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Offlinebigpaul88
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Registered: 04/07/11
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Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
easy step by step brf cakes tek for review
    #14284070 - 04/13/11 01:42 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Hello fellow shroom heads!

Im new around here and this is my first post.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that this site is the best thing since sliced bread! loads of good people and a wealth of information.

Now i have decided that i would like to start a grow of my own and have been researching this site on my lunch break at work for the last week.

I would like to ask if some of you pros could kindly have a look through my plans and advise me of any problems i may encounter based on what i have written below.

I have written this so it also reads as a guide of sorts to other newbs like myself (i know these have been written time and time again so i apologise if i am treading on anybodys toes)

please see below and share your comments

PF TEK Guide 2011

In this guide I will be covering a step by step breakdown of my preferred cubensis tek.

Below you will see a list detailing what is required for use of this tek

Supplies list

For substrate I have opted for

• BRF (brown rice flour) Holland & Barrett not organic but i am sure it is ok? £1.50 approx
• Vermiculite (10L). Garden centre £5.99

The spores i have chosen are

• 10ml syringe of cambodian’s (for their apparent potency and rapid growth rate) from a shroomery vendor £13.50 inclusive of shipping

For jars although hard to find I came across some in tesco

• 6No. Tesco’s plastic 250ml cylindrical food storage containers with rubber seal (look perfect) Tescos £1.20 each
• Micro-pore tape Tescos 99p approx

For sterilization

• My mum’s old pressure cooker lol
• 70% alcohol hibi hand rub Boots £3.95 approx
• Bleach (for working area cleaning) £cheap
• Anti bacterial spray £2 approx

For a glovebox

• 30l clear plastic container with lid. Wilkinson’s £5 approx
• Rubber household gloves. Wilkinson’s £2
• Sticky tape Tescos £1

For SGFC (shotgun fruiting chamber)

• 35l clear plastic container with lid. Wilkinson’s £5 approx
• Drill
• 5mm drill bit. Any DIY centre or Wilkinson’s
• Perlite (10L). Garden centre £5.99
• Analogue thermometer. b’n’q £2.99
• Analogue hygrometer. Pets at home geko analogue hygrometer £3.99

Lighting

• 13a socket inspection lamp with bayonet cap. Halfords £12.99
• Daylight bulb for inspection lamp. Found online £5.99

Miscellaneous items

• Aluminium kitchen foil £1 approx
• Spray bottle/mister bottle Tescos £1
• Face mask Tesco £1
• Modeling clay (for making lid seal more airtight on fruiting chamber) Hobbycraft £1.99

My overall total spend = £84.97 (perhaps a little steep but I believe I have everything i need now)
Now my wallet can rest for a while and we can start the fun part.

Step 1

Making my substrate

I have opted for vermiculite and BRF cakes and will be following the ratio of 2:2:1 as advised on many a forum post on this site!

Once the substrate is mixed I fill each of my containers loosely (not packing them down) approximately 1 inch from the top. After doing so I wipe the inside rim of the container to remove any unwanted moisture build up as advised too. After that I fill the remainder of the tub with dry verm (which I believe acts as a filter/barrier from contams?)

Step 2

Sterilizing my substrate jars

For this part I will be using a 15psi pressure cooker with approx 1.5 inches of water in the bottom to generate the steam needed for the sterilization. Along the bottom of the pressure cooker I will place 2No tea towels/dish cloths at the bottom of the pressure cooker with aluminium foil on top the tea towels so that the jars do not come into direct contact with both the heat and water.

Now I will place my jars/plastic containers (which have already had 4No 2mm holes drilled into them ready for inoculation) into the pressure cooker. It is worth noting that I will be putting a 15cmx15cm square piece of kitchen foil over each jar to prevent unwanted water ingress during operation of the pc.

I will bring the pc to a fast boil until it is at optimum pressure in which case I will then reduce the heat so it is still at pressure but reduced heat so as the water doesn’t burn off too quickly. Once the pressure cooker is at optimal pressure I will start my 60min countdown.

After the 60minutes is up I will turn off the heat and let the substrate jars cool naturally in the pc for 24hours with the pc lid still on

Step 3

Inoculation

For this stage I intend to bring the pc (with substrate jars still in there) to my clean working area in my kitchen where my self made glove box is nearby so that I reduce the risk of contams by transferring jars through rooms etc.

I will place the substrate jars into my cleaned glovebox along with a lighter, alcohol rub, micro-pore tape and last but by no means least my spore syringe!

I will then leave the air in the gloveboxbox to settle for 30mins before returning and inserting my arms into the glove box.

I will then select 1 jar and remove the kitchen foil that is covering the lid, I will then wipe the holes with a cotton wool bud that has been soaked in alcohol rub (is this ok doing this?) and then proceed to flame sterilize the syringe tip until red hot before allowing to cool for a couple seconds.

I will then insert the syringe into 1 of the holes in the jar lid ensuring I penetrate the layer of dry verm and aim the needle towards the outer edge of the jar as advised to do and release 1ml of liquid. I will then perform the same procedure to the remaining three holes. Once all holes have had a squirt I will cover them with micro-pore tape.

Repeat for each jar of substrate remembering to flame sterilise the needle every time before moving onto the next jar... to prevent cross contamination etc.
After all jars have been inoculated I will then transfer them to my airing cupboard where it is dark and has a maintained temperature of 25degree’s c (77degree’s f)

Step 4

Colonization (hopefully)

I will simply leave the jars in my airing cupboard for 1week before even bothering to check them (I will try and fight the urge to check them anyway)

Once the week is over I will check for sign of mycelium growth.

I will continue to check the growth daily so I can quickly determine if I have contams etc.

As soon as I see that any of my jars are fully 100% colonized I will then leave them to sit for an additional week to save time in for when it comes to fruiting.

Step 5

Preparation of SGFC

Whilst I eagerly await colonization progress i intend to use the time to set up my chamber

For my shotgun fruiting chamber i have opted for a 35L clear plastic storage container. I will get my 5mm drill bit and drill holes all over the 6 sides of the container with 2 inch spacing.

Now although my container has a lid I am seriously questioning the airtight’ness of it so I had the ingenious idea of using modeling clay to line the perimeter of the lid so that it acts as a gasket of sorts to ensure too much air/humidity isn’t lost through the lid (although it probably doesn’t matter now that there are a hundred or so holes in the damn thing lol).

For temp/humidity monitoring I will just place the humidity gauge and thermometer into the chamber so that I can easily see them.

This is where the lighting comes in! What I have done is purchased a plug in inspection light that accepts a daylight bulb 5000k-6500k towards the blue spectrum. I intend to run the light with a plug in socket timer 12 hours on 12 hours off! Can someone please tell me what the best distance for the light source to be from the chamber is?

Just before the cakes are ready I will rinse perlite with water through a siv/colander and add into the bottom of the chamber until it is filled up to approx 5inches with the moist perlite.

The chamber should now be ready for my cakes!

Step 6

Dunk’n’roll

I will follow RR’s dunk and roll video for this step but the basic principles are as follows:

When sliding the cakes out of the jars I will allow them to sit in a large water filled tub for 24 hours

Bake some vermiculite in the oven to hopefully remove contams for approx 60 minutes on high heat and then leave to cool?

I will then (one by one) take my cakes out of the tub they have just had their 24h soak in and rinse them under a cold tap and generously roll them in the vermiculite and then proceed to place them into the SCFG (shotgun fruiting chamber)


Step 7

Birthing Cakes To The Fruiting Chamber

Once all of the above steps have been completed including the dunk and roll step I will then sit the cakes in the fruiting chamber onto their ‘cake sized’ aluminium foil mats so that they are not in direct contact with the perlite.

Step 8

Maintaining The Cakes

I intend to take the lid of and fan and mist the chamber perhaps 3 to 4 times per day to insure FAE (fresh air exchange) and humidity is at a good level.

Step 9

Harvesting

Once the veils break I will carefully remove the mushrooms either with a sharp sterile scalpel or by carefully twisting and pulling them with my clean hands. Once a cake has been harvested and is exhausted I will repeat the process from dunk and roll except this time I will not let soak for 24 hours just a few minutes this time.

Step 10

Now here’s the fun part drying and eating them with a few close mates.

I hope this has been clear and informative to some and please ask me about anything as i am still trying to learn so look forward to taking on board any constructive criticisms

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Registered: 04/07/11
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Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14284095 - 04/13/11 01:46 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

also if any one would like the guide in word format as i originaly wrote it then just PM me and il email it

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14284122 - 04/13/11 01:52 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

My advise would be on your BRF/WATER/VERM ratio:
2 cups Verm / 1 cup brown rice flour/ 1 cup water

Mix the verm and water first as the rice flour will coat better


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14284125 - 04/13/11 01:53 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Also, Pressure cook for 90 minutes


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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OfflineMicroppose
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14284144 - 04/13/11 01:56 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

You don't really need the micropore tape, as your dry layer of vermiculite will safeguard your substrate from contaminants. The clay for sealing the lid is also unnecessary, misting and fanning in your SGFC will provide the right conditions for your cakes.
Other than, everything looks pretty accurate. Most people don't do their research, you obviously have. Good luck.

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14284149 - 04/13/11 01:57 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

will then insert the syringe into 1 of the holes in the jar lid ensuring I penetrate the layer of dry verm and aim the needle towards the outer edge of the jar as advised to do and release 1ml of liquid. I will then perform the same procedure to the remaining three holes. Once all holes have had a squirt I will cover them with micro-pore tape.

Do not cover with tape after inoculating. You need Gas Exchange to occur, using tape will provide less Gas exchange. I would keep the lighter OUT of the box, you will flammable gases in the glove box from alcohol, etc. You should wipe jars down prior inoculation with an alcohol soaked paper towel instead.


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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OfflineOneU

Registered: 03/19/11
Posts: 763
Last seen: 12 years, 13 days
Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14284178 - 04/13/11 02:02 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Have you watched these videos?

http://www.mushroomvideos.com/BRF-Pf-Tek

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Registered: 04/07/11
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Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: OneU]
    #14284190 - 04/13/11 02:05 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

thanks guys, will make recomended changes to my plan! spores are ordered just waiting for delivery... uber exited!

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14284219 - 04/13/11 02:09 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Good for you Paul! Hey, it sounds dumb, but I have had great success:
I made a TYVEK mask using a postal envelope , the large ones! I just cut eye holes and slipped on my head like a kkk hood. You should watch the videos that ONEU is linking. They are excellent!


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14284245 - 04/13/11 02:15 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

thanks velvetmagician, your kkk hood sounds a bit wacky but maybe worth a try lol

and i have been watching those videos religiously on my lunchbreak lol ... just wanted to run through what i planned to dy by the pros (you guys) before i get stuck in!

i am looking forward to it this so much as its my first grow!

i have taken liberty caps before and also had the pleasure of munchin shrooms in amsterdam a few years ago.

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14284294 - 04/13/11 02:27 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Nothin is better than your OWN grown magic! I brew beer and it is great! I love the fact that you know exactly what is in your stuff!!!


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14289642 - 04/14/11 11:50 AM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Today is a good day... My spores have just turned up YAY! but tue liquid in the syringe is clear, I can't see anything in there! Is that normal?

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14289670 - 04/14/11 11:54 AM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Yes it is normal. You should see flakes of spores, here is a quote of info:

"Over the years there has been much hype about whether or not a dark or cloudy spore syringe is more effective than a spore syringe that appears to be more clear.

It would seem that from an initial visual perspective a darker or inky spore syringe would be a better product to experiment with. The darker the mixture inside the syringe should be equal to the amount of spores inside and more spores means a better chance at microscopy.

Unfortunately this perspective is not 100% accurate. From most of the experiments we have been apart of a clear spore syringe can be just as effective, and even more reliable than a cloudy or dark spore mixture. The fact is that mushroom spores are microscopic and not visible to the human eye unless they are in large numbers or clumps.

So when you are viewing a clear spore syringe it can actually contain thousands of microscopic spores. When a spore syringe has been properly mixed it will not clump and you will not be able to easily see the spores inside with your eyes alone. If you were to take a few drops of that solution and view it under a microscope you would see all the spores floating around.

So what is the difference? Other than just visual appearance there can actually be some complications with a clumpy or dark syringe if it was not properly mixed. The spores will be much harder to release and can get stuck in the needle or inside the syringe when the water is pushed out causing blockage. A clear or more transparent syringe will still have thousands of spores and when you use it they will flow freely.

Over the years vendors have realized that darker spore syringes can sometimes sell better as the average customer does not have the experience to know the difference. If you were to make your decision based on how dark the spore syringe is alone it would be easy to understand how it would appear that a darker mixture would equal a better spore syringe, but usually that is not the case.

Sadly some vendors have even gone to the extent to fake the dark look of there product by adding dye or charcoal to the mixture. This would make there spore syringes appear to be very thick and full of mushroom spores when it reality they are getting the same amount or less than a regular spore syringe. It is important to do a little research before making a purchase and do business with a vendor who has been around for some time."


Where did you get spores?


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14289754 - 04/14/11 12:13 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Avalon magic plants... I have heard good things about them, I'm probably just being paranoid (smoke too much weed lol)

by the way thanks for all of your replies your a top man/woman

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14289830 - 04/14/11 12:29 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Good luck Paul!! If you have ANY questions, just ask brother! This forum is full of great advice and people!


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14295768 - 04/15/11 01:58 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Need some advice fast! This evening I pc'd my jars of substrate, however, after around an hour I noticed the pressure dropped right off and I could smell a horrible burning smell... My first thaught was it must be my jars as they are plastic, so... I had to turn the pc off to check as the smell was overwhelming! After opening up the pc it was apparent that the towel at the bottom had burnt badly! After pulling my jars out (which were toattaly fine btw) the tea towel at the bottom of the pc was black and when I pulled it out the towel just fell apart in my hands. I assume that this isn't normal?

What shall I do know my jars only had around 50 mins in the pc!

Should I throw away and start again or risk my precious syringe on inoculating?

Please advise people as I am stuck

also the pc is stained with black shit at the bottom now!

What shall o do pleas????

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14296147 - 04/15/11 03:11 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

PC again, you should put a layer of jar lids on the bottom to support jars and keep off the bottom of the pot!


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

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Offlinebigpaul88
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14306654 - 04/17/11 02:16 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

quick up date, it turns out it was my mums old pc that was playing up causing me problems... so went and got a new 1 and everything seems fine now just waiting 24 hours for them to cool properly

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Offlinevelvetmagician
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Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: bigpaul88]
    #14306676 - 04/17/11 02:20 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

Nice Paul!! I send your grow sweet vibes!!!!!!!!


--------------------
Q: How many Micheal Jackson's does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: NONE, he screws kids!

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinebigpaul88
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Last seen: 12 years, 1 month
Re: easy step by step brf cakes tek for review [Re: velvetmagician]
    #14478507 - 05/19/11 12:58 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Can somebody please tell me if this ball like white growth is normal?
The cakes smell like mushrooms (which I hate he smell of coincidentally)and I am reasonably reassured by the fact that the growths in question are solid white.

Now I am not sure if this is frowned upon, but, I sterilized my hands and touched one of these little lumps and it felt spongy.

My first thoughts were primordia/knotting but the pictures I have seen do not seem to be as excessive as what I am seeing on my cakes.

Please see pictures below, they were taken on iphone so apologies for the shitty quality!



I would like to hear some comments from you guys please!

Thanks in advance.

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