|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
syntax404
Stranger
Registered: 03/29/12
Posts: 19
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
|
I'm on day 8 after inoculation and getting decent mycelium growth on 8 out of 10 jars. It's been taking a while because the temperature settings aren't amazing but it's definitely taking off more as of the past two or three days. One which has no growth has something which I suspect to be cobweb mold. It is a patch which is off-white and has very tiny strands. It is also not next to the point of inoculation and less than the size of a dime. Should I toss this or wait it out to see if it's a problem?
Also literally all of the jars have a strange but mild odor coming off them. I wouldn't say it's very pungent or unpleasant but it definitely there. The actual smell is difficult to describe. I guess what I'm asking is, what are the odds that ALL of the jars have bacterial contamination and that I have to get rid of the entire grow and start over? Can bacterial contamination spread between nearby jars? This would be a tremendous bummer if my suspicions are correct, especially since they just started to really take off. The smell hasn't gotten more intense and I don't remember if it was less intense than it is now.
|
syntax404
Stranger
Registered: 03/29/12
Posts: 19
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: syntax404]
#16124886 - 04/22/12 04:21 PM (11 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Also I think I should note that I sterilized by pot, not PC, eight days after putting the cakes in jars. So I made the cakes on 4/8, stored them in a sealed container that I sprayed down with Lysol until the spores arrived on 4/13, sterilized that night, and inoculated the following evening.
P.S. what size pressure cooker would I need to accommodate 10 1/2pt jars?
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: syntax404]
#16125117 - 04/22/12 05:04 PM (11 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Pictures will help other members to identify healthy mycelium and contaminates.
BRF cakes have an odor themselves after steam sterilizing, I would describe it as a cooked grain smell, this I assume is from the brown rice flour.
That being said if the odor is sour, pungent, reminds you of rotting fruit or sour feet it is more then likely bacterial contaminates. Also you should have sterilized the cakes after making them and waited until your syringes arrived to inoculate instead of making the jars and then allowing them to sit for 8 days before sterilizing.
During those 8 days all sorts of contaminates and bacteria would have been multiplying on/inside the cakes. If you cannot use your cakes/grain jars right away that is usually fine, but you MUST sterilize them as soon as you add moisture and a nutritious material (BRF).
For size reference my 21L PC will hold 36 1/2 pint BRF cakes.
|
syntax404
Stranger
Registered: 03/29/12
Posts: 19
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
|
Quote:
EvilMushroom666 said: Pictures will help other members to identify healthy mycelium and contaminates.
BRF cakes have an odor themselves after steam sterilizing, I would describe it as a cooked grain smell, this I assume is from the brown rice flour.
That being said if the odor is sour, pungent, reminds you of rotting fruit or sour feet it is more then likely bacterial contaminates. Also you should have sterilized the cakes after making them and waited until your syringes arrived to inoculate instead of making the jars and then allowing them to sit for 8 days before sterilizing.
During those 8 days all sorts of contaminates and bacteria would have been multiplying on/inside the cakes. If you cannot use your cakes/grain jars right away that is usually fine, but you MUST sterilize them as soon as you add moisture and a nutritious material (BRF).
For size reference my 21L PC will hold 36 1/2 pint BRF cakes.
I wouldn't say it's incredibly sour smelling but it's more sour than I'm comfortable with... I'm just gonna get rid of everything then and order some more spores. This is disappointing but I learned a lot of incredibly valuable information and as a learning experience I am happy. I just wish I had a bit more to show for everything. If I had the knowledge I did now when I started I definitely would not have let them sit. I'd post pictures of the supposed cobweb but it doesn't really matter since that jar is going too. Bummer.
Thanks.
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: syntax404]
#16125334 - 04/22/12 05:52 PM (11 years, 9 months ago) |
|
|
Sometimes you learn the most from your mistakes and failures. Remember a mistake is not a mistake if you learn from it brother, do not get discouraged, regroup and try again. Good luck!
|
syntax404
Stranger
Registered: 03/29/12
Posts: 19
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
|
Yeah. It's just a small set back. Things will go much smoother the next time (which will probably be later this week.)
|
Coyote Bongwater
Stranger
Registered: 05/02/12
Posts: 1
Last seen: 11 years, 8 months
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: mistamonsta]
#16170037 - 05/02/12 08:18 AM (11 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
By FAR the best beginner TEK ive read. Good looks dude
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
|
Quote:
Coyote Bongwater said: By FAR the best beginner TEK ive read. Good looks dude
|
syntax404
Stranger
Registered: 03/29/12
Posts: 19
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
|
So I'm on my second grow and the jars are colonizing well. They've been colonizing for 14 days now. I used a pressure cooker this time around and I think it really helped with sterilizing and my water content but fuck me those things are scary if you don't have much experience using them. It's just raw pressure and if you don't know how to handle it entirely it's somewhat unnerving. I figured it out though. Here's a few questions I've had while I've been waiting for these to colonize. I realize this is an annoying amount of questions so feel free to answer only the ones that you feel like answering:
Are there any downsides to using more BRF in the mixture? I feel as those this could help the myc thrive more easily even though it's doing great so far (I assume) (pic.) I also speculate, maybe without basis, that more BRF could make the flushes better. The only downside I can think of is facilitating the growth of competing contaminants but does adding more BRF make this a definite issue? I feel as though we should organize people to try a variety of methods under varying conditions to see what is scientifically more effective. I feel more comfortable putting things like this (i.e sterilization method/duration, mixture concentration, temperature, etc vs yield and success rate) up to the scientific method rather than just saying it makes sense that y would happen this way given x. We definitely have enough people on here who could chip in data. I know most people tend to do their own thing but also feel like the best Tek has to lie in seeing what systematically does and doesn't work. Just a thought.
Is it safe to assume that the jar is fully colonized and I can begin consolidation when the mycelium has fully covered the sides and the bottom? I'm not really sure what the criteria is but I can assume if it's gotten to the center of the bottom and covered every visible surface that it's uniformly spread throughout the inside of the cake itself.
I apparently forgot to inoculate one point on jar C3 and two points on jar A4 but you can't really see from that picture I linked because they're on the other side. I only say this because myc is not growing from these points. Maybe I didn't press the plunger down enough or something because I was working in cramped conditions or just forgot. I don't plan on throwing these cakes out or anything, I'll probably just leave them while the others grow, but both will definitely take a lot longer to colonize. Especially A4, which only has two adjacent holes inoculated and nothing on the opposite side. Is it worth waiting for these to catch up? Will A4 ever colonize given the fact that half of it hasn't been inoculated? Does leaving them to colonize for too long increase risk of contaminants?
Is 10% bleach advantageous over Lysol?
While they are currently at 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, I believe I've seen the most rapid colonization occur at 80 and more. I know 85 is harmful but 80 seems to be very good. Am I wrong in assuming this would be better?
Should I attempt to get prints on my first grow? It seems like it might be a bit of a headache. Can I pick some mushrooms when they're ripe and leave others to grow for prints?
I plan on starting my next grow as soon as the jars become available when I birth the cakes. I figure that from now until next year I can get 3-4 more grows under my belt or just keep doing it until I run out of vermiculite/brf. Are grain jars the next logical tek? They seem to be more consistent and with a higher yield. I wouldn't think many people stick to PF tek for very long.
Is there any way to know which types of edibles will and won't grow with PF tek?
Thanks.
|
Javadog
Continuing along



Registered: 05/03/10
Posts: 7,385
Loc: USA
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: syntax404]
#16225242 - 05/13/12 04:03 PM (11 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Too answer part of one of your questions, yes, adding more BRF will improve the conditions for contaminants, but I think that just as important is that the more nutritious the sub is, the slower it colonization will be.
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
|
syntax404
Stranger
Registered: 03/29/12
Posts: 19
Last seen: 11 years, 5 months
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: Javadog]
#16225652 - 05/13/12 05:48 PM (11 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Javadog said: Too answer part of one of your questions, yes, adding more BRF will improve the conditions for contaminants, but I think that just as important is that the more nutritious the sub is, the slower it colonization will be.
JD
Huh. I can kind of see how that could work out that way. Thanks.
|
FuckMeRunnin
REALLY good looking


Registered: 07/18/09
Posts: 788
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: syntax404]
#16241341 - 05/16/12 05:17 PM (11 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
This may have already been said in the 7 pages of replies, but why not add an extra part for people who have/use/want to use filter lids? It isn't really necessary to add a dry verm layer to BRF cakes if another filter method is used. This Tek is definitely a nicely written tek but isn't really much different from the original. As the times change so do the techniques we use to cultivate mushrooms. Being that without a verm layer, people could put more substrate into the jars which would slightly increase the yields a tiny bit. I obviously wouldn't fill the whole way to the top so that it touches the filter, but even a slight gap would do the trick. Plus, adding a verm layer would become an extra unneeded step making the overall process a bit simpler(simplicity is key). Plus an added "how to" on making a filter lid would help out a lot of new people, who at one time or another are probably going to use them anyway. Filter lids can also be used over and over and over again. Why not continue to mix the past with the present, and create an even better slightly altered tried and true method. Ps, your tek is very well written, nice job
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: FuckMeRunnin] 1
#16241422 - 05/16/12 05:38 PM (11 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Not everyone can get access to filter discs and injection ports. It is fairly easy to but most people want to order as little off the internet as possible.
I have made cakes using the method you describe, as well as inoculating with agar wedges and only have a filter discs over top. It is possible, but for someone starting out the cheapest and easiest way is to just use a dry verm layer.
By all means I would encourage you to do a write up and post it here on the forums, this write up was simply my take on making BRF cakes, in the hopes to help out those starting out in the hobby.
|
FuckMeRunnin
REALLY good looking


Registered: 07/18/09
Posts: 788
Last seen: 10 years, 8 months
|
|
Quote:
EvilMushroom666 said: Not everyone can get access to filter discs and injection ports. It is fairly easy to but most people want to order as little off the internet as possible.
I have made cakes using the method you describe, as well as inoculating with agar wedges and only have a filter discs over top. It is possible, but for someone starting out the cheapest and easiest way is to just use a dry verm layer.
By all means I would encourage you to do a write up and post it here on the forums, this write up was simply my take on making BRF cakes, in the hopes to help out those starting out in the hobby.
I understand your take on not using filter disks. I myself haven't had to order anything offline to make very cheap filter disk tops. I use EZ felt and Silicone from walmart. Depending on the brands you use, it is actually cheaper and more readily available then vermiculite.
|
Timehole



Registered: 04/28/12
Posts: 156
|
|
Hey Evil Has anyone used poly fill in the top 1/2" of the jar, instead of verm or maybe in conjunction with it?
Thanks
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: Timehole]
#16241769 - 05/16/12 06:45 PM (11 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Timehole said: Hey Evil Has anyone used poly fill in the top 1/2" of the jar, instead of verm or maybe in conjunction with it?
Thanks
Not that I have ever read, but I am sure someone somewhere has done it .
I would suggest just using a verm layer to start with before experimenting with other methods personally.
|
Timehole



Registered: 04/28/12
Posts: 156
|
|
Thanks evil, makes sense.
Great write up BTW, wish i had found this before my first go at the PF tek. Clear and concise!
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: Timehole]
#16720582 - 08/18/12 01:02 PM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
|
MycoParadise
Boomer



Registered: 09/05/12
Posts: 53
Loc: Up in the clouds
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
|
|
Bravo. Very detailed and informative. Helped me avoid a lot of common novice mistakes. Thank you for taking the time to compile this tek.
-------------------- “Nature loves courage. You make the commitment and nature will respond to that commitment by removing impossible obstacles. Dream the impossible dream and the world will not grind you under, it will lift you up. This is the trick. This is what all these teachers and philosophers who really counted, who really touched the alchemical gold, this is what they understood. This is the shamanic dance in the waterfall. This is how magic is done. By hurling yourself into the abyss and discovering its a feather bed.” ― Terence McKenna http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/16446377#16446377
|
EvilMushroom666
Heretic




Registered: 11/18/09
Posts: 10,289
Loc: Canada
|
Re: EvilMushroom666's Take on BRF Cakes [Re: MycoParadise]
#16798610 - 09/06/12 01:24 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
|
|