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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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autonomous terrarium concept 1
#27300129 - 05/08/21 12:17 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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for the last year or so ive been fantasizing about creating a truly autonomous growing environment, meaning one that would allow me to put a fresh cake in, leave town for two weeks, and come home to a PHAT PHLUSH every time. i am not rolling in dough nor am i mechanically inclined, so i sought to come up with something budget friendly and also idiot proof. i think ive gotten pretty close.

i bought an inkbird humidity controller and a crane humidifier for almost $100 total. the rest of the stuff i already had lying around, namely a tub and a little piece of tubing.

the FAE happens passively. i poked holes every 5 cm, a row at the bottom and a roll at the top. the inkbird is set at 95% with a differential of 5%, meaning as soon as the rh drops below 90% it kicks on for a few minutes. this happens every 1-5 hours depending on ambient conditions. the humidifier is positioned outside the tub so it also contributes to the FAE. originally i had micropore tabe covering the bottom row of holes but i saw that my boys were stretching so i took off half of it. since then its been smooth sailing.

you may have noticed that the tub is upside down, so the lid acts as a tray and the body acts as a dome. i did this because i found it a bit tedious to lift cakes out of the tub and even worse to reach in and pick them out. i was often breaking off baby shrooms that i would have rather let mature. this way i just pull the tube out if its hole, pop the dome off like a fancy waiter, and harvest with ease.

so there ya have it. interested in anyones questions, comments, suggestions, tiddy pics, comparable projects, whatever. i throw myself at the mercy of the court.
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mushboy
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27300135 - 05/08/21 12:24 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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I'd bet you'd get the same results with the upside tub idea and no humidifier.
Tub n holes.
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: mushboy]
#27300841 - 05/08/21 09:32 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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but then how would the tub stay humid?
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Stipe-n Cap


Registered: 08/04/12
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings] 1
#27300847 - 05/08/21 09:39 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Probably from the hydrated substrate.
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Feasoghorm

Registered: 10/24/18
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: Stipe-n Cap]
#27300918 - 05/08/21 11:00 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: Stipe-n Cap]
#27301153 - 05/09/21 06:10 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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well yeah, for a while, but then the substrate dehydrates, and you have to spray it
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Stipe-n Cap


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings] 2
#27301234 - 05/09/21 08:05 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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This idea of an "automated" terrarium has been brought up by nearly every single person who has ever begun the mush journey, it's definitely not a new idea. I had the same idea when I was new.
The thing is that mono tubs are already automated terrariums. The hydrated substrate does an absolutely amazing job of creating the humid environment necessary for growing very robust flushes.
The holes provide passive air exchange, its pure genius.
If you know how to properly hydrate your substrate and you introduce clean spawn, you should not have to do anything else other than add a top layer of coir/verm. Spraying is seldom necessary unless you have a lot of ac/heater action in your room.
When you get enough tubs under your belt you see just how unnecessary electrical humidity devices really are.
Even with one of these devices attached to a tub your substrate will still shrink and lose water when you harvest mushrooms. Your water is being transported from the substrate to the fruits, the more the better as this is the metric for measuring your cultures efficiency. It has nothing to do with humidity.
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: Stipe-n Cap]
#27301591 - 05/09/21 12:37 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
This idea of an "automated" terrarium has been brought up by nearly every single person who has ever begun the mush journey, it's definitely not a new idea. I had the same idea when I was new.
i didnt say it was a new idea. im just documenting my method and results for whoever might be interested.
Quote:
mono tubs are already automated terrariums. Spraying is seldom necessary
a setup that "seldom" requires input is not autonomous. i wanted to build something that required zero monitoring or interaction except at harvest. since i grow in a space where ambient conditions are variable, this seemed like a good way to go.
Quote:
When you get enough tubs under your belt you see just how unnecessary electrical humidity devices really are.
once again, didnt say they were necessary. most of my growing has been done without one. personally i found this setup to be very fun and user friendly, which is why i posted it.
Quote:
Even with one of these devices attached to a tub your substrate will still shrink and lose water when you harvest mushrooms. Your water is being transported from the substrate to the fruits, the more the better as this is the metric for measuring your cultures efficiency. It has nothing to do with humidity.
not sure what point youre trying to make here. yes the mycelium transports water to the fruits and then needs to be rehydrated, which is why people soak. in this case the mycelium is kept hydrated by the humidifier and theres no harvest/soak/harvest cycle. i just pick off the mature fruits as they come, and the cake keeps churning out mushrooms until its spent.
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tiptrippy
The Mechanic



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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27301598 - 05/09/21 12:39 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Go ahead and waste your time to try to prove us wrong man. This has been tried and found ineffective hundreds of times.
Quote:
AK1000 said: I have 40+ tubs running simultaneously right now and I just did my first flush harvest on all of them this week. I never once misted or fanned them. They just have pasty's ez dialed holes in them and THAT'S IT. The whole point of the monotub is to set and forget. I see so many posts of people constantly checking their tub. Just let them be, guys. No need to open the lids everyday and disturp the microclimate. All I did was make sure the room wasn't too hot on any warm day. I saw the first pins in 8-9 days and picked the last of the fruits last night at 18 days in. Everything happened with zero babysitting on my part. Just trust the process. That is all I wanted to say.
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tiptrippy
The Mechanic



Registered: 09/09/20
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: tiptrippy]
#27301604 - 05/09/21 12:43 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Stipe-n Cap


Registered: 08/04/12
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Loc: Canada
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27301614 - 05/09/21 12:55 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Bakedbeings said: in this case the mycelium is kept hydrated by the humidifier and theres no harvest/soak/harvest cycle. i just pick off the mature fruits as they come, and the cake keeps churning out mushrooms until its spent.
I don't soak or spray between flushes, I rarely have room on my sub to have a second flush in most cases but even when I have a shitty flush I still don't soak or mist
Filthyknees has a thread about this, I'd look it up but I don't think it would matter anyways.
I realize that you're not using a full tub, but still. Glad that it worked for you but as mushboy said earlier, you will get the exact same results without the contraption.
Also keep in mind that we're not commenting for your sake alone, but for any new grower that reads this thread.
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: Stipe-n Cap]
#27301717 - 05/09/21 02:54 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
you will get the exact same results without the contraption
well well...this all has me very curious. every tek ive ever read has involved soaking and spraying, but if you say you dont do either i guess i believe you. i just spawned some new cakes today, i guess i could do a side by side comparison - one in the autobot and one fending for itself, no spraying or soaking, and then compare total harvest...any input on how to set up the second cake?
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Stipe-n Cap


Registered: 08/04/12
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27301741 - 05/09/21 03:17 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Why don't you do 50, because one isn't much of a sample.
We grow lots of mushrooms in these parts, we have no reason to lie to you.
The TC/mod up there that originally answered you literally has a massive ongoing thread about shoeboxes. Check it out, see for yourself.
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mushboy
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Registered: 04/24/05
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: mushboy]
#27301782 - 05/09/21 03:38 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
mushboy said:
I'd bet you'd you will get the same results with the upside tub idea and no humidifier.
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: Stipe-n Cap]
#27301797 - 05/09/21 03:52 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
p9hu7 said: Why don't you do 50, because one isn't much of a sample.
We grow lots of mushrooms in these parts, we have no reason to lie to you.
The TC/mod up there that originally answered you literally has a massive ongoing thread about shoeboxes. Check it out, see for yourself.
not accusing anyone of lying, im just surprised to hear that you dont do anything to rehydrate your cakes. until building this contraption ive been following (more or less) bod's unbodified tek and he says "you may have to mist twice a day or once every few days or even not at all. I will sometimes bottom water by pouring water down the sides of the tub after the pins are in, and as always only mist if the surface needs it" so thats what ive been doing. it gets hot and dry here sometimes so i found myself misting quite often.
i have a chronic condition that ocassionally makes it difficult to get out of bed and tend to my tubs, so i built this thing. but if youre saying i dont need it, im intrigued.
im familiar with mushboys shoebox thread but i only read his OP about how he sets them up. i didnt see anything about not misting them. just to clarify: if i unplug the box and dont touch anything i will still see the same results? i dont need to modify it at all?
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27301822 - 05/09/21 04:14 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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ah ok i see mushboys reply. well here goes nothing
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: tiptrippy]
#27301864 - 05/09/21 05:06 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
tiptrippy said: Go ahead and waste your time to try to prove us wrong man. This has been tried and found ineffective hundreds of times
i might well be wasting my time but im definitely not trying to prove anyone wrong. i like my setup but if everyone on this thread is telling me its dumb im down to try it their way and see what happens
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Stipe-n Cap


Registered: 08/04/12
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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27301886 - 05/09/21 05:16 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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It may be less work for you in the long run to run a full size tub, have you considered it?
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: Stipe-n Cap]
#27301907 - 05/09/21 05:51 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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when i first started bulk i was doing bigger tubs, but my quadriparesis made handling big batches of substrate a pain in the ass, so i started a little shoebox routine. i keep 4 jars going, use 3 to spawn a tub, and 1 to knock up the next 3. that means i usually have 2 or 3 shoeboxes fruiting, so i put them in 1 big tub
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bakedbeings
orbiter of truth


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Re: autonomous terrarium concept [Re: bakedbeings]
#27301921 - 05/09/21 06:03 PM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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it went fine for a while but then we started getting some dry weather and i was misting a LOT, so i taped up some of the holes. but then the fruits started stretching so i took the tape back off and went back to regular misting. idk if i come off as defensive about my autobox but its the first time all year ive been able to sit back and chill until harvest. but i will be moving into a bigger place soon and want to expand my grow so im very keen on learning more
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