I've got my BRF PK tek cakes in a shotgun FC. I don't have any pics, but i did my homework and it's right--1/4 inch holes spaced 2 inches apart on all 6 sides; 5 inches of damp perlite; FC raised 4 inches of the work surface; room temp a steady 70 degrees.
One problem I have is that I only have one of those crappy $5 Petco hygrometers. Now before I set up the FC the hygrometer was reading about 50-60% humidity in the room. I live in a VERY humid climate this time of year (Pacific Northwest), so I didn't even think twice about the humidity being a problem--especially because i only use electric radiators for heat--they don't dry the air.
Now after I set up the FC and birthed the cake(s) I noticed that the hygrometer was only reading 65-75% humidity inside the FC. 
I wrapped the hygrometer in a wet towel for an hour and when I unwrapped it it only read 83%. Ok, I thought--83%=99%. But what I don't understand is why my picture-perfect FC is only raising the humidity 10-25%? 
After I mist and fan, the hygrometer will read about 83% (99%) but then creep back down to 65-75 (?%) within an hour or so...
Unfortunately I am broke and just can't afford right now to buy a good hygrometer. I guess my question is, Do you think my humidity is really ok? I just can't think why the FC is only raising the humidity 15%. Should I just hope for the best and assume the humidity is ok?
Cake #1 was put in 5 days ago, cake #2, 4 days ago, and I just put in cake #3 about an hour ago. I'm noticing possibly some knots forming at the base of #1, but also some bluing.
Any thoughts?
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I also have a crappy 5 dollar analog hygro's from petsmart that isn't calibratable, and as a matter of fact it also reads 83 percent when wrapped in a wet towel, and in the shotgun it reads somewhere close to 83 as well; and it reads my room as 50 or so, it's an "all living things" brand I think. I also have a 5 dollar hygro from a cigar shop that reads about 88 percent in normal ambient room, and 99 percent in the shotgun after being calibrated with the wet-towel method with a screw on the back. I also have a cheap walmart digital which reads 50 or so normal room, and 90 or so in the shotgun. Cheap hygro's are apparently quite unreliable, and I wouldn't trust them. I truely wish I hadn't even boughten one in the first place.
You said, "After I mist and fan, the hygrometer will read about 83% (99%) but then creep back down to 65-75 (?%) within an hour or so..." - this is kind of weird though...My hygro's don't seem to change reading much at all once they're in the FC for a few hours, even after a vigorous fanning. It probably shouldn't be dropping that much. But, one thing I noticed with my hygros is that when you tap them or tilt them at a different angle it can change the reading substantially, could that be why?. Also, it may not give an accurate reading if it's placed right next to one of your holes. I place mine on a peice of tin foil at cake level in the middle of the chamber.
My first three cakes just wouldn't fruit - huautla strain, and never did actually. I was really fearing that my humidity was too low, and comtemplated changing up the shotgun FC. I bought 3 different hygrometers as well. But after A few days a few more jars of a different strain were put into the fruit chamber, they fruited just fine, and I'm glad I didn't change anything to my FC. I've fruited many a cake since then of Peshawaiian, mazapatepec, B+, and golden teachers), but I still haven't been able to get a single huatla cake to fruit after many attempts....
Unless you want to spend well over 50 bucks on a nice hygrometer, I wouldn't trust your hygrometer readings. Just try to fruit some cakes, if they fruit then you're good, if they don't fruit after a couple weeks, then worry about taping up holes and what not, just don't make changes until you know there's a problem.
Too long didn't read: - Don't trust your hygrometer, I truely wish I hadn't even boughten a hygro in the first place. Also, don't make changes to a proven tek until it's apparent that it won't fruit any cakes.
Everything you mentioned seems correct though, quarter inch holes every 2 or so inches, raised off the ground, holes on all six sides. But you mentioned 5 inches of perlite. 5 inches of perlite wouldn't be enough for a tub that's 5 feet tall or something. I have my perlite filling a little over 1/3rd of the tub, and it's been working.
Also, you should dunk and roll. It helps up the humidity near the surface of the cake, and provides more moisture to the myc colony as well.
Edited by anonymoose (12/26/09 12:48 AM)
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Thanks for the response. Yes, I dunked and rolled. You might have something about the perlite, although my tub is pretty much the identical size as I saw on the "let's grow mushrooms" video. But it is quite large and it has, up until a few hours ago, only had 2 cakes in it.
I think tomorrow I'll add another couple of inches. It sure couldn't hurt. Also, I'll try moving the hygrometer to a piece of foil resting on the perlite instead of hanging on the side.
Anyway, it's still too soon to know--it's only been a few days since I birthed the first cake. BY this time next week I should have a better idea what's going on.
I think the first cake might have not been hydrated enough though--I don't think it was fully submerged during its dunk and the verm layer is not as fully coated as the others that followed...
Would it do any harm if I took it out and dunked it again for 24 hours?
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