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waffams
lord of the kiwi birds



Registered: 06/08/14
Posts: 46
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow..
#20273416 - 07/14/14 08:39 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Hey all,
Before I had done a lot of research I bought that fine Miracle Grow perlite--I've read from some that it works with just a bit worse results than coarse perlite, but the general consensus seems to be that it won't work. I'll be picking up coarse perlite as soon as money comes in, within 3-4 days at the very most. More if I can't find a store around here and have to order it online.
For now, I birthed a few small cakes into the chamber with the perlite. I washed it as well as I could and got all the finest stuff out, but it still probably isn't optimal.
My question is, would having a (very) small fan underneath the SGFC running on low strengh counteract my problem for a while? I know a lot of people suggest against having fans so close to the FC at all because it can dry it out, but since that applies to a properly constructed SGFC and the finer perlite restricts airflow through the bottom, maybe a small fan could counteract that in this case. Right now I have it a couple feet underneath the FC.
Any feedback?
I think it might be working decently, I have a few pins. Pics of the cakes and the fan for reference (cakes were fruited from between 3-5 days ago):


The fan:

Also, I think my hygrometer was too cheap. It has no adjustment knob and after trying calibrating it with a wet towel for an hour, and later, when I tried again, a couple hours, it read 60 each time. Any suggestions?
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fahtster
Now With 33%More Faht



Registered: 06/17/06
Posts: 9,717
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: waffams]
#20273491 - 07/14/14 08:52 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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You'll be ok... there was a time we made cake bins without the SGFC. Probably didn't work as well, but it still worked. I wouldn't fret too much about it. 
faht
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Sanguin3
Optimist

Registered: 10/19/13
Posts: 2,273
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. *DELETED* [Re: fahtster]
#20273541 - 07/14/14 08:59 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Post deleted by Sanguin3
Reason for deletion: .
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xamplesample
N00B


Registered: 03/25/12
Posts: 242
Last seen: 10 years, 3 months
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: fahtster]
#20273543 - 07/14/14 08:59 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Ive always used miracle grow fine perlite. Thats all i can find.in my area, and it works just fine.
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waffams
lord of the kiwi birds



Registered: 06/08/14
Posts: 46
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Sanguin3]
#20273609 - 07/14/14 09:11 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Sanguin3 said: I wouldn't worry about the fan, I've used the miracle grow perlite before and it worked fine. Home depot or lowes should carry big bags of the coarse stuff. If you're worried just pick some up when you've got the money and you can swap it out, but your cakes should be fine until then without the fan.
Looks like you've got some decent pins with your current setup anyway though so you're fine either way. 
Thanks everyone for your reassurance. I actually went to Home Depot and all they had was the miracle grow stuff. The reason I was worried was because of the humidity and how it seems to be really low, but I think that might just be my meter for the reasons stated in my original post.. that and the fact that there has been some standing water lingering on one of the pins, but it's probably just paranoia.
Thanks again everyone. Will update if anything significantly interesting happens
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Sanguin3
Optimist

Registered: 10/19/13
Posts: 2,273
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. *DELETED* [Re: waffams]
#20273645 - 07/14/14 09:16 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Post deleted by Sanguin3
Reason for deletion: .
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waffams
lord of the kiwi birds



Registered: 06/08/14
Posts: 46
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Sanguin3]
#20273721 - 07/14/14 09:28 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Looked first, only found miracle grow stuff, asked someone about it and they took me to the same place and that was all they had. It was the outdoors section. I'm going to try some specialty hydroponics shops around the city and hope they won't be too expensive.
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Mykes logos
homo nosce te ipsum


Registered: 08/05/12
Posts: 1,108
Loc: FL
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: waffams]
#20273819 - 07/14/14 09:45 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Forget about the perlite- its not an issue. Lose the fan and hygrometer- that's your issue. That hygrometer sucks- all of em do, honestly.
Mist the sides of the sgfc a few times a day and fan the hell out of it.
Besides that, you're on track.
GL and cheers
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Sanguin3
Optimist

Registered: 10/19/13
Posts: 2,273
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. *DELETED* [Re: Mykes logos]
#20273846 - 07/14/14 09:49 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Post deleted by Sanguin3
Reason for deletion: .
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waffams
lord of the kiwi birds



Registered: 06/08/14
Posts: 46
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Sanguin3]
#20274015 - 07/14/14 10:14 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Sanguin3 said:
Quote:
Mykes logos said: Mist the sides of the sgfc a few times a day and fan the hell out of it.

Mist the cakes and perlite directly. Misting the walls does very little if anything.
I typically mist a foot or so above the tub and let it fall evenly. I'm afraid that without enough FAE the water is standing on the pins, and there are little white spots on one or two that are making me worry a little too much.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 minutes, 13 seconds
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: waffams]
#20274135 - 07/14/14 10:35 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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a sgfc is riddled with holes...it' gets plenty of fae , to boot pins can be dunked with your cake and often double in size or more during that time so don't sweat it
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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waffams
lord of the kiwi birds



Registered: 06/08/14
Posts: 46
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: cronicr]
#20274156 - 07/14/14 10:38 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
cronicr said: a sgfc is riddled with holes...it' gets plenty of fae , to boot pins can be dunked with your cake and often double in size or more during that time so don't sweat it
Are you saying to dunk them again? Would that increase my yield?
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Sanguin3
Optimist

Registered: 10/19/13
Posts: 2,273
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. *DELETED* [Re: waffams]
#20274171 - 07/14/14 10:40 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Post deleted by Sanguin3
Reason for deletion: .
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 minutes, 13 seconds
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: waffams]
#20274181 - 07/14/14 10:42 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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gimme a minute lol, i haven't read the thread yet just responding to the last post but in general yield and fruit size is gonna be dependant on genetics and available moisture from the sub and good conditions so if ever your cakes feel light before your first flush i'd say it's safe to dunk them again if needed but if there not too light just let it go and you can always sit it in a saucer of water over night even with pins on it
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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waffams
lord of the kiwi birds



Registered: 06/08/14
Posts: 46
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Sanguin3]
#20274183 - 07/14/14 10:43 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Sanguin3 said:
Quote:
waffams said:
Quote:
cronicr said: a sgfc is riddled with holes...it' gets plenty of fae , to boot pins can be dunked with your cake and often double in size or more during that time so don't sweat it
Are you saying to dunk them again? Would that increase my yield?
He was just saying them getting a little wet isn't going to hurt. 
Cool, appreciate all the patience guys. Guess I need to try some myself
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 minutes, 13 seconds
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: waffams]
#20274196 - 07/14/14 10:45 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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yeah those look great,and the issues i see have been addressed just mist as needed and you won't need the hygrometer
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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Mykes logos
homo nosce te ipsum


Registered: 08/05/12
Posts: 1,108
Loc: FL
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Sanguin3]
#20274225 - 07/14/14 10:51 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Sanguin3 said:
Quote:
Mykes logos said: Mist the sides of the sgfc a few times a day and fan the hell out of it.

Mist the cakes and perlite directly. Misting the walls does very little if anything.
I disagree- misting the walls will help you indicate when you need to mist again when you no longer see any condensation on the sides... you're trying to get 100% rH here. I don't know how big your SGFC is, but can you mist the walls without misting the cakes? Give it a whirl. Bet you get the whole damn thing all nice and moist
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Sanguin3
Optimist

Registered: 10/19/13
Posts: 2,273
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. *DELETED* [Re: Mykes logos]
#20274241 - 07/14/14 10:53 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Post deleted by Sanguin3
Reason for deletion: .
Edited by Sanguin3 (07/14/14 10:59 PM)
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,905
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 minutes, 13 seconds
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Mykes logos]
#20274248 - 07/14/14 10:55 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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sorry but your wrong, a sgfc will never have condensation or at least it shouldnb't because of the mass amounts of fae it takes in, we don't want 100% humidity in the chamber we want it on the surface of the cakes where it matters and can't be measured and this is achieved via misting directly as needed so misting the walls tells you nuthing, watch your cakes and fruits not your tub walls
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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Mykes logos
homo nosce te ipsum


Registered: 08/05/12
Posts: 1,108
Loc: FL
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Re: First time: SGFC question--so fine perlite restricts airflow.. [Re: Sanguin3]
#20274288 - 07/14/14 11:02 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Sanguin3 said: Telling someone to "mist the sides of the sgfc" and having some overspray hit the sides when you mist the cakes are two totally different things.
Not really. You're misting... which will hit everything. I'm simply saying mist the sides b/c it can be helpful to determine when to mist again, if drafts in the room are affecting it, etc.... Op was already misting in general. Arguing about this doesn't make any sense...
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