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ParticleMan
enthusiast
Registered: 02/05/02
Posts: 240
Last seen: 22 years, 9 months
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Terrarium (Pics)
#549535 - 02/12/02 11:31 PM (23 years, 3 days ago) |
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Well, Hello everyone, after gathering soooo much useful information from this board, my friend thought it would be a good idea to give back :-) After finding much helpful information there were still many wrinkles in the plan, this is written to help iron some of those wrinkles out for others.
This can't really compare to that lab that B.I.O. just posted (great job) but....its my friends best attempt at building something.
He doesn't intend to grows mushrooms or use it for any other illegal purposes but has built quite a nice little set-up for decoration.
He used a Holmes Ultra Sonic run through a three liter bottle followed by 2 2-Liter bottles...which eventually all leads into a 4ft x 1ft x 2ft aquarium. It has been up and running for about a week now and produces some very nice humidity. I will now post in sections the details of each part...if you are not intrested....please do not read on for the safety of your own sanity.
Humidity
Holmes Ultra Sonic through the bottles into the aquarium. This is run through two timers chained together (he could only find one hour increments) so that the humidifier and air pump are both run for 5 mins on the hour.
Bottles
The bottles after much wasted time and money are now held by a nice sturdy wooden shelf, custom built to hold them tight, while allowing for ease of drainage.
Air Replacement / Circulation
Fish tank air pump through H2O2 and water into the bottom of the aquarium, mainly serving the purpose of air exchange, puts out little to no humidity. Currently there is only one exhaust through the top (yes, that is bad) of the lid. If anyone knows how to drill through tempered glass, please let us know. This is also all run through the timers, see humidity...or timers.
^^^^^^^^^ this wood was replaced....stupid idea ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Light
24 inch grow light (just a regualr light in a grow light box i think) which is supposed to distribute light, without much heat energy....proably just a crock to charge him an extra dollar and write it on the box. This is run off of a light timer that turns it on for 8 hours a day.
Lids
The lids were a little problem for him to make, as they have to be airtight, let in the light, be pretty sturdy (no saran wrap) and look good :-) They were made by sizing the appropriate plywood, and treating them as a cooler lid in the MMGG. 1/4 inch bolts were also used to hold the plexi-glass in place. Then a seal of the usual put around the sides to keep everything air tight. Ample duct tape was applied to keep everything from getting wet.
Timers
It is really hard to find a good timer that will let you pretty much decide when you want to run your appliances at a minute by minute scale. He solved this problem after much searching by getting two $3.50 timers that have 12 on/off per day. He chained one straight out of the first, the problem was that the timer on the second would stop when the first was off....leading to them eventually getting to be on the same settings. He decided with his very limited electronic knowledge to try and shock himself...and took it apart. It turns out they are VERY easy to modify. He ran two wires out the back for the timer and attached them to a regular plug, and BAM. The second timer now runs off an independent power supply, thus keeping its time.
The Bottom
The bottom is made of a 2X2 frame with 1/4 inch wire covering it, he is thinking about elevating it about 3 inches to keep the CO2 off the (would be) growing surface. This would still allow ample room under the drip sheild. The post with the nail in it pictured below is one of the supports for the drip sheild. The nail gives the nice 1/4 inch gap from the wall.
A Few Little Details
The drip sheild is just plain ol plexi-glass supported by 2X2's running down to the bottom, a nail in the middle of these is a great way to stop the plexi from sliding down and closing your nice little gap for air/humidity to reach the bottom.
After spending a little money and quite a bit of time, he thinks that while it was tough to build and not cheap, it is worth it. Others may look at using these concepts to modify a Rubber-Maid.... it should be much easier to work with and especially to drill into. He likes the humidifer with ease of operation and autonomy, but he thinks he will still have to fan anyway due to the crappy placement of the exhaust...such is life.
That should be about it. Hope this information has helped someone out there. My friend and i are looking forward to becoming members of the community and thanks again for all the information posted by others.
Please feel free to PM me with any suggestions and or questions.
Problems with this set-up would also be VERY MUCH appreciated. He didn't ask me to post it in hopes for an atta-boy (although they are very welcome) ..... his feelings wont be hurt...promise. He has already invested some cash in it, so if there is something that could be modified. let me know and i'll tell him.
-ParticleMan
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"the weekend has landed all that exists now is clubs,drugs, pubs, and parties" - Human Traffic
Edited by ParticleMan (04/18/02 11:50 PM)
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ParticleMan
enthusiast
Registered: 02/05/02
Posts: 240
Last seen: 22 years, 9 months
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Oh yeah, this too
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"the weekend has landed all that exists now is clubs,drugs, pubs, and parties" - Human Traffic
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RedeyedElf
enthusiast
Registered: 10/30/01
Posts: 245
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Very nice:)
-------------------- When the walls quit melting, I'll think of a sig
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KoOs
BlingBling!


Registered: 02/12/02
Posts: 6,226
Loc: Glendive MT
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Re: Terrarium (Pics) [Re: RedeyedElf]
#549559 - 02/12/02 11:59 PM (23 years, 3 days ago) |
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Looks nice.
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ParticleMan
enthusiast
Registered: 02/05/02
Posts: 240
Last seen: 22 years, 9 months
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any constructive criticism?
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"the weekend has landed all that exists now is clubs,drugs, pubs, and parties" - Human Traffic
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phrozendata
Carpal Tunnel


Registered: 04/23/00
Posts: 5,015
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Looks good, but, my large rubbermaid w/ perlite still works just as good (at a fraction of the cost).
-------------------- "There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving and that's your own self. So you have to begin there, not
outside, not on other people" - Aldous Huxley
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ParticleMan
enthusiast
Registered: 02/05/02
Posts: 240
Last seen: 22 years, 9 months
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yeah, for his next "model" he is going to use perlite for something to hold casings. but he is not quite to that stage yet.
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"the weekend has landed all that exists now is clubs,drugs, pubs, and parties" - Human Traffic
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Northernsoul
Your Reality

Registered: 11/17/01
Posts: 2,290
Loc: Inner Eye
Last seen: 14 years, 2 months
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Re: Terrarium (Pics) [Re: ParticleMan]
#554782 - 02/17/02 08:59 PM (22 years, 11 months ago) |
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I think alot of people just fan and mist, but that thing looks like it can take care by itself pretty good. Let us know if it does the job.
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When it comes
I'll know, I know
Just take my clothes and leave
And I'll be gone
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triptor
member

Registered: 07/25/01
Posts: 123
Loc: Confussion
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Is that wood exposed to the inside enviroment? If it is you are going to have one hell of a mold problem.
-------------------- Zippity freakin doo dah
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Numba9
Veteran tripper


Registered: 05/24/01
Posts: 508
Loc: State of "Euphoria"
Last seen: 16 years, 10 months
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Re: Terrarium (Pics) [Re: triptor]
#555189 - 02/18/02 08:51 AM (22 years, 11 months ago) |
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"WOOD" uh huh huh huh..... yeah yeah.. heh heh.... He said "wood"... sorry lol I just ate an 1/8th of mazzie`s
-------------------- Remember..what the Door Mouse said..."Feed your Head".......... Jefferson Airplane
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ParticleMan
enthusiast
Registered: 02/05/02
Posts: 240
Last seen: 22 years, 9 months
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Re: Terrarium (Pics) [Re: ParticleMan]
#561831 - 02/24/02 06:43 PM (22 years, 11 months ago) |
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he has just replaced the wood with these closet rack deals, they are a very sturdy metal grate that is used for some sort of shelving, 12" wide which is perfect also. for 5.00 it does a great job, so no more wood in there, working out great, he has also started a perlit terr. and will be posting with results in comparison.
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"the weekend has landed all that exists now is clubs,drugs, pubs, and parties" - Human Traffic
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