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Primal Call
Earth Mage



Registered: 09/05/10
Posts: 2,766
Loc: Here until here
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! 1
#14567965 - 06/06/11 03:54 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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edit/update: 3/5/13
Each section (first the substrate, then pasteurizing) has some notes , a few pointers, and disclaimers before the pictorial.
Enjoy! 
The Substrate: - Moisture content is arguably the most important component of the substrate. This is assuming we have provided proper nutrients to accommodate the selected species. - The bulk ingredients, supplemental additives, and measured amounts used will vary from grower to grower and recipe to recipe. - Except dissolving the gypsum (or similar additives), the order in which we mix is of little consequence. - The "squeeze-test" is a subjective guideline in that the strength of the squeezer might vary dramatically. A sponge makes a good practice tool. - If a recipe has a range for the required amount of water, default on the low side. We can always add more water if our substrate is too dry, but getting excess water out requires significant work. - The final substrate should be relatively homogenous and fluffy. It should not have nutritional pockets, water saturation, or a density (thick/heavy clumping) impermeable by mycelium. 
Mixing The Substrate: 1. Here we have lightly hydrated coconut coir and spent coffee grounds. The coir is moistened just enough to cause expansion and aid in crumbling the dry chunks. This mixture should be very fluffy and mostly dry.

2. Shown here is the dissolved gypsum and separate vermiculite. If we don't completely dissolve the gypsum in the water, it forms thick globules with dry centers in our final substrate, which is obviously undesired. Simply pouring water on top of the gypsum is not sufficient; dip in there and break apart the clumps settled on the bottom until there are no more.

3. Next we see the manure looking dry/clumped, but after soaking it with the gypsum water, it becomes very easy to break apart/shred. It is okay to slightly over-hydrate in this step to aid in shredding because we'll be adding the mostly dry coir/coffee and the entirely dry vermiculite to soak up excess water. When shredding by hand, some minor clumping is almost inevitable, but as long as the chunks are small and water soaks into them, it'll be fine. 
 
4. After the manure is adequately shredded (the more shredded and even throughout the better), we mix in the vermiculite/coir/coffee and any other ingredients from the chosen recipe. As the entirety of the substrate is finally coming together , we should begin gauging our moisture content using the subjective squeeze-test or a professional device (at about 70%). After a bit of trial & error, determining proper moisture is relatively easy, and the device becomes nice but unnecessary. We can see in the third image a good representation of a squeeze too strong, sometimes referred to as a "kung fu grip." Notice the blood in the fingertips, and that there is no water coming out at all... more water is needed.
 
5. Here we can see, in order, a gentler squeeze with still not enough moisture, a kung-fu grip showing some moisture but not a sufficiently steady stream, and a gentle squeeze with a good amount of water... the separate drips are not forming a steady stream, but they would if the kung fu grip was exercised. 
  
Another method you may find helpful in determining adequate moisture: gently press on a well mixed substrate. A noise similar to walking on mud results. You know... that moist, squishy noise. If it's too dry, that noise will be very muffled or absent entirely. If there is too much water, it will pool up around your hand. Additionally, look at the substrate. It appears very fresh and moist, but lacks that grossly saturated, wet glossiness. This is what we're going for!
After reaching a satisfactory water content, bag/jar/etc the substrate and start heating it up! Pictured below is RR's Qt. Jar Method (my now preferred tek) and the stove-top method, which I used when I first began this hobby. Another method uses a counter-top roaster, and yet another uses an enormous drum. Here's Hamloaf's "Hybrid Pasteurization" as another approach.
On Pasteurization: Here is a Fahrenheit to Celsius converter.  - The heating vessel, as noted above, will vary from user to user. The importance is in the temperature/time. - Pasteurization times range from sixty to ninety minutes depending on user preference, which seems to gravitate towards shorter times at higher temperatures and longer times at lower temperatures. We want a bare minimum of sixty minutes at 140F. The count-down begins when the temperature is reached internally. - Measure the temperature nearest to the center of the substrate and hold at least 140F, an average of 155F, a safe maximum of 170F, and never higher than 180F. The desired probiotics in the substrate begin dying around 185F, so even getting to 180F is dangerous. - Boiling water is likely a sign that you are high and/or not paying attention. Use timers/alarms to remind yourself to check the temperatures in practical increments until you are well-practiced. Otherwise, you risk partial/complete sterility within the substrate and subsequent contamination.  - Get to field capacity prior to pasteurizing, and keep your substrate away from water during heating. If we flood the substrate during pasteurization, our achieved moisture content is ruined, and we lose nutrients from the media when we squeeze/drain the excess moisture. (The pillow case method is a poor one because of this.) - If you have your water at 165F, and internal substrate at 140F, start your timer and keep the water at that temperature. Thermodynamic equilibrium will ensure proper pasteurization! Just be sure to monitor/stabilize the water's temperature. If it drops below 150F, turn the heat back on for a little bit.
RR's jar method. I'm loving it! RR!
 (Finger points to the water level. And notice the internal substrate temp!)
The Stove-top Method: 1. With this pictured method, rubber-banding the necks of the bags is extremely useful. This ensures the opening does not become submerged, so there is no risk of flooding the substrate. However, be sure the bands are loose enough that steam can escape. Also, see that tray in the upper-right of the image? That should be on the bottom of the pot to ensure the bag does not touch the near-direct heat and risk melting.

2. Keeping the water temperature below 180F guarantees the substrate will also stay below this threshold as a result of thermodynamic equilibrium. However, the heat should be turned down at this point as the water is approaching the danger-zone. Aim for a stable ~160F water temperature. 
3. A weight of some kind is necessary to keep the substrate submerged so that it heats evenly. If left to float, the upper portion of the substrate will not be adequately heated.

4. Here we can see the internal temperature around 150F. This is sufficient and when a timer should be set. When probing the substrate to acquire a temperature reading, be sure not to stab the thermometer all the way through, as this will result in a slowly flooded substrate over the next sixty to ninety minutes.

After the timer expires, remove the substrate from the pot/PC/drum/etc and place it in a clean bucket/tote with a lid to cool. There's no sense in rushing it, spawning too soon, and killing your mycelium, so let the substrate cool overnight before spawning. Here, with , is a spawning video from Prof_P for us visual learners.

Edited by Primal Call (09/22/17 11:21 PM)
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grainbrain
Tribalistic

Registered: 05/11/11
Posts: 2,626
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Primal Call]
#14568018 - 06/06/11 04:32 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks, Ryath. My first tray was held back by too little moisture in the substrate. This will be helpful next time around.
-------------------- Stop cold shocking your mycelium! Hot Spawn - Get It On 
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FractalXplora
Grainiack




Registered: 02/11/06
Posts: 2,494
Loc: UK
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: grainbrain]
#14568203 - 06/06/11 06:03 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
thermodynamic equilibrium
   

   
great tutorial Ryath, loving the squeeze test,kung fu grip.
--------------------

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Thrive
Farmer



Registered: 03/30/11
Posts: 98
Loc: In the Hillz
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: FractalXplora] 1
#14568925 - 06/06/11 11:17 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Is that a black trash bag ur pasteurizating in if so what brand ?? Thanks . Nice write up always putting out great info
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anonjon
Partially Right

Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 6,322
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Thrive]
#14568997 - 06/06/11 11:32 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Highly entertaining and educational.
-------------------- The above post is fictional, hypothetical, or downright nonsensical.
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anonjon
Partially Right

Registered: 11/03/08
Posts: 6,322
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Primal Call]
#14569008 - 06/06/11 11:34 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Ryath said: - Boiling water is likely a sign that you are high and/or not paying attention.
-------------------- The above post is fictional, hypothetical, or downright nonsensical.
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Primal Call
Earth Mage



Registered: 09/05/10
Posts: 2,766
Loc: Here until here
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Thrive]
#14572630 - 06/07/11 02:07 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
grainbrain said: Thanks, Ryath. My first tray was held back by too little moisture in the substrate. This will be helpful next time around.
Quote:
FractalXplora said:
   

    great tutorial Ryath, loving the squeeze test,kung fu grip. 
Quote:
anonjon said: Highly entertaining and educational. 
Thank you all for the kind words! I'm glad to entertain Anon, but I doubt you have anything to learn from me!
Quote:
Thrive said: Is that a black trash bag ur pasteurizating in if so what brand ?? Thanks . Nice write up always putting out great info 
I've used multiple types, all just "regular" trash bags. I'm not sure on the brand name of the ones pictured, but I can check later if you really want to know. As long as they are not cheap-o ones that are super-thin, they should be alright. I always bag the substrate in one and place that bag within another just to be safe. I really don't like the waste involved, so I'm looking into other options, but it works for now.
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Primal Call
Earth Mage



Registered: 09/05/10
Posts: 2,766
Loc: Here until here
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Primal Call]
#14847023 - 07/30/11 02:04 AM (12 years, 6 months ago) |
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little update on this... RR's method (pics inserted in OP.) It's fantastic! I don't know why it took so long not only to find it but to test it out as well.
No more plastic waste alone makes this worth it IMO.

 
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Primal Call
Earth Mage



Registered: 09/05/10
Posts: 2,766
Loc: Here until here
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Primal Call]
#17907996 - 03/05/13 01:20 PM (10 years, 10 months ago) |
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Just a few updates/tips posted. Hope it helps someone out.
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1Ness
Stranger
Registered: 06/22/19
Posts: 3
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: Primal Call]
#26094861 - 07/07/19 03:44 PM (4 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thank you for the tutorial! Its a great reminder to not be high while monitoring temperatures.
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k5hd2y
Depersonalized & Complete


Registered: 04/13/17
Posts: 675
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: A Substrate & Pasteurization Pictorial! [Re: 1Ness]
#26094865 - 07/07/19 03:47 PM (4 years, 6 months ago) |
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you got a warning and kept going? Might make the mods upset. Welcome to shroomtown!
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