What is Reddit's opinion of Hydrofarm Jump Start MT10006, 17 Watt UL Certified Seedling Heat Mat, 8.875"x19.5", Black?

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The cheap mats are cheap, unfortunately. They do break down with annoying regularity. I use the $20 Hydrofarm ones -- but only for peppers/eggplant/unusual tropicals. Everything else must come up in my 60-65 degree laundry room without babying, or it's not making the cut. Darwinism at work.

I was worried about how much one would cost and how well it heated the peppers evenly. I have decided to get this one, as it is the size of starter kit I will use. http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MT10006-19-1-2-Inch-Seedling/dp/B0001WV010?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_2&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

look into seedling heat mats for warmth. http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MT10006-19-1-2-Inch-Seedling/dp/B0001WV010

they're made to put under a seedling tray so you can put it under whatever tub you use to provide warmth. they only get 10-20 degrees hotter than ambient temperature.

Recently got into brewing Kombucha and picked up this heating pad.. Hydrofarm MT10006 9-by-19-1/2-Inch Seedling Heat Mat https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001WV010/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_uMhAwbMQEY0VV

It has been keeping the temperature about 10 degrees above room temperature. Depending on surface area of your vessel you may get more or less. Also from what I read, the energy consumption for this pad is pretty low.

So I havn't tried this yet but I have this seed warming mat. http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MT10006--19-1-2-Inch-Seedling/dp/B0001WV010/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386412947&sr=8-1&keywords=seed+warming+mat . I have been thinking about putting this under the cage, then covering most of the cage with a blanket to keep the heat in

Very cool setup, lookin' good so far.
And pardon my ignorance, but any specific reason for the different colored LEDs other than that's what you were able to salvage? Just wondering if the colors add any extra benefit over regular "white" light.

Only other tip I can offer, is if you're in a cooler climate and aren't seeing them grow as fast as you'd like, you can add some heat mats like these for better seed germination.

Much better off to use a heat mat with thermostat for seed starting as each type of seed has a different temperature range for germination. Some like 50 degrees F like lettuce. Some like 85 degrees F like watermelon. Lights are only necessary after germination. Also get a humidity dome for your trays as seeds need constant moisture. Won’t need to water them again until they germinate and start to grow. Hope this helps! You could always try with your lights and see how it goes, but guarantee more predictable results with a heat pad and thermostat. Also check the K output on the light and make sure it is close to daylight around 6500k I think.

I got one of these and one of these wrapped it around a plastic fermenter set to 95 degrees (kveik voss) and bungee-corded the temp sensor to the outside of the barrel. Then I put a flannel shirt around it to insulate. Works like a charm.

Much better off to use a heat mat with thermostat for seed starting as each type of seed has a different temperature range for germination. Some like 50 degrees F like lettuce. Some like 85 degrees F like watermelon. Lights are only necessary after germination. Also get a humidity dome for your trays as seeds need constant moisture. Won’t need to water them again until they germinate and start to grow. Hope this helps! You could always try with your lights and see how it goes, but guarantee more predictable results with a heat pad and thermostat.

I start seeds for the farm I work for. I bought LED grow lights due to the fact that they are on from Feb-May. I went with something like these from ebay, where buying lights specifically made for growing weed is not a problem. I figure if some sort of law enforcement ever decides my life is too purple they can have a leek or habenero. I switched to LED after a year of halogen shop lights nearly tripled my electricity bill. The math doesn't 100% add up on the lights you get from whatever sketchy Chinese company but they work well enough, are solid, haven't managed to burn me, and after about 1500 hours these are still chugging. I had one diode go out and it looks like it didn't actually burn out, just dislodged from its connections.

The other thing I have found to be dramatically helpful is the addition of seed mats. Last year I had some that were 3'x5' Hydrofarm and temp controlled, but those are incredibly expensive. I have a few small ones now an they work well enough. My basement is regularly 60-65F and that is not warm enough to start anything. I also use some scavenged floor insulation to keep the heat from just dissipated into the general room. Bonus points: MN is cold and the seed mat works excellent as a bread proofing area when it is not seed time.

The lights were a serious investment, but the farm is worth it. It is also excellent to have complete control over your seeds. I bought one of the heat mats and got another one from a friend who had given up on gardening. These things can be found if you look around. Good luck!

Yeah, go with the heating mat idea. Get something like this. Sometimes spacers with root trays are needed with this particular mat because it can get a little too warm unless you get a different mat with a thermostat. I don't foresee this being a problem with a bucket, though.

Another trick that might work in a 5 gallon bucket but certainly in a brute bucket is to use a small fish aquarium heater, stick the glass heating element in a beer bottle or some other similar container full of water, tape it off really well and you have yourself a little heater typically with a built in thermostat. This also works well with small hydroponic setups to dial in the nutrient solution's temperature in colder temperatures.

edit spelling and I don't know how to get rid of that green arrow thingy.

I've been using heating pads to good effect for a while. I keep 1 heating pad underneath the bedding and the other against the wall. if they're cold, they'll hang out on top of the pad underneath. If they're really cold, they'll nestle up against the wall.

This one I use against the wall. It's got good traction so if they knock it down, they're not sliding around.

This one I use under the bedding. It's smooth, so you want something on top. They're both waterproof and wash off with a hose on jet easily.

My brooder is large enough that I just leave them on (moved the thermostat over to the heat lamp I use in my other brooder) and let the chicks regulate.

They are powerful enough to keep the target zone in a rubbermaid bin w/ hardware cloth & blanket top at around 85-87 when ambient temperatures are around 60 degrees. Any warmer out or any less open and achievable temperatures climb into the mid 90's.

Using it as a "roof" to a chick hideout would give you consistent temperatures underneath, but they will jump and probably sleep on top. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. You can get the plant heater (which is flexible), lay it over a structure (so they can't collapse the cave) and then let the chicks figure it out from there?