Right now this is a pilot experiment, and in this capacity there is the need to keep costs low and, hence, my attempt to build a control system (keeps costs low and I learn stuff, which I really love). If the chamber works correctly (we are essentially trying to grow a stalagmite), the pilot/proof of concept data can be used to justify spending much more. The old scientific catch 22... Need money to get data; need data to get money. Right now the idea is to make the monitoring and post-experiment chemical analyses an honors project for undergraduates.
I just need a road map for fundamentals.