Anyone using a monotub mushroom grow setup as a CO2 generator?

MacroLogos · Jun 19, 2022

So, as I was watching this short video on monotub mushroom growing:

... it seems like it would sit perfectly on a 4x4 tent, and because mushrooms create co2 as they grow, it could easily be vented into the tent and provide a constant flow of co2.

Has anyone tried this yet? How did it go?

Observationist · Jun 19, 2022

I just need to source the spores I want and I’ll update when I’m getting it set up

MacroLogos · Jun 19, 2022

Observationist said:
I just need to source the spores I want and I’ll update when I’m getting it set up

Nice. I'm planning on setting this up as well. If we don't get any responses to this post, lets start journal threads and document the experiments as best we can - Anyone joining in, post journal links in this thread please?

I also posted this question to that video's comments... maybe it will get some responses too. I'll repost any fruitful comment's here.

I am thinking humidity will be a problem for many people and so this might only be viable in dry regions.

Over this summer, I used 2 evaporative coolers to cool & drive humidity levels up to get VPD in range in a 4x4 tent, in an unsulated well vented shop... this required running one cooler outside with exhause into the shop - driving up the RH to 20-40% in there, and then running the other one inside the shop and venting it into the tent... which caused it to suffer a bit in cooling power, but got the RH in the tent up to 60-70%... I know I can ditch one and still keep temps under 85 on a 110+ day, and hopefully the humidity comming with the co2 from the monotub will bring RH up to range, but not out of range to the 'wet side' of VPD targets.

Observationist · Jun 19, 2022

Sweet will do

I know there’s a few people here growing shrooms of all kinds, surely they’ll chip in as well.

Observationist · Jun 19, 2022

I would like to get a dehum and another humidifier but that’ll be down the road.

Observationist · Jun 19, 2022

It’s dry here in Tulsa usually and I just spray the tent for now to keep the humidity up.

MacroLogos · Jun 19, 2022

Observationist said:
It’s dry here in Tulsa usually and I just spray the tent for now to keep the humidity up.

I use 2 of these types of coolers (my designs are more evolved) to dump cool humidity into the shop, and tent, and then to lower humidity in the tent, I just vent the shop humidity. It is a bit of a juggling act at times, but made it possible to get a summer crop with my setup. You might find this works better than a humidifier.

Observationist · Jun 19, 2022

MacroLogos said:
I use 2 of these types of coolers (my designs are more evolved) to dump cool humidity into the shop, and tent, and then to lower humidity in the tent, I just vent the shop humidity. It is a bit of a juggling act at times, but made it possible to get a summer crop with my setup. You might find this works better than a humidifier.

Oh shit

I might just do that

Thanks

MacroLogos · Jun 19, 2022

Here's a link to a paper I just found on the use of mushrooms to generate co2 for use growing lettus that should be worth a read (I only now reading it):

CO2 Utilization Strategy for Sustainable Cultivation of Mushrooms and Lettuces

Mushroom cultivation generates a large amount of CO2 that can be used sustainably. The objective of this study was to use actual cultivation and simulation to find a sustainable cultivation method that uses the CO2 generated by king oyster mushrooms for the production of romaine lettuces. A...

www.mdpi.com

Wandering81 · Jul 24, 2022

MacroLogos said:
So, as I was watching this short video on monotub mushroom growing:

... it seems like it would sit perfectly on a 4x4 tent, and because mushrooms create co2 as they grow, it could easily be vented into the tent and provide a constant flow of co2.

Has anyone tried this yet? How did it go?

If your scrubbing your tents air with a filter, the air circulates too fast for co2 to do anything. Just gonna suck it out of the tent with the other stinky air. Same concept as those co2 mushroom bags at the hydro store. Bigger rip off that bottled nutes

MacroLogos · Jul 24, 2022

Wandering81 said:
If your scrubbing your tents air with a filter, the air circulates too fast for co2 to do anything. Just gonna suck it out of the tent with the other stinky air. Same concept as those co2 mushroom bags at the hydro store. Bigger rip off that bottled nutes

Good caveat.

We don't run a filter, but dealing with heat is requiring a higher air flow being vented, however...

My brother has a 1k watt sodium with a cased vented hood that can be used to segregate it (and the high air flow) from the main tent.

Swagmasterflex · Jul 24, 2022

I've been thinking about doing using a 3 compartment tent. My only concern is the effect spores might have on my plants, I'm not sure if the fungus could effect the plants negatively. I'm definitely subscribing, and hopefully I'll have some info to contribute!

MacroLogos · Jul 24, 2022

Swagmasterflex said:
I've been thinking about doing using a 3 compartment tent. My only concern is the effect spores might have on my plants, I'm not sure if the fungus could effect the plants negatively. I'm definitely subscribing, and hopefully I'll have some info to contribute!

Nice! I had considered a few ideas on setting this up in a 4x4x7 tent... in that chunk of upper space, but the tent is going to get too cramped.

The approach I am currently favoring is to put the tub outside, on top of the tent. I'm thinking this will give me room to setup 3-4 more tubs if one isn't enough.

I also considered creating a "lung tub" as well, but that's feeling a bit Goldbergish.

Mushroom spores won't hurt anything (in soil.. not sure about hydro setups, but I doubt they would corrupt the grow solutions), however, if VPD is not dialed in molds and disease start manifesting at 0.5 kPa (and below)... and exhaust from these monotub will drive up tent humidity.

Swagmasterflex · Jul 24, 2022

MacroLogos said:
Nice! I had considered a few ideas on setting this up in a 4x4x7 tent... in that chunk of upper space, but the tent is going to get too cramped.

The approach I am currently favoring is to put the tub outside, on top of the tent. I'm thinking this will give me room to setup 3-4 more tubs if one isn't enough.

I also considered creating a "lung tub" as well, but that's feeling a bit Goldbergish.

Mushroom spores won't hurt anything (in soil.. not sure about hydro setups, but I doubt they would corrupt the grow solutions), however, if VPD is not dialed in molds and disease start manifesting at 0.5 kPa (and below)... and exhaust from these monotub will drive up tent humidity.

Luckily I'm in CO,I need all of the humidity Lol! Have you found a reputable source for spores?

MacroLogos · Jul 24, 2022

Swagmasterflex said:
Luckily I'm in CO,I need all of the humidity Lol! Have you found a reputable source for spores?

Arizona here, and added humidity is needed here as well.

Haven't ordered yet, but there are plenty of sources online that have been in business for decades.

Anyone using a monotub mushroom grow setup as a CO2 generator?

Anyone using a monotub mushroom grow setup as a CO2 generator?

MacroLogos

Observationist

MacroLogos

Observationist

Observationist

Observationist

MacroLogos

Observationist

MacroLogos

CO2 Utilization Strategy for Sustainable Cultivation of Mushrooms and Lettuces

Wandering81

MacroLogos

Swagmasterflex

MacroLogos

Swagmasterflex

MacroLogos

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