Share The Seeds
Gardening Area => Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms => Topic started by: isaak on November 28, 2013, 06:21:29 PM
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Simple DIY Incubator [PICTORIAL]
I've made this pictorial to share a method for creating a relatively cheap, effective, and spacious incubator. Please share your own methods, variations, or other input. This is my first pictorial so please bear with me if it goes through a number of iterations.
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What you'll need:
2 x medium/large thick, opaque plastic tubs with lids (size should be based on your requirements, space, and resources). The tubs must be opaque to keep the mycelium in darkness.
1 x submergable aquarium heater (optional: i'd recommend purchasing/trading for one with a thermostat – this will allow you to adjust the temperature of the water → mycelial environment).
1 x aquarium thermometer (you can run the spectrum of hi to lo-tech solutions).
Optional:
1 x timer – this is useful if your aquarium heater doesn't turn itself off periodically (timer can be set to cycle the heater on and off).
Steps:
1) Remove the lid from one tub and pour in water. I find that a level of ¼ to 1/5 is usually sufficient.
2) Attach the submergable aquarium heater to the bottom of the tub (using a thermostat will require some experimentation to reach the desired incubator temperature).
3) Trail the heater cord up the side of the tub (duct tape can be used to secure the wire though it's not strictly necessary).
4) Place the second tub into the water.
5) Attach the thermometer to the inside of the second tub.
6) Turn the heater on and monitor the incubator and temperature level for at least 5 hours, although I'd recommend watching it for 12-24 hours. This time period gives you a chance to dial-in the incubator for the optimal growth parameters of the species under cultivation using the thermometer and thermostat. Another reason I monitor the system is to ensure that there is no electric failure.
7) Load it up with jars or bags of your favourite legal edible or medicinal mushroom species. (Note: Take into consideration the water-level of the first tub when adding more weight. It may be necessary to add upside-down jars to the bottom of the first tub to prevent damaging the heater from excessive load).
8) Continue to monitor thermometer periodically.
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I hope you enjoyed this pictorial! Comments and opinions are encouraged.
Much love and light to you all.
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Great guide isaak. this is the same setup I use. One neat little trick that I picked up somewhere was to add a bunch of rock salt to the water in the bottom tub to prevent the water from growing things. Works very well. I haven't had to change the water in mine since I set it up a year ago.
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Thanks Saros. I've never heard the rock salt tip - will definitely give it a try.
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Great!
Always nice to learn with you!
Keep on! ;)
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Hmm i remember trying something like this but it kept floating and popping up.
I guess too much water?
Great write up :)
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ah, yeah that does happen. but once it's loaded up with jars, it sinks a bit.
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I suppose that means it's possible to add too much water into the bottom container, where it would spill once loaded up with jars? I'd imagine that that is probably a lot more water than what's needed.
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Yea when i tried it i figured the water level should come nearly to the top, so i like drilled the 2 together.
I guess the water levels not suppossed to be that high lol
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Good idea drilling& fastening them together. I figure you want it to come up the sides as much as possible to help insulate & distribute the heat, so it's only too full if it spills out=)
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Or breaks the inside container from the pressure lol
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Cool! My incubator is even simpler than that. LOL
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Cool! My incubator is even simpler than that. LOL
what IS that?
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Cool! My incubator is even simpler than that. LOL
what IS that?
I'm guessing the space between the fridge and the cabinets, but I can't quite tell either.