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 Freezen
newbie
Registered: 01/22/01
Posts: 27
Last seen: 22 years, 6 months
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 Strange terrarrium question 
#630687 - 05/14/02 03:34 PM (22 years, 6 months ago) |
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OK, styrofoam container as terrarrium. I'm going to do a few of 'em at once. 6 in fact. Can fit 2 casing containers in one at once. Cross-contamination wouldn't be a huge issue then. That part is done with. No problems.
Lighting: put a string of small christmas-tree type light in each container at the top, on a timer for 2 hours / day. The area where I grow them is cold still. 72 degrees currently (Checked). During the summer, it only gets up to 84-90 in my room (Yes, i'm serious, my room is that cold).. winter is between 65 and 72.
Moisture: Casing. No external moisture needed, so far as I know and understand.
Circulation / fresh air:
I have an air pump from an aquarium, fairly powerful. Did a test, and it seems to pump roughly 3L of air per minute, or about 180L (45 gallons / hour).
The pump would be sitting in a sealed container, and an air intake via a hole covered with one (or three) MM Filter Discs. This pump then goes through a 6-way air splitter, with hose leading into each styrofoam cooler (sealed around hose). At the bottom corner would be one of two things:
1. Another filter disk
2. A small piece of hose, leading to a container of water, hose under the water. Pump shut off, reverse pressure would only draw water up hose, no airborn particles or such.
My questions for the forum would be as follows:
Would this work? Would it be ideal?
How could I improve this?
Would it be better if the hose leading into the containers each were into an stone bubbler into a flask / container? Or would this lead to too much moisture? WOuld this be enough moisture without this, or should I spray once / day still?
Would I require fanning still, or could I just leave the hose on for X amount per day? moving 180L of air per hour is quite a lot... especially when the containers are only 18-27L each (I can't remember which). Regardless, it's enough for 6 or more styrofoam coolers.
Would the lighting be sufficient, so long as it has A light source at all a couple hours / day?
Would a series of larger rubbermaid containers be better, while still using the same techniques?
The goal here is to make it cheap, and as unattended as possible.... Timers are my friend. Timer for light, timer for air. I've got a timer that has 3 on/off cycles, I figure it would do for air circulation every 8 hours... or buy a second for 4 cycles (6 hours each), with up to 2 settings for the light (2 hours twice / day)..
I've got a shelving unit (Wooden) that I'm not using to hold the coolers (Fits 6 nicely, oddly enough), a pump, the hose, the 6-way air thingy, lights (Xmas tree, and can rig something up to go inside the coolers, not overly hot, just warm w/light), a timer, and an area...
Opinions / suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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There are three types of people in this world:
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StainBlue
Da Man
Registered: 04/11/02
Posts: 392
Last seen: 13 years, 9 months
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 Re: Strange terrarrium question [Re: Freezen]
#630732 - 05/14/02 04:19 PM (22 years, 6 months ago) |
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Sounds ok to me. Only a few things I would like to point out.
1) Your temp should be fine. Upper 70's is where you want it for pinning and fruiting. I would watch that it doesn't get too hot ths summer though. Higher temps tend to lead to mycelial growth and little to no fruiting.
2) External humidity is highly recommended. Your terr. should be 95-100% RH all the time until you want to initiate pinning. At said time you want to lower it around the high 80% No higher than 90% with casings. I would suggest perlite. 2in. of perlite 1in. water. Or you can do your idea of the bubbler in a container of water. I really think the perlite would be a better idea though. Also remember to keep your casings moist. Don't let those dey out. In this case, mist them. Not heavily though.
3) This isn't neccessary but I recomend it. Go to walmart and by some clear sterilite containers with white lids. Get at least a 58 qt. or higher. Those work great.
4) Your air exchange set-up sounds good. You did exactly what I would personally recommend. Fanning is still a good idea since you are doing casings. You will benefit by fanning a couple of times a day in order to keep your RH about right (the high 80%).
5) Any light source is good. I would recommend 12 on 12 off. I know your going for inexpensive but I would get a UV light for plants and aquariums. Low wattage.
All in all I think you'll be OK. I don't see any imidiate problems with your set-up. Maybe just the temp thing. The only things I really would like to stress is watch your temps that they don't get too high during fruiting, get some reubbermaid or sterilite containers, and use perlite. You've got the right idea. Just do a bit more research and ask a lot of questions before you get under way with things. Good luck to ya! Keep us posted on your results.
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Peace,
StainBlue
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Freezen
newbie
Registered: 01/22/01
Posts: 27
Last seen: 22 years, 6 months
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Re: Strange terrarrium question [Re: StainBlue]
#633749 - 05/16/02 09:57 PM (22 years, 6 months ago) |
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What exactly would the sterilite container be for? Rough size? It would be an alternative to the coolers?
The light source within the coolers was so I wouldn't have to have a window for the light... save some money on the plexiglass & cutting (Turned out to cost about 10-15 bucks before, was disgusted at the high price)..
My issues in the past have been cross contamination (One went, the rest followed from where they were close), too high humidity (Wouldn't fruit, or would just pin and not grow to full size crop), small crops (3-5 mushrooms from a cake, in total sometimes), casings that would not fruit at ALL (Or would, but only around the edge of the case, where it shrunk away from the sides)...
Odd question about casings then:
How much is enough? What should be the depth of the bottom layer of casing, the substrate, and the top layer of casing? And what humidity should casings be kept at? I was under the impression that the casings gave the moisture needed, and humidity around 60-70% would be best... ?
Thanks.
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There are three types of people in this world:
Those who can count, and those who can't.
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FanaTEK
Slave to theShroom
Registered: 09/19/01
Posts: 447
Loc: Midwest, US
Last seen: 17 years, 8 months
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Re: Strange terrarrium question [Re: Freezen]
#633987 - 05/17/02 05:54 AM (22 years, 6 months ago) |
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"""
"What exactly would the sterilite container be for? Rough size? It would be an alternative to the coolers?"
"""
Yeah, Sterilite bins make excellent alternatives to styrofoam coolers, and actually cost less when you consider the size, reusability, and (unless your house is REALLY cold), the lack of insulation. They are also easy to cut holes in (you don't get styrofoam everywhere) and glue things to.
"""
"The light source within the coolers was so I wouldn't have to have a window for the light... save some money on the plexiglass & cutting (Turned out to cost about 10-15 bucks before, was disgusted at the high price).."
"""
Go to Home Depot - my friend got four 8.5x11 sheets of plexiglas for just over $3. They cut it for free (or at least they do in his neck of the woods).
He would still reccomend a gro-light on a 12/12 cycle, though, if you're going to keep the setup in the closet.
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"Odd question about casings then:"
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Check out the Shroomery Casing FAQ.
My friend would be curious about how well your air pump works. He's been looking for a way to forego all of the fanning stuff. That pump you're using - it's displacing 45gal/hr, but split among six chambers. So that's 7.5gal/hr. In TMC, it is reccomended that P. Cubensis get three air exchanges PER HOUR. I don't know how one would keep their humidity up like that, but that's what it says.
FanaTEK
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Read the FAQ!
Read  !
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MAIA
World-BridgerKartikeya (DftS)
Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 7,399
Loc: Erra - 20 Tauri - M45 Sta...
Last seen: 3 months, 27 days
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Re: Strange terrarrium question [Re: StainBlue]
#634032 - 05/17/02 06:37 AM (22 years, 6 months ago) |
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"I would get a UV light for plants and aquariums"
Don't, you might get mutations or weak growth.
About the terrarium idea, it's good, go ahead and try it.
Peace,
MAIA
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Spiritual being, living a human experience ... The Shroomery Mandala
 
Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.
Voltaire
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