's actually pretty cool sounding, but do you have a full parts list for anyone wishing to tinker with it?
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PureHash



Registered: 08/16/11
Posts: 1,126
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: OH1Ogrown]
#16599634 - 07/27/12 12:47 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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I could make up a parts list for anyone interested...
PM me if you want to know anything about it.
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PureHash



Registered: 08/16/11
Posts: 1,126
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: PureHash]
#16599664 - 07/27/12 12:51 PM (12 years, 5 months ago) |
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Oh and this is the micro timer I used, Forget paying 89$ plus tax and shipping on something so bulky.
I used this timer for my setup http://www.ebay.ca/itm/110881656857?var=410111279054&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2997wt_1135
It says for 12v, but it can handle 120v @ 12Amp witch Im sure is good enough for the cool mist. If you can do some simple wiring you'll save money.
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superfresh
Stranger

Registered: 08/20/13
Posts: 12
Last seen: 11 years, 17 days
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: PureHash]
#18746472 - 08/23/13 10:01 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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really interested in this one... ingenious
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kiva
Stranger
Registered: 02/20/15
Posts: 1
Last seen: 9 years, 8 months
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Re: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HUMIDIFIERS & THEIR SET UP FOR MARTHAS TEK [Re: superfresh]
#21314885 - 02/22/15 08:30 PM (9 years, 10 months ago) |
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I like the general concept and understand it all but for one thing..
Ok, there is a 40 psi pump being feed by the water in the 5 gal bucket...
but what turns that 'stream' of water into a mist?
thanks for your help
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