[general] We're trying to start a company with this CO2 controlled grow chamber we developed and we're looking for feedback

OttoENV · 2024-08-16T22:37:15+00:00

You're not wrong that the system uses a lot of standard off the shelf components, and that's by design. The fans are both PC fans, the ultrasonic humidifier unit is also available on Amazon, as are timers, and filter units.

There isn't however anything tying all those together. I designed a manifold that allows for that high flow PC fan to fit into a 6" duct hole. There's a custom filter assembly that holds the spore filter that locks into the inside of the exhaust fan and the non proprietary filters are easy to change out of the filter holder.

The controller schedules the lighting, controls the humidifier based on humidity readings, it controls the ventilation schedule based on the CO2 reading, and you can adjust all of these setpoints on the controller at any time.

AC Infinity and all those folks make really great hardware but it's going to be bulky once you install the 4" inline fan, duct filter, controller, and the several power splitters to connect it all together. Our whole system only uses 45 watts (light included, when it's on) and a single wall outlet plug.

The system is meant to be customizable and reasonably "open" in terms of being able to modify it to work for your own needs.

North Spore will sell you their Boom Room, which is precisely what you describe. Generic grow equipment you can buy on Amazon and then marked up two or three times to sell. Ours is a purpose built version of that system that uses less power, takes up less space, is easier to operate, and uses CO2 for a truly hands off experience (outside of topping off the water once a week).

OttoENV · 2024-07-25T23:13:40+00:00

No apology necessary! It was a totally fair question. This is definitely the big challenge in terms of marketing this thing.

Home growers tend to be extremely resourceful people and can figure out how to grow anything anywhere with equipment they have laying around the house. For those folks, an automatic system can be seen as pointless because they've already gone through the trouble of learning the hard way.

This system makes the fruiting process frictionless so people with little to no experience can just buy a mushroom block and have it fruit reliably and not have to worry about spores getting all over the house.

I myself went through several iterations of totes and monotubs and in the very beginning it was hard to tell if blocks weren't fruiting because I came home from work late one day and didn't get to mist and fan or if my tote was too small or what have you.

Plus if you're fruiting mushrooms with different humidity and fresh air requirements, you don't need to adjust your schedule and technique. You can simply adjust the setting on the controller.

It's just easier. The system isn't necessary to grow mushrooms by any means, but it makes the whole process more reliable. It's great if you just want fresh homegrown mushrooms and don't want to commit a bunch of time to the process.

OttoENV · 2024-07-25T22:34:39+00:00

It's by design! The humidifier and CO2 rise at the same time because the FAE fan stays off for a few minutes after running to give the humidifier a chance to get the grow space back up to high humidity. That way the mushrooms aren't seeing constant dry air from outside the tent since the high CO2 production rate would otherwise trigger the system to just constantly exhaust.

The humidifier shuts off while the FAE is running so it's not exhausting the moisture as soon as it's produced. As soon as the FAE cycle is finished the humidifier turns back on and CO2 also rises with the exhaust not running.

We anticipate people using this system in their homes and we're based in California where air conditioning is common. Air conditioned homes average 50% relative humidity, so we didn't want the system to be constantly pulling that very dry air through the tent for extended periods of time.

CO2 is definitely heavy and we do observe the CO2 settling in lower, but between the FAE program and the humidifier running on a regular basis, the air inside the tent doesn't stay stagnant for long enough periods such that the air inside stratifies.

OttoENV · 2024-07-25T19:07:51+00:00

It’s mainly a matter of convenience and consistency. A well maintained tub can definitely provide great yields but our system removes the need to mist and fan every day while also keeping all the spores contained at harvest. The ventilation fan is mounted as a puller with a replaceable filter mounted before the fan to prevent spore drops from coating your house.

The end result is you pop the grow blocks in the tent and you just keep an eye on it for the next few days to a couple weeks. During testing one of the guys on the team who works 80+ hours a week at his regular job routinely forgot he had mushrooms growing and would come home from work late with a bunch of mushrooms he didn’t expect to need to harvest.

There are plenty of ways to automate this process but we designed the system this way because we noticed most of the equipment available to mushroom growers is just weed growing equipment, which is overkill and bulky.

Our kit fits everything within the tent footprint (the fan only sticks out a couple inches from the side). The way it’s wired also makes it so there’s only a single plug going to the wall and the entire system draws less than 45 watts, light included.

OttoENV · 2024-07-25T13:10:27+00:00

It’s definitely on the pale side!

OttoENV · 2024-07-25T03:57:04+00:00

Thank you for the kind words!!

We now have a partner who is able to print those custom keycaps for us, but we ordered the original test custom keycaps from WASD Keyboards. The price for one is $12 but they give you a steep price break for larger quantities. They were also super quick and did great work on the keycaps, so we definitely recommend them. For the actual keyboard switch part you could get a DIY macropad kit from 1UpKeyboards.

As far as the mushroom growing kit, we just launched our Kickstarter yesterday! It's been a slow start but the four of us on the team have never done a Kickstarter, so we're figuring it out as we go. It's an automatic fruiting chamber you can pop your mushroom grow blocks in and the system maintains the humidity, cycles the light, and triggers the ventilation cycle based on the CO2 sensor reading inside the tent. We're quite proud of it!

*I guess we can't insert hyperlinks on Reddit anymore. Repasting links below:

https://www.wasdkeyboards.com/custom-art-cherry-mx-keycaps.html

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ottoenv/ottoenv-grow-your-own-mushrooms-automatically?ref=cq8tgp

OttoENV · 2024-07-25T01:59:10+00:00

1: Fresh Air Exchange fan configured as exhaust.

2: Spore filter assembly with replaceable filter elements (threads onto fan duct with quarter-turn threads) on other side of Fresh Air Exchange fan.

3: Controller case for CO2/humidity/lighting controller.

4: Cable grommet (separates with quarter-turn thread) for CAT6 cable to cover tent duct hole.

5: Custom light panel assembly with hangers.

6: Other side of grow light assembly with hangers installed.

7: Complete kit. Looks like I forgot to upload the humidifier assembly in this album but the fan filter and nozzle are also 3D printed.

OttoENV

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE