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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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My incubator (cheap)
#3382658 - 11/19/04 01:32 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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When I first started this WONDERFUL hobby. I was just sitting my jars on top of my water heater. It held the 3-4 jars I had and stayed between 83-88deg. Once I moved to more jars I needed a biggger place to incubate. At first I just placed the jars back in the box they came in and wrapped the box with an electric blanket. This worked but had to be monitored daily to keep the temps right.
Now I have moved up again and thought I would post my modified incubator here.(it is a take on the tub in tub) This has kept the most constant temps and will be the incubator that I will use from here on out.
ITEMS NEEDED
1-large rubbermaid tub with lid ($5-6) 2-smaller tubbs with lid($2-3 each) 2-50 watt fish tank heaters($10-12 each) 2-jars for heaters(used old pickle jars) 1-electric blanket($15-25) 2-light blankets($5-10 each)
Set-Up
First fold the blanked in half length ways. Set the big tub in the center of the folded blanket. Fill the jars for the heaters with enuf water to cover the heating element. Put them in the ends of the big tub. Set them around 82-83deg. Get 1 of the smaller tubs and sit in the middle of the big tub. Fill the small tub with jars.
Put the lid on it,
and put the second small tub on top. You can put your temp gauge in either tub. The temps remain stable, once you get the blanket and heaters set right. The bottom tub will be a degree or 2 lower than the top. I like to rotate the tubs every other day.
Put the lid on the last small tub, and put the lid on the big tub.
Take one of the small blankets and drape over the left side of the tub.
then do the right side with the other blanket
This helps keep out cold spots.
Then wrap the blanket from the back..
...and the front...
...and set the blanket around 5-6.
I used a thermometer from Wal-Mart that had a wire for checking the temp outside. I just put the end of the wire in the tub I want to keep an eye on. Start out checking the temp in the top tub. You will have to adjust the temp by turning the blanket up or down. Once stabalised the temp in the tubs stays real stable. The top tub will be between 84-86 while the bottom one will stay between 82-84.(Thats why I rotate them) Once the jars begin to collonize(around 40-60%)they will produce some heat on their own. I have turned my blanket off, kept it wrapped up and still keep good temps.
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aussieone
shroominator
Registered: 07/11/04
Posts: 766
Loc: QLD, Australia
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: niteowl]
#3382667 - 11/19/04 01:34 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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do you find it hard taking everything out to check the jars?
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KaptKid
Spaced Pirate
Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 6,252
Loc: Bright Side of the Sun
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382689 - 11/19/04 01:42 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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Do what you gotta.Grow.
-------------------- Child of the 60's, Tripping ever since.
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382696 - 11/19/04 01:45 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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Not really. Just folding the top layers off. Plus it's a good incentive to not check them every freakin day.
This was an evolution. Starting with what I had on hand and going from there.
I know ther are better ways to build an incubator, this is just an easy one made with stuff around the house.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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kronnyQ
SuperstudExtraordinaire
Registered: 07/22/04
Posts: 2,488
Loc: Anytown USA
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: niteowl]
#3382703 - 11/19/04 01:46 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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Nice incubator other than it being a fire hazard x10
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aussieone
shroominator
Registered: 07/11/04
Posts: 766
Loc: QLD, Australia
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: kronnyQ]
#3382712 - 11/19/04 01:49 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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haha yeah, breaking a habbit is always good those fishtank heaters gradually burn off the water so whats the humidity at?
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382726 - 11/19/04 01:52 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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I have the tops wrapped with foil. I havent had to add any extra water yet.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: kronnyQ]
#3382731 - 11/19/04 01:53 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
kronnyQ said: Nice incubator other than it being a fire hazard x10
How?
There isnt any place that gets hot.
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aussieone
shroominator
Registered: 07/11/04
Posts: 766
Loc: QLD, Australia
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: niteowl]
#3382740 - 11/19/04 01:55 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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i would of thought the the blankets alone would provide enough heat
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lesstutrey
All Weather Associate
Registered: 10/24/04
Posts: 495
Loc: Chicagoland
Last seen: 9 years, 6 months
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382752 - 11/19/04 02:00 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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it seems to me that if you bought 2 50w aquarium heaters and made two heat bombs that one would of done the work of both in a TiT. I have a 50w with two 52 gallon rubbermades (5-8$ each) and i could get that baby up to 90 if i felt so inclined (actualy, with the temp flucuation lately, its been ending up there at points.. though its turned down now, i wish it would either not be winter or winter would just set in damnit!) and trust me, i don't live in a warm region :o
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: lesstutrey]
#3382758 - 11/19/04 02:03 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
lesstutrey said: ....and i could get that baby up to 90 if i felt so inclined (actualy, with the temp flucuation lately, its been ending up there at points..
With this set-up there is hardly any temp flux.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382763 - 11/19/04 02:06 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
aussieone said: i would of thought the the blankets alone would provide enough heat
Hve you ever used an electric blanket? You could leave the thing on 10 and still not get hot enuf to start a fire.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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aussieone
shroominator
Registered: 07/11/04
Posts: 766
Loc: QLD, Australia
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: niteowl]
#3382853 - 11/19/04 02:56 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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enough heat to keep the jars at temp, not start a fire
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382863 - 11/19/04 03:01 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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IC The blankets alone leave cold spots in the big tub. The fish tank heaters solve the cool spot problem. Once the jars are about 50% the blanket is turned off.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
Edited by niteowl (11/19/04 03:06 AM)
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aussieone
shroominator
Registered: 07/11/04
Posts: 766
Loc: QLD, Australia
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: niteowl]
#3382873 - 11/19/04 03:05 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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ahhhhh ok so why didnt you go for the tub in tub??
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niteowl
GrandPaw
Registered: 07/01/03
Posts: 16,291
Loc:
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: aussieone]
#3382879 - 11/19/04 03:07 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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You have to have submersible heaters for the tub in tub. I already had the cheap heaters.
-------------------- Live for the moment you are in nowDon't be bogged down by your pastDon't be afraid of what lies in your future
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aussieone
shroominator
Registered: 07/11/04
Posts: 766
Loc: QLD, Australia
Last seen: 7 years, 6 days
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Re: My incubator (cheap) [Re: niteowl]
#3382894 - 11/19/04 03:15 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
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oh ok, good going for making something with what you've got
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