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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Automated Shotgun Shelf Project 4
#12429243 - 04/20/10 10:11 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Last year I toyed around with an automated monotub shelving system but ran into some problems and never finished it.
Recently I've switched over to doing large PF cakes and after being inspired by Wattballast's setup I decided to take his concept and try using it with my old setup.
My old setup was going to be a 3 tier system involving up to 15 monotubs connected to an ultrasonic fogger system and supplied at intervals with humidified fresh air.

I tested it on a small scale and while it did what I wanted the fogger unit I was using wasn't producing sufficient fog. I probably could have build it a bit more efficiently but decided to move away from monotubs shortly after that.
So I migrated my current grow over to the automated setup tonight.


Took less then a minute to fill the tub with fog on the lowest setting.
I'll be monitoring the humidity levels most of the night to see how long it will take from the humidity to start dropping. That's assuming it drops at all.
The purpose of the ultrasonic is to replace misting. Based on my recent testing and observation these the fog these things produce really soak everything. The idea is it gets the cakes wet and re-hydrates the perlite which is what misting accomplishes.
It also pushes fresh air in as well.
I'm going to start with 5 mins on, on low, every 2 hours and see how well it looks after 24 hours.
I'll be expanding it to 3 shotguns tomorrow when I birth my next grow :-D
I'm not sure how many terrarium 1 humidifier can handle but it would be awesome on an epic level if it could handle 5. Picture 3 shelves, 5 tubs per shelf, 4 four-quart cakes per tub.
All automated and hands free for the most part.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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whitelight7
Sr.



Registered: 02/17/09
Posts: 1,250
Loc: Washington
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12429518 - 04/20/10 11:06 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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I've tried a lot of systems, especially with moving around to dif. Rh zones and I like your ideas, but is this economically sound? If your doing cakes, why not just mist? Maybe I'm wrong, but how much energy=$$ is taking to run that vs just spraying (unless your just super busy or have a piss load of cakes)?
Also, I've found a few strains that do best with no shotgun situation (at least where the Rh is low) and just a few fans a day when grown cake style. I isolated those a long time ago within months of starting the hobby and by now have a few, so I imagine that one could just find some strains where FAE was less a factor (although it's always a biggy) and run with that.
-------------------- Staunch supporter of spontaneous generation
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Chlawre
Amateur



Registered: 04/08/10
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12429544 - 04/20/10 11:16 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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This thing looks gorgeous!
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TheAnimate
Stranger

Registered: 01/12/09
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Chlawre]
#12429569 - 04/20/10 11:24 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Very impressed... I hope you will be posting more details and updates on your grows from this things.
Where'd you get that fogger, anyway? And how much did it run you?
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wattballasts

Registered: 06/19/09
Posts: 503
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: TheAnimate]
#12429605 - 04/20/10 11:33 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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i would be suprised if it flooded them. mine runs for 15 min every 1h45m....dont get me wrong. some water beads up in the beginning but the fat ass fruits drink all that them some.
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wattballasts

Registered: 06/19/09
Posts: 503
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: TheAnimate]
#12429608 - 04/20/10 11:34 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
TheAnimate said: Very impressed... I hope you will be posting more details and updates on your grows from this things.
Where'd you get that fogger, anyway? And how much did it run you?
i got the same one from target. $50
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: wattballasts]
#12429740 - 04/21/10 12:13 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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I picked that one up for $70 shipped on amazon.com.
Couldn't find any of that type at my local walmart/target/lowes/home depot.
I'll be updating both grows associated with this (#3 and 4 in my sigs) as they progress.
I figure it'll take 2 weeks to get it tweaked just right. Sometime soon I'd like to see how it handles 5 tubs to see if it's feasible.
Quote:
I've tried a lot of systems, especially with moving around to dif. Rh zones and I like your ideas, but is this economically sound? If your doing cakes, why not just mist? Maybe I'm wrong, but how much energy=$$ is taking to run that vs just spraying (unless your just super busy or have a piss load of cakes)?
It's not really about the time/effort spent but the requirement of doing so. Right now if I have a grow in the fruiting stage I have to either be here or have a friend babysit which i really don't want to have to do. I'd like to continue growing this summer while also maintaining some sort of active outside lifestyle (camping fishing hiking biking etc.) and be able to put my stuff on autopilot for up to a week.
Plus it's just cool :-D
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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Nanoid
See lost a seat You bend this


Registered: 03/30/10
Posts: 711
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12430019 - 04/21/10 01:50 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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So this not only replaces misting, but it provides the FAE as well? Impressive.
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Nanoid]
#12430026 - 04/21/10 01:53 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Nanoid said: So this not only replaces misting, but it provides the FAE as well? Impressive. 
I believe the majority of the FAE will come from the shotgun itself, as that's what it's designed to do.
But yeah the fogger should provide a decent bit of fresh air each time it runs.
One problem I had with monotubs and a fogger is the tubs tended to get drenched. Even with the extra ventilation I had added it still wasn't enough. I was in the process of tweaking the fog cycles so I might have been able to get it right with time.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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Nanoid
See lost a seat You bend this


Registered: 03/30/10
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12430189 - 04/21/10 03:32 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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I always thought even with a Shotgun terr that you should still fan. I have one and I still fan all the time. Am I just being over zealous? Should I just mist and not fan but let the chamber provide all the necessary FAE?
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kurshiukas
Stranger


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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12430337 - 04/21/10 05:46 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Spongiform said:
Quote:
Nanoid said: So this not only replaces misting, but it provides the FAE as well? Impressive. 
I believe the majority of the FAE will come from the shotgun itself, as that's what it's designed to do.
But yeah the fogger should provide a decent bit of fresh air each time it runs.
One problem I had with monotubs and a fogger is the tubs tended to get drenched. Even with the extra ventilation I had added it still wasn't enough. I was in the process of tweaking the fog cycles so I might have been able to get it right with time.
I have always thought about FAE not being true FAE in closed area. I mean, how can closed with stagnant air, that is constantly being used by shrooms/people/plants can be considered as FAE.
Maybe I'm wrong though :/
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: kurshiukas]
#12430851 - 04/21/10 09:08 AM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
I always thought even with a Shotgun terr that you should still fan. I have one and I still fan all the time. Am I just being over zealous? Should I just mist and not fan but let the chamber provide all the necessary FAE?
Quote:
I have always thought about FAE not being true FAE in closed area. I mean, how can closed with stagnant air, that is constantly being used by shrooms/people/plants can be considered as FAE.
Maybe I'm wrong though :/
That's one of the things I'll be keeping a CLOSE eye on over the next couple weeks as this project progresses. I have a pretty good idea of what this strain looks like under different conditions now. The only thing I can't really monitor is CO2 levels since I haven't gotten around to buying one yet. It's on my list of things to get though.
Last night I ran the humidifier long enough to get the humidity up to 99% then turned it off and left it off. It's been 11 hours in the FC and the humidity is still reading 99%. I've removed the probe 4 times and let it sit for a couple minutes until it reads ambient room humidity then putting it back in. Takes about a minute to read 99% again.
So I'm confident that the shotgun itself is working as intended and providing the necessary humidity.
Going to add 2 more shotguns to the shelf today and then start running the humidifier on a regular schedule and keep an eye on it.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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TheAnimate
Stranger

Registered: 01/12/09
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12432012 - 04/21/10 01:12 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Even if the shotgun monotubs(that's an accurate name, right?) require fanning, that could also be automated with an oscillating fan set to a timer, right? Though the setup might be a bit complex, to allow one fan to reach multiple tubs. I'm really interested in this because I want to eventually automate everything that's automatable, and I'll probably have a room in my basement in my first house built just for it. I don't really see any reason why this stuff couldn't be entirely automated, except for the obvious exceptions of actually preparing substrate, inoculating jars, spawning, and the like.
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: TheAnimate]
#12432053 - 04/21/10 01:22 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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If you look at wallballasts setup, it doesn't provide any additional ventilation and has good results so I'm hoping the same applies to me.
Could be a factor I'm not aware of. Maybe he's got a hvac vent nearby providing additional fae for example.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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VinceC_69
-=[ ShRo0mY ]=-



Registered: 11/10/09
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12432294 - 04/21/10 02:11 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Very impressive
--------------------
 Looking for Albino Penis envy(APE) PM me if you have pls! --=[ My Fish Tank Method ]=-- My BRF Tea Experiment
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wattballasts

Registered: 06/19/09
Posts: 503
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12432415 - 04/21/10 02:33 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Spongiform said: If you look at wallballasts setup, it doesn't provide any additional ventilation and has good results so I'm hoping the same applies to me.
Could be a factor I'm not aware of. Maybe he's got a hvac vent nearby providing additional fae for example.
nope. my setup is in a tiny closet. closed when im gone or i have company. i leave the door open when im home...
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: wattballasts]
#12432615 - 04/21/10 03:05 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
wattballasts said:
Quote:
Spongiform said: If you look at wallballasts setup, it doesn't provide any additional ventilation and has good results so I'm hoping the same applies to me.
Could be a factor I'm not aware of. Maybe he's got a hvac vent nearby providing additional fae for example.
nope. my setup is in a tiny closet. closed when im gone or i have company. i leave the door open when im home...
What about the ambient RH in your place? What's it normally at?
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12433801 - 04/21/10 06:49 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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All done for now. Time to sit back and monitor for a few days and see how it goes.
Currently it's set to 15 mins on every 2 hours.
12/12 light cycle with 2, 40 watt 6500k CFLS. Those things are bright as hell.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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zigzag
Eating Wolf Pussy

Registered: 12/19/07
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: Spongiform]
#12434170 - 04/21/10 08:13 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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do you think you're getting more fog through to the first tub? path of least resistance....
may become an issue after adding lots of tubs. could always add another humidifier at the opposite end too.
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.....just shuckin' and jivin' with my extremely large penis!
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Spongiform
Some Cow


Registered: 08/22/07
Posts: 3,994
Loc: Greener Pastures
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Re: Automated Shotgun Shelf Project [Re: zigzag]
#12434578 - 04/21/10 09:22 PM (13 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
zigzag said: do you think you're getting more fog through to the first tub? path of least resistance....
may become an issue after adding lots of tubs. could always add another humidifier at the opposite end too.
Been keep a close eye on it. Looks about the same. Takes about a minute for the tubs to fill up with fog then it starts leaking out through the air holes. After it finishes running it takes about a minute or two for the fog to settle/clear.
Main question now is if it's getting enough fresh air exchanges between foggings.
-------------------- Spongiform's Plastic Tek - An Alternative to Glass Spongi's PF Block Tek & Automated Shotgun Project.
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