By Admin (Admin) on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 11:12 pm: Edit

Originally posted here by 'Rochester'

Here are some pics of my automatic grow chamber.

Supplies needed are:
Rubbermaid Container
Kaz (Vicks) Cool Mist
3-1" pvc 90
4 feet of 1" pvc pipe
3 feet of 1 1/4 flex hose
ceiling light panel
hand drill & saw
4" funnel
Sealant

The idea is to put it on a timer and run the coolmist 15 minutes every 4 hours for a quick air exchange and humidity refresh. The cool mist has a funnel with the small end cut off to snugly fit the flex hose and siliconed on for an air tight fit. the hose then connects to the pipe that runs thru the tank, it has holes drilled in it for even distribution of the mist. The other end of the tank has a pipe on the inside that exhaust near the bottom of the tank and then exit out and down to a glass filled with water that acts as a one way valve to let air out but not in.

So what do you think? I'll be birthing my first babies this weekend and am excited!

Later Gang!

By Admin (Admin) on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 11:15 pm: Edit

By Admin (Admin) on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 11:16 pm: Edit

By Admin (Admin) on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 11:17 pm: Edit

By Admin (Admin) on Saturday, May 19, 2001 - 11:18 pm: Edit

By Admin (Admin) on Sunday, May 20, 2001 - 12:33 am: Edit

Oh yea, the cost factor:

Rubbermaid 14.00
Cool Mist 20.00
Flex hose 4.50
Funnel 1.00
Fittings/Pipe 5.00
silicone 3.50
Light panel 4.50 (1/2 sheet)
Timer 0.00 (stole it from my wifes skink!)
(it's a green lizard...)

Since the filter is pretty small on the coolmist and I don't want to buy replacments I'll be tapeing a cheap furnace duct filter over it for a prefilter.

By Admin (Admin) on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 11:40 am: Edit

Here is the Plastic Sink Tek, from someone named Toad at the Shroomery:

A Different Growing Chamber

I have been following methods of cake growers for a couple years and most seem to be using aquariums or coolers. Here is what I have always used and it's time I posted it so others can try it too. I "think" it's somewhat original so please pass it on.

If you go to Home Depot or a large hardware center, go to the plumbing area and look for the plastic laundry sinks. There is one made of a PVC material and is about $20. Here is a description: White plastic sink comes with four detachable legs-when assembled stands 2ft 8in tall, the sink chamber is about 12in deep with a 20x20in square opening on top that has a 3/16th inch high lip or rim running around it. The opening MUST have this rim. The bottom of the sink chamber has(of course)a drain hole in the bottom.(see where im going with this?) Now, get the sink and take an EXACT measurement of the opening INSIDE the rim on top(should be around 21 1/2 x 22 3/8 inches square)then have a piece of glass cut to that size, line the edges of the glass with duct tape and you have your chamber lid. The duct tape acts to seal the chamber cuz the rubberized tape surface is resting on the plastic sink while the glass square is lying inside the rim of the sink. If you dont see a place to lay the glass or the opening comes straight up with no rim, you gots da wrong sink(look for this rim).

Use the method of your choice to keep the cakes off the bottom. If you do not use a bubbler jar you can fit about 12 cakes in the bottom. The drain in the bottom is self explanitory and you can get a plug to fit it or rig up an external valve on the outside pipe so you dont have to open the chamber to drain it(no more tilting coolers or turkey basting aquariums):-). The plastic sink is very easy to drill into so measure the area for your drip shield, get the glass and hold it up with some screws or something pushed through the sides. If you use the ultrasonic just cut the needed holes. My sink method can't be EXACTLY instructed cuz every individual has different preferences.

ADVANTAGES ARE:

Good fitting glass lid-(no making a frame with plastic).
Elevated chamber-(stands on its own legs).
Drain built in-(obvious advantage).
Fits up to 12 rice cakes-
Adapts to your method-(drill and cut holes with more variety).
Hide your project quick-(is grandma dropping by? Just throw a sheet over the thing, set a vase and a bowl of plastic fruit on top, cuz its waist high like a table).
Save space-(cut the legs short, make a PVC pipe frame and stack em up). *haven't tried this yet.
I hope some more good ideas come from all this. Good luck,

Toad. :-)