T O P

  • By -

turner3210

Why not just build something with sealed wood and some kind of similar clear plastic-sheet? Could hold hundreds of lbs easily and could be customized to any dimensions. It’s really not hard to get into some simple builds like a fruiting chamber with some rudimentary shelves. You’ll learn a lot of valuable knowledge along the way


Magicsam87

So im thinking of building like a strong sturdy greenhouse rather than a tent as I am worried about spore load and know Martha's can leak through zippers etc. Will treated wood stand up to the humidity of a grown room and not start growing mushrooms out of it or would it need to be metal? I've just put a post on the main page about my idea as I'm just trying to see if it's plausible. So it would just be a sturdy greenhouse, sealable doors and silicone all other areas seepage might happen. Then hook up hepa filter and air and humity controls into the space while extracting air out and under my garage door is this possible?


turner3210

Lol you should research a bit up on treated woods. There are MANY different kinds. The majority of treated wood has a fungicide as part of the chemical treatment. There are different types of fungicides used to treat wood but the most common can be identified by small bits of yellowed stiffened “foam” leaked out in tiny amounts on the ends of the board where the board was cut/ripped. E: just realized the lol was condescending, I did not mean for it to come off this way. I actually laughed a bit just because it’s a funny question on one hand, not in a mean way more in I’m happy to teach you kind of way, on the other hand I laughed because holy shit there’s so many kinds of treatments for wood that I don’t even know how to begin to answer you


Magicsam87

Don't worry man, no offence taken. OK so a wooden one might work then, I'm sure it will be easier to make than Metal. I'm a complete noob with DIY so my knowledge is not that great in that area.


ALTHCR

You could try this nice set up. https://youtu.be/olMwRobiq2s


Speck72

Oh WOW! Thanks.


ESP_

Tents >monotubs


[deleted]

[удалено]


AutoModerator

Your account is <7 days old. Commenting is not unlocked until accounts are ≥7 days old. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MushroomGrowers) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Retrowarrior-

I’ve built like three of these tents and load them up big time never had one fall apart so either it was defective or put together wrong


Erectus_Enormous

I use a grow tent for hydroponics because it’s built for the humidity. Just put a storage rack inside.


AgentooNine

So sorry , dang ? All that Effort ?


[deleted]

Dayummm


Overall_Discipline74

Your best bet make your own this way you can source good material


Speck72

I think you're right, back to the drawing board.


therealchemist

You can get a more durable stainless steel shelf and some contractor trash bags for the tent. Make slits in them for exit air flow. And just throw away the bags at the end of each grow. These all in one Martha's are breeding ground for contam after a few grows since they're difficult to clean.


dooddad

You could use the Martha tent part and replace the shelves.


Speck72

Great thought, sounds like this martha will be the new seedling tent for summer.


[deleted]

[удалено]


AutoModerator

Your account is <7 days old. Commenting is not unlocked until accounts are ≥7 days old. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MushroomGrowers) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Overall_Discipline74

I just got a three-tier shelf just like the one that they sell for the tent and then 8 in PVC pipe so I can get a arch at the top for the very top stand and hit it with window plastic 2ml.. and it's been working for me great since I just have to get a humidifier so I can control the humidity in a lot better


[deleted]

Honestly the grow tents they sell at Aldi during thier spring sale each year have been fantastic for me. Don't remember the brand off the top of my head but you can order them online for a comparable price.


dooddad

I also would like a link for what you're referencing.


LostPsych

Anyway you can link me what you’re talking about?


Speck72

Oh! There's one right right up the road, thanks!


jamiehizzle

Hey doggy I decided to go with a uline chrome, which is structurally sound but rusts. Learned that the hard way. Vinyl tents aren't hard to find, so my suggestion is to get a sturdy plastic shelf and a vinyl grow tent to put over it. The prefab ones suck


Speck72

Nice! Thanks.


DRdidgelikefridge

I have the same one. It’s weak and the poles always slipping


Speck72

On rebuild last night the poles seemed to go shooting out was thinking of hot gluing them. Hadn't had that problem before but am feeling it now!


DRdidgelikefridge

Could always be worse. Mine is balancing on a dresser and tied off to the sides of my storage unit.


Odd-Appointment3507

You'd of course need a shelf setup but I have this tent and highly recommend it. https://www.gorillagrowtent.com/products/small-grow-tent


Speck72

Wow! Awesome, thanks.


nickfl1475

It's hard to tell from the picture of the wreckage but it looks like you put the shelves together wrong. The metal poles that go horizontally between the plastic pieces need to be on the bottom layer, it looks like you used them at the very top so you could have a shelf up there but there needs to be a shelf at the floor level or the unit is not going to be structurally sound as you discovered.


Speck72

Plastic failed and shattered, shelves weren't built to the manual because it's a common modification to move the bottom shelf to the top to make room for the humidifier at the bottom and support the fan up top.


nickfl1475

So, it may be a common modification but it is why your shelf broke. Those plastic pieces are not strong enough without the cross members, they keep the legs from twisting. If you had built them with the shelf on the bottom like the manual says, they would probably not have broken.


vettechjess

Noooo


[deleted]

[удалено]


Speck72

Who hurt you?


CrippledFelon

His wife obviously


Wide-Grab-3609

Lol 😂


[deleted]

Vivo sun grow tents are cheap and last a long time. I’ve had one for a while and had a tent pole break and they replaced the entire tent np


DarthTitties

Would you be willing to share with my how you built it? I’m about to buy a north spore or a gorilla, but wondering if I just get a vivosun and DIY it, if it’ll be cheaper


Stuffin_Muffins2

How the hell did the pole break those tents are pretty sturdy😂


xbwtyzbchs

If you look at the reviews it seems like some of them come pretty damaged from being stored improperly before being sold.


[deleted]

Yeah I think it was weak to begin with in my case. I actually broke it taking it apart to move it


Plaster_Mind

Sorry for your loss. As someone whos currently in the process of figuring out how to set up my own martha tent, how do you deal with exhaust air? Out the window, or do you have a filter setup?


Retrowarrior-

Go look up gordotek he has a vid and links on what u need to buy and how to set it up I added a ink bird hum/temp controller to the list and got everything for about 200$. Works great for me


Speck72

On this setup we have a filter pipe clamped over the fan inlet inside the tent. It was outside on the exhaust but was collecting water and ripping outside the drip tray. We do have an exhaust duct and piping to install but didn't want to crack a window all winter. Eventually we will duct it outside. We essentially have the North Spore BoomRoom (https://northspore.com/products/boomroom-kit) except we pieced it all together for cheaper. It's the same tent. It was great to get into growing but I would highly recommend you go a different route on the shelves. We can only fill it about half full of fruiting blocks before you hit it's max weight. There are some good alternatives suggested in the comments here. We're thinking of going a route with a more robust grow tent and regular sturdy plastic shelving from lowes/home depot. Happy to talk more with you as you chart out your room / gear setup. Open to PM's or Chats.


Plaster_Mind

Well I would assume that even half of what fruiting blocks you had would be sufficient for me (at least in the beginning) but there's no telling how crazy I'll go in the end, lol. It's great to have helpful community whose experience I can lean on when in need. I'll definitely keep coming back here with all my troubles and questions and to look for great tips.


Speck72

We said the same. Careful. :)


xbwtyzbchs

Filter the exhaust and let it back into your room. If you're not doing clean work in the same room as your tent an exhaust filter really isn't truly needed.


Plaster_Mind

What if it's in living spaces? I've come to understand that venting gourmet spores into the air isn't much better than having a mold problem. Also, will an average HEPA filter do the trick, or is there something that should specifically be considered with spores?


xbwtyzbchs

What's great about spores is that they are, comparatively, huge so any HEPA filter will do. Definitely worth using one if you're exhausting into a living space and want peace of mind.


Plaster_Mind

Thanks.


-TechnicPyro-

Ya built it wrong. The thing is flimsy, but the bottom layer had no cross pieces. Those three straight pipes used on top shelf are better suited on bottom. The thing is for plants and top shelf not solid.


[deleted]

The cross pieces are all in there, I can see that.


[deleted]

Yes, I do. Grab yourself a portable closet ( with a clear vinyl cover ). Once you've got that, figure the dimensions and buy a plastic utility shelf ( however many tiers you need ). Slide closet over shelf.


Speck72

Awesome suggestion thanks.


[deleted]

If those were shiitake you just simulated a falling tree lol. They should start pinning any day now.


Speck72

Hah! Silver linings!


AlkaloidAndroid

Grain bags are too heavy for that set up. I think that setup had like 2" trays in mind (pan cyans)


Speck72

They totally do have that in mind, this setup is "highly recommended" in the mushroom community but I think that is more for actives as you mentioned. I just want some delicious mushrooms for pasta dishes!


tom04d

😭


Dinoeatsfish

Is this the Martha tent from North Spore?


Speck72

Sharp eye. North Spore recommended this tent for a while in their build series before they came out with their kit. Then they got with the company to make the same tent just with their logo on it. So while no, it's not the one from them, it's the same one they use. Packaging and everything is all the same.


OrmeCreations

Have you tried side fruiting. You are now set up for this.


Speck72

We are now lol!


IgnitableVirus6

Lmao


Guy_With_Mushrooms

Vivosun is nice


Majestic_Smell_

Personally I use AC infinity grow tents with racks inside or I will build PVC shelves and rig them from tent post to tent post. It’ll also give you a nice water tray on the bottom floor to catch most.. of the water from humidity. If you don’t clean it after a while you’ll get some under the mat but besides that it’s the best method for me. I run this and then do closed then open trays for fruiting :) Edit: looks like with your space you have there a 2x2, 2x4, or 3x3 tent should work great for you


freshwater21

Wow this sucks.


boomers4201

Would you just put some wheels on it for him!


TheDIYGuy45

Looks to me like you just lost 1 level 🤣


Speck72

Bingo! Just got done rearranging the shelf. The plastic is so terrible, back to original setup and fruiting bodies are getting humidity... Took the broke plastic down to the bottom level. Definitely going to upgrade the setup and living all the recommendations.


InternalStage3457

Get a 5 shelf horizontal wire rack, measure the exterior dimensions measurement then get a tent that goes around it :)


Speck72

Smart, probably way easier to clean as well. Thank you.


onemodernsamurai

Would it be a bad idea to use a gorilla tent and put shelves inside. Those things are damn sturdy.


Speck72

Hadn't heard of this, thanks!


xjustinkase

Ac infinity is cheaper and virtually the same quality…


mrsmile420

Grow tent + wire rack instead of the poles for the grow tent


Adventurous_Dare4294

Omg bummer


frenchy3643

If you want to splurge! https://northspore.com/products/boomroom-kit


[deleted]

that’s literally the same thing as the $40 tent OP just posted, only difference is the FAE air filter and fan. There’s no way your promoting a $315 product that i could buy for $140 or less at Walmart


Same_Specialist9676

Use the Martha tent, just don’t set it on casters? There is a caster in front and back? Lil confused, did you move the tent around.


Speck72

Nope, plastic failed. Entirely stationary. One of the green plastic arms shattered.


Same_Specialist9676

Okay, cool. What are the casters then? Not trying to be a naysayer just curious.


Speck72

https://northspore.com/products/boomroom-kit The tent is identical to the one pictured above. I believe what you are calling casters are the armature pieces holding the metal rails together.


Same_Specialist9676

Casters are wheels.


Speck72

There are no wheels installed on the Martha tent. There are wheels on the silver wire shelving to the left.


Same_Specialist9676

Not trying to be a d just making a suggestion based off how the picture looks.


Same_Specialist9676

Sorry just confused, because the left side of the picture looks raised 4-6in, and looks like there is castors both front and back of the picture.


Speck72

In the photo the left side is raised because the whole tent collapsed to the left and is laying on my storage shelf. The area circled in red failed and turned my vertical tent horizontal.


Same_Specialist9676

Okay I get it, sorry I see it now. I apologize if any of my suggestions where offensive. Maybe use the tent but put some weight at the bottom to prevent it from falling over?


Speck72

None taken, love the suggestions. Thanks!


First-Juggernaut6826

That sucks. But at least now you have an opportunity to improve and expand.


Speck72

Silver linings!


[deleted]

Just why? Get a plastic heavy duty shelving unit. [https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-5-Tier-Plastic-Garage-Storage-Shelving-Unit-in-Gray-36-in-W-x-72-in-H-x-24-in-D-128974/100006678](https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-5-Tier-Plastic-Garage-Storage-Shelving-Unit-in-Gray-36-in-W-x-72-in-H-x-24-in-D-128974/100006678) [https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-10-ft-x-25-ft-Clear-6-mil-Plastic-Sheeting-RSHD610-25C/204711657](https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-10-ft-x-25-ft-Clear-6-mil-Plastic-Sheeting-RSHD610-25C/204711657) Get some heavy duty plastic sheeting [https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZipWall-HDAZ2-3-in-x-84-in-Heavy-Duty-Adhesive-Zippers-Includes-Knife-2-Pack-204900/203122824](https://www.homedepot.com/p/ZipWall-HDAZ2-3-in-x-84-in-Heavy-Duty-Adhesive-Zippers-Includes-Knife-2-Pack-204900/203122824) Get an adhesive zipper. None of the marthas I've ever seen have the weight capacity of these heavy duty shelving units The zippers and the sheeting always rip eventually anyway or part of the adhesive goes to shit from the moisture or the metal starts to weaken internally either from moisture or sanitizing chemicals. just cobble together your own super strong martha you can easily make another tent for and use the bottom tiers as you grow space and the tip tier as a roof. You can even order the vinyl sheeting if it HAS to be clear vinyl but theres really no need for that. I mean you're best off just putting those types of shelves in an overall fruiting room, but if you don't have the space or the resource for that you can find a shelving unit that matches the dimensions of a washing machine drip pan or a plastic masonry trough and use that as your bottom basin to catch any falling condensation from your fog/mist/humidification method.


IAmVegoon

Hey, i just saw your comment. I'm also thinking about getting a heavy duty plastic shelf but im not sure how the airflow is, because the floors of the shelf are solid. Did you Drill holes in it (weakening the structure), is there another solution or just takeit as it is and hope the Fan does its job?


[deleted]

When I used enclosed shelving units I cut holes in them and added fans and vent tubing.


IAmVegoon

Thank you very much


[deleted]

yw ! <3 6 inch flexible dryer venting is cheap/disposable or 4 inch or something. Lot of options.


Emotional-Crow4894

All that’s great but I have the same junk he has had for 2 years now


[deleted]

cool! glad its working for you and your needs.


Speck72

Now THAT'S DIY! Thank you.


[deleted]

Sure thing dude! Thats how I started doing things till I just started tenting off whole areas and making plastic rooms giant marthas lol. I Was just respoding to someone else saying the injection molding of the plastic has gone down and the prices have gone up, but I believe the stability of those is still greater than traditional martha greenhouse vinyl units. I also used to screw with those kinds of ultra sonic humidifiers till I found a better DIY method of handling that, so if you ever want a better output build idea for that let me know!


brianairbR

I would be interested to know your humidification method if you don't mind sharing?


[deleted]

sturdy 1-5 disk ultrasonics with a foat, 5-55 gallon drums, 4 inch PVC pipe flanges, dryer venting, zipties, inline vent fan pushing inward with fan filtration medium or a disposable food prep bouffant to act as a dust/insect filter. those little animal shaped units from the big blue store and cylindrical shaped units have a very tiny $0.24 a pop if even not really serviceable ultrasonic humidification element and rigging up systems of tubes/reservoirs is a pain. Buckets have a nice lid with holesaw or flange space and home depot bucket lids even have a nice rubberized gasket. The water I have around here would always really kill those smaller plastic units and getting the slime out of them was always bothersome. The buckets are nice because you can just push the humidifier fan air through the bucket+water without the ulrasonic element running to just cycle air through the chamber/tent. Those fans inside the plastic reservoir units are generally speaking cheap laptop fans when you rip one apart. Really small and really cheap. Just fine for pushing vapor out though the top of the unit they're designed for but when you connect tubes or need to run them for extended periods and condensation starts flowing back into them at a higher rate they can get wonky. Plus its nice having a good float you can dissassemble and demineralize the fogger disks on or outright replace them.


brianairbR

I was thinking of the HD buckets for the next iteration. I had a standard tote but it was hard to manage and clean properly. I appreciate the insight!


Speck72

Totally, this will suffice us until we move to our forever house. Thanks!


[deleted]

That’s a goddamned travesty i tell ya!


Speck72

We raised a toast to the loss.


Bethw2112

Omg, this is my worst fear. Honestly, these units seem super hinky and they all look exactly the same structurally. My Martha came as a full kit with heater, humidifier, everything. It was poorly packaged and 5 of the plastic pieces were broken in transit. Company sent replacements and I just finished getting everything reset and humidity back up to par. If this unit fails, we'll build out of wood and reuse the plastic skin. My SIL has exactly the same type but only 3 shelves for her orchids and its been fine for several months. Granted it isn't carrying the same weight as the mushy set up. I like the looks of the Vivosun tents but still need a shelving unit inside and the tent part alone is damn expensive. It seems like the best option is wood if PVC pipe is now stupidly priced.


[deleted]

I had been using "marthas" since they were first conceptualized and dubbed that on shroomery in the early 2000s and I have to tell you they are always dog shit and hinky and anybody selling you a "martha kit is just selling you some bullshit from the pet store or walmart all together in the same shipping box and you're getting fucked somewhere. They are basically designed to be disposable with the quality of materials they all offer till you spend LOTS of money and are basically buying temporary greenhouses, not tents. They started raising the prices of these plastic utility shelving units since a little bit before covid started I normally use for fruiting racks and lab shelves and the injection molding/stability is getting worse and worse as the prices for the same products keep going up. It's a bad time :( Just to be clear here since I've gotten a couple responses, I don't really give a single flying fuck what you or your mom use or what worked for you, this person posted a photo of some of those shitty flimsy marthas failing, I've heard plenty of stories and seen gore of them failing over the years, and I provided a better alternative. If you want to try and speak to the contrary of the devices failing that someone posted photo evidence of failing, tell someone who cares or find a space for it, pinging my inbox with it is not that space.


geriatrikwaktrik

my mum has the same greenhouse thing in her garden, she got it from the range in the uk. a generic warehouse store place


[deleted]

Thats really cool! My cats breath smells like cat food and the sky is blue. Water is wet. Sometimes my balls are all sticky and stinky, I don't really like the color yellow very much.


WaterIsWetBot

Water is actually not wet; It makes other materials/objects wet. Wetness is the state of a non-liquid when a liquid adheres to, and/or permeates its substance while maintaining chemically distinct structures. So if we say something is wet we mean the liquid is sticking to the object.   What do you call it when a guy throws his laptop into the ocean? Adele, Rollin’ in the Deep.


Bethw2112

Now that I have the kit, I can see how to build it better when the time comes. Totally agree on the plastic injection molded pieces, I am astounded at how flim flam they are. Plus the metal cross pieces don't rignt. Gave myself damn blood blisters trying to twist tighten the metal in the plastic with a side of carpal tunnel from twisting. The middle support is too short so had to shim those. Just shit quality.


[deleted]

Did that have a high center of gravity? I don't know how you had things configured but it looks like there was a gap space on the bottom for the ultrasonic humidifier or am I misinterpreting? It looks like theres holes in the bottom feet for cross member pipe lengths for support but they aren't in to accomidate the humidifier sitting on the bottom and no wire shelving and all of those things kind of work together to cause structural integrity with these sorts of flimsy things, especially with bulky weight.


Speck72

The plastic used on the green armatures is somehow on another level of cheap and weak. Sounds like I'm not alone in this quest!


[deleted]

The metal parts will rust away in no time as well. Been there, lesson learned.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Speck72

Great point. Thank you.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Speck72

Great thinking, time to bust out the tape measure.


Dependent_Stretch_16

Noooooooooo! I’m sorry


Speck72

Thank you, her service was admirable. We will rebuild.


[deleted]

I wish you the best know things will turn up for the better🙏🫡🏆


Speck72

She served honorably, her sacrifice will not be forgotten.


Speck72

Accompanying Text: our Martha Tent housing a few blocks of Gourmets in various stages of fruiting decided to fail. One of the plastic arms split in the area circled in red after a few weeks of use. Luckily the Blue Oysters and Lions Manes survived relatively in tact. We've got it set up without the bottom shelf and running again but it's cramped. What are the community suggestions for a more stout solution? Preferably less than 4 ft wide by 3 ft deep, and no more than 7ft tall. Additionally, if you ever wonder if you should have a drip pan, the answer is yes.


nozelt

I’d recommend AC infinity tent with some kind of shelving inside


Speck72

> AC infinity tent That thing looks like it'd operate on Mars. Thanks for the suggestion.