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ezwider
Mushroom Enthusiast
Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 971
Last seen: 1 month, 29 days
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A few questions before my next grow.
#10943859 - 08/26/09 07:08 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Below, if you look at my Quadruple Mega Mono Tub Grow thread in my signature, you will find that upon careful preparation, I still ended up hitting some brick walls, that I now wish to fix on my next grow.
I just wanted to finalize my questions and my findings before I proceed, and I'm confident that most of you out there will be familiar with my last attempt, and can guide me in my efforts.
1. My substrates were introduced too FAE too early because I was under the impression to use micropore tape over the 2 inch holes during colonization. I did thought this to be correct most likely from using micropore tape on my half pint jars for my cake trials.
I now know to use Solid tape like ducktape, clear tape, etc. during colonization. Is this correct?
2. I saw a few grow logs of people who had success using solid colored bins with NO trash bags whatsoever. I previously had used black trashbags in smaller tubs, and had success, but wished to try this "no trash bag method" in hopes to cut down my preparation time. Everyone knows that lining tubs with trash bags is a pain in the ass, unless someone out there has perfected an easy way to prepare trash bags in their tubs, if you do know of a special way, please let me know.
My substrates ended up shrinking, causing tremendous side pinning. That, combined with premature pinning due to my substrate only being colonized around 80 percent, resulted in reaching down far to pick tiny mushrooms, which were in larger numbers than the TOP of my substrate. Killer... I know...
So trash bags it is? And any easy methods would be much appreciated. It was difficult for me to fit them in the tubs, and tape them to the edges, then cutting along the top, they ended up looking pretty ghetto.
3. My fan was at the bottom of my closet, facing upwards, with 2 tubs on the middle shelf, and 2 tubs on the top shelf. What is the most ideal setting for fan placement and fan speed? Its been working the way I have been doing it, but I just wanted to know what you guys do with your fans.
4. I previously was using a knife to cut my colonized wbs quart jars into 8 sections, so that I could easily get them out, and crumble them afterwards, prior to adding it to my substrate. I've been told to bang them on a phonebook or a tire, just like I did after I PC'd them. But I didnt even think they would break up after the mycelium had its hold on them, so I didnt try that. Whats a proper way to get them out? Is cutting it bad?
Thats all I can think of for now. Thanks a lot everyone.
-eZ
-------------------- Proud to be a member of the Feel Family. My Logs: BRF Trial 1 First Mono Tub Quadruple Mono Tub Grow My Last Tub
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veda_sticks
Cultivator
Registered: 07/29/07
Posts: 14,191
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: ezwider]
#10943961 - 08/26/09 07:27 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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1. micropore tape doesnt allow FAE, only gas exchange, so does tyvek - ive used micropore tape on my mini monos/double tubs and they never pinned before full colinisation. Other people also just use tightly packed polyfill which will only allow gas exchange.
2. lining is usefull, as substrates shrink, its not avoidible. substrates shrink because the mycelium is digesting it. I read a post a few days ago where someing just dumped there pasturised substrate into a trash bag, then there grain and mixed it well by manipulating the bag , putting it into the tub and moving it around to form the shape of the tub.
3. Usually a fan is set to oscilate so it circulates air around the room. as long as its not blowing directly on the holes it should be fine
4.Dont use a knife, spoon or fork which can damage the grain exposing the inside which is free to be eatin by contaminants. Damaged grain is much more likely to contaminate.
As you said, bang it on something. Like a bike tyre or phone book. Your grains will seperate if you have left enough room to shake. Give it some firm bangs on the bottom shake it, turn round bang again and shake until all the grains are free. Now you can simply pour. this keeps the grains intact.
-------------------- PF TEK - writeup by EvilMushroom666 Lets Grow Mushrooms - RogerRabbit & RoadKills website with sample videos plus the full PF TEK video series. Alot of great information - BUY THE DVD Cakes can and will pin! - So you think cakes suck for pins. Your wrong Franks Simple Coir/Verm Tek Franks Proper Pasturisation Tek Franks Spawning To Bulk - Monotub Professor Pinheads RTV Injection Port Tek Foo Mans No Soak WBS Prep Tek
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ezwider
Mushroom Enthusiast
Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 971
Last seen: 1 month, 29 days
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: veda_sticks]
#10944058 - 08/26/09 07:41 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks a lot Veda, your information helped to clear some things. As for colonization, I am still at a loss.
I dont understand why my substrate started pinning too early, if you look in my thread, its obvious that all of my tubs were not fully colonized. I never introduced them to FAE, but I had all of the micropore tape covering all of the holes.
One day when I looked to see if my substrate was finished colonizing, I saw pins every where, and they only grew to lighter height size, and seemed malnourished. Everyone elses tubs looked SOLID WHITE, mine was brown with rhizomorphic mycellium sprouting out, and it didnt look fully colonized, could you be the judge of that? I dont understand what I did wrong. Should I have sealed the lids on the subs with tape as well? Keep in mind, they were solid bins, and no light was getting through, unless it was... I can imagine some light penetrating the blue color... this is the most crucial step for me to master or else I'll end up with same results, and the same amount of time, money, and effort wasted because of it.
-------------------- Proud to be a member of the Feel Family. My Logs: BRF Trial 1 First Mono Tub Quadruple Mono Tub Grow My Last Tub
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greg86jgl
young grower
Registered: 02/18/09
Posts: 217
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: ezwider]
#10944211 - 08/26/09 08:06 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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1. use duct tape or gorilla tape. gorilla tape dosnt loose its grip what so ever when it gets wet. i use it on everything in my monotubs. as for ur gas exchange: as long as u dont tape the gap between the lid thats plenty. 2. as for the trash bag u just gota suck it up like said above ur sub will shrink period. water loss ect. i usually just put the bag in somewhat centered and fold the extra down tape it and be done with it. the only purpuse is to stick to the sides of the sub so it dosnt have to be perfict. 3. i personally dont use a fan. just sheeted poly from an arts n craft store. push in and fold the corners into the hole for a little more restictive air exchange. fan twice a day and mist once it starts looking dry. but as long as the fan isnt pointed at the tub should be fine. 4.deff dont use anything but shaking and smacking to brake up the grain. i use rye and just open the jar and smack that sucker with my hand from every witch way till its all out...this is done so all the grain falls into the tub. if theres still chunks i usually break em up a little by hand either with freshly scrubbed hands or clean gloves.
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ezwider
Mushroom Enthusiast
Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 971
Last seen: 1 month, 29 days
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: greg86jgl]
#10944231 - 08/26/09 08:08 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Awesome, awesome, so now I know to use a SOLID tape for colonization, I dont understand why that of all things was hard for me to figure out. Every tek was read and studied vigorously, but nothing was mentioned about the tape you would use for holes. Now I know, thanks man.
-------------------- Proud to be a member of the Feel Family. My Logs: BRF Trial 1 First Mono Tub Quadruple Mono Tub Grow My Last Tub
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greg86jgl
young grower
Registered: 02/18/09
Posts: 217
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: greg86jgl]
#10944374 - 08/26/09 08:30 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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it looks like u used coir witch i also use every time. coir usually leaves a brown color even though its fully colonized. the only one that looks realy early was the amazon tub. your sub is going to start pinning when its ready colonized or not. fea and light are just triggers to tell the sub it has reached fresh air and light time to repoduce and drop spores mostly fae...so it grows shrooms(think about this as a wild growing shroom witch they are just in controld conditions) if your sub eats up all the nutriants and you havnt introduced these triggers it will try to start pinning but the tape u used probably allowed enogh fae to trigger pinning at the earliest possable stage witch most likely happend because they look like healthy pins. if it pinned before the triggers they would grow back into the sub or just stop after getting like a 1/2in. if u search my user name ull find quit a few pics of my tubs along with the ones im doing now.
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greg86jgl
young grower
Registered: 02/18/09
Posts: 217
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: greg86jgl]
#10944387 - 08/26/09 08:32 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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shit the first time i grow i shot my jars up right after pcing because non of my teks said to let them cool. live n learn.
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ezwider
Mushroom Enthusiast
Registered: 06/19/07
Posts: 971
Last seen: 1 month, 29 days
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Re: A few questions before my next grow. [Re: greg86jgl]
#10944989 - 08/26/09 10:15 PM (14 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks, now I know I'm not the only one to over look the small parts. It makes just as much sense not to inoculate while theyre hot then to not use micropore tape for colonization. I simple overlook that turns tragic, that you pay dearly for, but grow greatly from.
Just sucks, I wasted 24 quarts of great spawn, and 80 quarts of pasteurized substrate, and yielded less mushrooms than I did with my 12 1/2 pint brf cakes.
-------------------- Proud to be a member of the Feel Family. My Logs: BRF Trial 1 First Mono Tub Quadruple Mono Tub Grow My Last Tub
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