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NWuser
journeyman
Registered: 08/25/03
Posts: 105
Loc: Rainy Pacific Northwest
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How critical is temperature during mycelium growth?
#2238389 - 01/13/04 03:02 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Ok. So I started my first PF tek this last weekend, everything is going very smooth and I'm taking as many precautions to prevent contams as necessary.
My question is, I bought a 25watt submersable tank heater for my incubator, which consists of two large rubermaid containers. Now, the temperature on my thermometer which is floating on the perimeter is at around 76 degrees. I believe the heater is on full, and I'm still not getting to 80 degrees...is this a problem? Should I purchase a second heater?
Also, I have a small electric heating pad (12"x8") could I put this in the inner container on the bottom protected by a towel to add more heat? I am using a thick flease blanket to cover the tubs for minimum heat escape.
I'll have a grow log up this week once I get my digi cam back.
Thanks for reading, and any advice!
-------------------- Anxious for the rainy season....
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m0rb
mushroom mobster
Registered: 05/07/03
Posts: 184
Loc: New England
Last seen: 19 years, 8 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2238405 - 01/13/04 03:09 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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I would not recommend putting the heating pad in there as it will cause "hot-spots" and will most likely heat-up/dry-out/kill your mycelium. Not to mention you could burn your damn house down! The blanket on top to keep heat inside is esential. Im not sure why you can only get it up to 76 degrees. What is the temperature of the room that your incubator is in?
-m0rb-
-------------------- "The business of America is business," - Calvin Coolidge
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NWuser
journeyman
Registered: 08/25/03
Posts: 105
Loc: Rainy Pacific Northwest
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: m0rb]
#2238422 - 01/13/04 03:22 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Thermostat at my place is 68 degrees.
I forgot to add, there are 24 3/4pint jars innoculated with 1cc each of Ps. Amazonian cubensies.
I cannot figure this heater out. Maybe I'm adjusting it wrong. The adjusting knob does not physically rotate, yet somehow it is suppose to adjust the temperature...I see it turn inside the housing, but only a little bit, and the light stays on indicating that the heater is on, but it does not heat up that much.
I am thinking of returning it and purchasing a higher wattage, easier to use heater, unless someone else is using the same one I am.
This is the identical unit I am using: http://petchauffeur.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=TPCS/PROD/HAGHEATER/AHGA721
The operating volume is up to 10 gallons, which is much more than I am using (probably around 6 gallons at this point).
-------------------- Anxious for the rainy season....
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MESCALATO
hunting.
Registered: 05/16/02
Posts: 1,025
Loc: Central Alabama
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2238437 - 01/13/04 03:36 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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get a higher wattage heater, 150Watts is enough.
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luigi
journeyman
Registered: 07/15/03
Posts: 71
Last seen: 14 years, 8 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: MESCALATO]
#2238697 - 01/13/04 09:02 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Temp.doesn't have to be perfect.When I first started I didn't use any heater at all and did very well.The jars just take a little longer to colonize.I even did 12 jars at 68 deg.and they all colonized in about 4 weeks.So I wouldn't worry to much about colonization temp..Pay more attention to fruiting temp.that's when it counts.
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NWuser
journeyman
Registered: 08/25/03
Posts: 105
Loc: Rainy Pacific Northwest
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: luigi]
#2238842 - 01/13/04 10:19 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Alright. Thats what I figured, it would just take longer. I guess I'll need to keep a closer eye out for contams if its going to be that long.
Thanks for the replys so far.
-------------------- Anxious for the rainy season....
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Northernsoul
Your Reality
Registered: 11/17/01
Posts: 2,290
Loc: Inner Eye
Last seen: 13 years, 3 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2239347 - 01/13/04 01:33 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well, most aquarium heaters (actualy all of them) are built to sustain life for fishes in aquariums. Therefore the temuature will only go up to a certain point, but never enough it seems to suit the needs of the incubator for substrate jars. So what you do is break the stopper off of the temuature dial and give it some more juice. This will not damage a good aquarium heater, and as long as its submerged it will not overheat and break. This will get your temps up enough to sustain ideal incubation temps. Also, you can moderate the temp by a few degrees here and there by putting a blanket on top, doubling it up, or having 2 blankets for even higher temps. This is actually very effective.
Good luck!
-------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- When it comes I'll know, I know Just take my clothes and leave And I'll be gone
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GoldenShroom
shhhh ....don'ttell anyone!
Registered: 03/13/03
Posts: 91
Loc: wherever shrooms grow wil...
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2239421 - 01/13/04 01:55 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Don't break it!!!
Just return it and get a 50W one, and pay the extra $1-2 to get one with a temp adjust where it tells you the setting. I got a Hagen 50W submersible from petsmart for $19 and it works beautifully. A nice cozy 86 degrees!
-------------------- -The killer in me is the killer in you... so I send this smile over to you
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Psilocybeingzz
Registered: 12/15/02
Posts: 14,463
Loc: International waters
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: m0rb]
#2239532 - 01/13/04 02:29 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
I would not recommend putting the heating pad in there as it will cause "hot-spots" and will most likely heat-up/dry-out/kill your mycelium. Not to mention you could burn your damn house down!
Most people are smart enough to not have that happen, for example, I se a heatpad inside a container, with foam on the bottom and ouple of wool socks and POOF no hotspots!, and really fast growth.
Would I use a reptile heatpad, or a egg incubator??? OF COURSE
but right now a heatpad is all I have, and it works just great.
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HALFemptyJOSH
Magician
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 428
Loc: USA
Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2239587 - 01/13/04 03:02 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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what about if the jars are a little warm to the touch?... would that mean it is hot enough to have "hotspots"?
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HALFemptyJOSH
Magician
Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 428
Loc: USA
Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2239590 - 01/13/04 03:03 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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what about if the jars are a little warm to the touch?... would that mean it is hot enough to have "hotspots"?
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simplemachine
Manfly
Registered: 09/14/03
Posts: 1,981
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2239600 - 01/13/04 03:20 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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my jars like to be warm to the touch. it's fine.
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GregHimself
Just a guyobssesed withshroomies.
Registered: 07/18/03
Posts: 936
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
Last seen: 6 years, 3 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: simplemachine]
#2239657 - 01/13/04 03:48 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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critical is a point of view...if you are look for spped of colonization then yes 85-86 degrees is optimal..if time is not an issue, then temp is not an issue. But also, the longer the colonization time the higher chance that contams may get into jars and cause problems.
-------------------- "The key to successful cultivation is to match the skills of the cultivator with the right strain on the proper substrate under ideal environmental conditions." Paul Stamets Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms(Third Edition)
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NWuser
journeyman
Registered: 08/25/03
Posts: 105
Loc: Rainy Pacific Northwest
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: GregHimself]
#2240450 - 01/13/04 10:43 PM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
GregHimself said: critical is a point of view...if you are look for spped of colonization then yes 85-86 degrees is optimal..if time is not an issue, then temp is not an issue. But also, the longer the colonization time the higher chance that contams may get into jars and cause problems.
That is good news I suppose. I did maintain what I thought was very clean and sterile procedures, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Once I get a grow log up I'll link it in this thread if anyone is curious how the ~75degree incubation works.
-------------------- Anxious for the rainy season....
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Hanky
wiffle bat.
Registered: 08/30/03
Posts: 56,993
Loc: Great Southern Land.
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: NWuser]
#2240887 - 01/14/04 04:17 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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heater pads are bad news.i used one when i started out and had no end of problems including,drying of substrate,overheating resulting in partial thermal death,slow colonisation due to unsteady temps. in short,heater pads are a pain in the ass.
here's a jar which was partialy cooked by a pad.
pads are bad,pads are evil.
get a bigger wattage aquaruim heater.
-------------------- Coaster is an idiot... [quote]Coaster said: but i thnk everything thats pure is white? [/quote]
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Granola
bag lady
Registered: 05/18/03
Posts: 411
Loc: 50.0N-6.0E
Last seen: 18 years, 6 months
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Re: How critical is temperature during mycelium growth? [Re: Hanky]
#2241201 - 01/14/04 09:41 AM (20 years, 2 months ago) |
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Try the tub-n-tub with a few dozen small holes drilled in the incubation tub with the heating pad under the bottom tub, place a piece of sheetrock under the pad. it works and never had a problem with drying even using tyvek filter thats unmasked.
it spreads the heat and evaporates some of the water in the bottom and keeps the top humid, it's not really needed during incubation but it doesnt hurt.
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