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barada42
Stranger
Registered: 09/16/13
Posts: 19
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Completely Unattended FC! Suspense!
#18849185 - 09/16/13 01:28 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Ok, so this isn't necessarily the most informative or gripping thread, but I've been suffering such solitary suspense, I feel compelled to share it with others who might understand my predicament!
About a month and a half ago, after reading article after article about how psilocybin has been found to have the ability to cure addictions to things such as cigarettes and alcohol, I embarked on the journey of cultivation.
240ml short jars in PF tek style were steam sterilized, inoculated, and incubated without incident. But as time ticked away, it gradually became clear that the fruiting cycle would be starting at the exact time that I was due to be away for a two week holiday.

So, with much Googling, and a bit of trepidation over the reliability of one piece of equipment, I set about automating my fruiting chamber. This consisted of:
- 1 Zoomed Terrarium
- 1 Zoomed Reptile Fogger (the item of concern)
- 1 Baking pan
- 4 large bolts with nuts
- 1 Bag of perlite
- 1 Humidity gauge
- Multiple timers
- 1L of water
- Double-ended casing materials
- 1 Night light
The terrarium is set up in a closed closet. I filled the bottom with wet perlite, then created a shelf for a second layer out of the baking pan, using the bolt as legs. I filled this with wet perlite as well and added the dunked, rolled, and double-ended cased cakes. The fogger, which I've read is unreliable, was filled and set on a timer to keep the humidity up. It runs for 15 minutes every four hours. This seemed to be enough, at least for the one day period I had to test it. I hope it is also adequate for fresh air exchange. The light comes on for standard daylight hours.
I know now that I probably would have been better with a pump and an air stone rather than the fogger.
It has been one week since I set this crazy machine in motion, and I have one more to go before I get to look inside Schrodinger's box to see what awaits.
When I return home, I have no idea what I'm going to see inside. Will I have a box of mold and bacteria contams? Some unfruitful, but rather attractive dunked and rolled cakes waiting for some proper light? Eight dried-up white clumps in an equally dry terrarium because of some sort of humidity system failure? Mushies that have grown and have rotted? Or will I find a massive crop of healthy shrooms, hungry for a face to call their dad?
The suspense is killing me.
It truly is!
-------------------- -- Everything above this line is fiction
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Trippy_Penguin



Registered: 03/18/12
Posts: 624
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: barada42]
#18849226 - 09/16/13 01:35 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I understand your situation and most people will just yell at you "BUILD A SGFC". Well that takes daily maintenance, so I understand...
On that note, I don't think yours will work very well. The light will probably not be sufficient, though light isn't much of a pinning trigger.
Are you saying your fogger is somehow providing FAE? If so, how? FAE is probably insufficient, which is a main pinning trigger.
It's generally pretty hard to "tune" in a small fruiting chamber that uses gadgets like you're using.
So back to the beginning... If you do this again, build a SGFC (like I said I understand it wasn't really an option).
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barada42
Stranger
Registered: 09/16/13
Posts: 19
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Trippy_Penguin]
#18849233 - 09/16/13 01:37 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Knowing that things might be doomed left alone like this, crop #2 is happily incubating while this experiment runs its course.
I always try to have a backup!
-------------------- -- Everything above this line is fiction
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barada42
Stranger
Registered: 09/16/13
Posts: 19
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Trippy_Penguin]
#18849249 - 09/16/13 01:41 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Are you saying your fogger is somehow providing FAE? If so, how? FAE is probably insufficient, which is a main pinning trigger.
The fogger has quite an active fan, moving a fair amount of air each time it cycles. It enters at the top, and the only exit for air is near the bottom, which should hopefully mean that the heavier CO2 gets expelled while more oxygen-rich air enters.
All very McGyver and nothing very reliable, so I don't really hold out much hope. I actually hold out more hope for the contaminated cake that I put in an outside bed!
-------------------- -- Everything above this line is fiction
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hankstymcbankerson

Registered: 07/24/13
Posts: 180
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: barada42]
#18849286 - 09/16/13 01:51 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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All I can do is say "Ill keep my fingers crossed for ya" and hope for the best.
I really do hope to see a remarkable "we should make this a movie" kind of miracle though!
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jkz
Padawan



Registered: 06/16/13
Posts: 1,910
Loc: Coruscant
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Mush4Brains
LOOL HACKED!!!

Registered: 07/31/13
Posts: 4,419
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Trippy_Penguin]
#18850313 - 09/16/13 05:37 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
petersodm said: I understand your situation and most people will just yell at you "BUILD A SGFC". Well that takes daily maintenance, so I understand...
On that note, I don't think yours will work very well. The light will probably not be sufficient, though light isn't much of a pinning trigger.
Are you saying your fogger is somehow providing FAE? If so, how? FAE is probably insufficient, which is a main pinning trigger.
It's generally pretty hard to "tune" in a small fruiting chamber that uses gadgets like you're using.
So back to the beginning... If you do this again, build a SGFC (like I said I understand it wasn't really an option).
RR designed the SGFC so that it DIDN'T require daily maintenance.
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Trippy_Penguin



Registered: 03/18/12
Posts: 624
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Mush4Brains]
#18850613 - 09/16/13 06:36 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I didn't say it can't be done.
People have a hard enough time getting a greenhouse to function properly. Make the fruiting chamber even smaller and it gets that much harder.
I'm saying it probably isn't going to be done with no time to make adjustments.
I don't mean to bring bad vibes to the thread, I'm just giving my opinion 
I do hope you come home to a forest of mushrooms.
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Mush4Brains
LOOL HACKED!!!

Registered: 07/31/13
Posts: 4,419
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Trippy_Penguin]
#18850743 - 09/16/13 07:04 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11499564/fpart/all/vc/1
You can read a lively debate on the topic here. SGFCs should be mostly self sustaining, requiring absolutely minimal maintenance. I'm not trying to start any beef dude, just sharing info so that we all can learn.
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Nimpo
Big Black


Registered: 05/10/12
Posts: 2,375
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Mush4Brains]
#18850840 - 09/16/13 07:24 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Mush4Brains said: RR designed the SGFC so that it DIDN'T require daily maintenance.
What? A SGFC needs to be fanned and misted daily for best results. Not that I do it, but im working 14 hour days.
A monotub can be left alone for the first (and i always do the second one too) flush. After that, youll be hitting it with the fanning and misting routine as well
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,811
Loc: Canada
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Nimpo]
#18850877 - 09/16/13 07:35 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I have fruited using the zoomed fogger and while I can say that it is possible to get good results with it, its super easy to fuck it up. Took me a lot of fails to get it dialed in properly and I would definitely not recommend it for cakes at all.
Edited by Pastywhyte (09/16/13 09:18 PM)
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Mush4Brains
LOOL HACKED!!!

Registered: 07/31/13
Posts: 4,419
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Nimpo]
#18850885 - 09/16/13 07:38 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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All you should need is a couple mists per day, and that is simply for optimal performance. A good misting in the morning before you leave for work, when you get home from work, and before you go to bed is just fine. You don't need to be fanning, as the SGFC should be providing enough FAE.
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/15445629
Quote:
RogerRabbit said: A shotgun can be left alone for a week. It's not ideal, but it's also not a deal killer. Mist well before you leave and be sure the terrarium is in the middle of a room, and raised up on blocks so air can circulate well. RR
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/17168447#17168447
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Staplerhead
Phanner


Registered: 12/02/11
Posts: 671
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Mush4Brains]
#18850926 - 09/16/13 07:48 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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MT for results.
-------------------- You know It's gonna get stranger, let's get on with the show
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Nimpo
Big Black


Registered: 05/10/12
Posts: 2,375
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Mush4Brains]
#18850944 - 09/16/13 07:53 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
It's not ideal
It wasnt designed so it DIDNT need to be maintained. It was designed to be neglected for periods at a time
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Mush4Brains
LOOL HACKED!!!

Registered: 07/31/13
Posts: 4,419
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Nimpo]
#18850968 - 09/16/13 07:58 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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If it can be let alone for a week and still perform (although not optimally), it does not require daily maintenance. I never said it didn't require any maintenance, but if you miss a day it won't ruin your project.
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PussyFart
Retired Cultivation Extrodinaire



Registered: 04/08/12
Posts: 22,502
Loc: Orbiting Earth
Last seen: 1 month, 11 days
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Mush4Brains]
#18851084 - 09/16/13 08:27 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Mush4Brains said: RR designed the SGFC so that it DIDN'T require daily maintenance.
Yea, it actually did....
It was designed to maintain itself for 12-14 hours without misting/fanning.
You can use the search function to confirm...
--------------------
THIS HOBBY IS NOT FOR THE IMPATIENT! PLEASE BE PATIENT, DON'T BE A PATIENT! A Tale of 10 Isolates, GT Cluster Clone Monotubs, RR's Let's Grow Mushrooms DVD, SGFC(Shotgun Fruiting Chamber), Monotub Tek, Damion5050's Coir Tek, TL's Tek List, Frank's Tek List, EvilMushroom666's Pasteurization Tek, How It Should & Shouldn't Look - NEW CULTIVATORS GUIDE *** *** AFGHAN KUSH GROW LOG *** ***
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Mush4Brains
LOOL HACKED!!!

Registered: 07/31/13
Posts: 4,419
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: PussyFart]
#18851117 - 09/16/13 08:33 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Notahacker420 said:
Quote:
Mush4Brains said: RR designed the SGFC so that it DIDN'T require daily maintenance.
Yea, it actually did....
It was designed to maintain itself for 12-14 hours without misting/fanning.
You can use the search function to confirm...
I think I've made my point clear here. Misting a few times daily will help achieve optimal performance, but there it is, in a post not even a year old, that RR says that an SGFC can be left for a week without being a "deal killer." If leaving it for a week won't be a "deal killer," then missing a day here or there without a mist won't be one either.
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Sockadin



Registered: 01/03/10
Posts: 7,244
Last seen: 3 months, 14 days
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Mush4Brains]
#18851335 - 09/16/13 09:13 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I get it and all, but that isn't really the point. He is already on his second week of vacation so I don't think Running home and making a SGFC is an option.
Two things will happen
The mushrooms were probably birthed a week too soon.
1)He will have mushrooms! 2) They will be consumed.
They will just have started to pin. Probably not an ideal flush, but I bet they will be better than most people who mess with their cakes all the time. Picking them up and moving them around impatiently waiting to see pins.
Remember Cubes are resilient to say the least. They are going to fruit. That is the prime objective!
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MidgetPawn
Most handsome


Registered: 06/08/13
Posts: 374
Loc: The Nightosphere
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: Sockadin]
#18851582 - 09/16/13 10:04 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Would suck if you open the door and it pushes into a wall of cobweb mold covering the entire room.
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barada42
Stranger
Registered: 09/16/13
Posts: 19
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Completely Unattended FC! Suspense! [Re: MidgetPawn]
#18897570 - 09/27/13 07:00 AM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Well! I returned from vacation and here's what I found:
- The fogger seemed to have JUST run out of water. It was and is still functioning, however. - The humidity level was around 93%. - Due to the changing season, the temperature in there had dropped to 14°C. D'oh!
I'm thinking this sustained drop in temperature may have "paused" everything for me, which is likely a good thing.
The cakes, which were showing signs of pinning when birthed, dunked, and rolled, now show no signs at all of any fruiting activity. 8 vermiculite-covered lumps.
There is a faint "damp" smell when I open the terrarium to provide FAE after several hours of having it closed up, but nothing that I would consider alarming. Is even a faint smell an indication of bacillus?
I've begun FAE as mentioned above, and I have put in place a blue grow light (incandescent, which I know is not ideal, but I hate the mercury-filled fluorescent bulbs) which cycles for several hours per day, and is providing just enough heat to keep things at the right temp.
Second batch is not showing very good signs of colonization after two weeks, even though the incubator stayed at a steady temp. Two lost to contam and a few not showing even the slightest sign of growth. Grr.
-------------------- -- Everything above this line is fiction
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