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HIGHIMTHENEWGUY


Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Wonderland
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Never get condensation on agar plates again!
#17526901 - 01/10/13 09:48 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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Felt like I should share this one since I seldom contribute. So every time I pour plates there is usually a few plates that have condensation. Yes the coffee mug trick works OK, but it never completely solves the issue. I have found that using a COFFEE MUG WARMER is the best solution. These can be had for $5-$10 and found at damn near any store. After parafilming my plates I cycle through them and check for any signs of condensation. Any plates showing condensation I set aside, plug in the coffee mug warmer and turn it on, and then I turn the warmer upside down and sit it on top of the agar plate for a minute and then the condensation is all gone. This works far better than the coffee mug trick in my opinion and I hope it helps others as much as it has helped me!
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psylosymonreturns
aka Gym Sporrison



Registered: 10/16/09
Posts: 13,948
Loc: Mos Eisley,
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: HIGHIMTHENEWGUY]
#17530045 - 01/10/13 08:55 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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man i am just dealing with this ! thanks!
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: HIGHIMTHENEWGUY]
#17532069 - 01/11/13 10:45 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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The condensation is from a temperature differential, which is why the coffee warmer works. It will also work to take the top few dishes from the stack, which are the ones with condensation, and bury them deeper in the stack. Put some the condensation has been re-absorbed into on top, and you're done. Within three or so days, all the condensation will have been re-absorbed back into the agar where it belongs. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Amanita virosa
botanist by day


Registered: 12/04/11
Posts: 2,458
Loc: north kakalacky
Last seen: 10 months, 4 days
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: RogerRabbit]
#17543007 - 01/13/13 03:34 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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praise the lord. that is splendid. But won't that work only if you are in a climate controlled space? My plates will fog/unfog based on the fluctiating relative humidity and temp within the space where they are. My lab has no ac currently. And man that is an nuisence.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 2 months
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: Amanita virosa]
#17544339 - 01/13/13 09:03 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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Rather than parafilm the plates after pouring, slip them back into the sleeve and fold it under at the bottom. Only take out ones you need, and then after inoculating and wrapping with parafilm, slip into individual ziplock baggies. I've got quite a bit of temp swing up here (it's -10F outside now) and rarely see condensation by following the above. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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psylosymonreturns
aka Gym Sporrison



Registered: 10/16/09
Posts: 13,948
Loc: Mos Eisley,
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: RogerRabbit]
#17544395 - 01/13/13 09:17 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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what i just used instead of a cup of hot water or a cup warmer was one of those microwavable heat bags for sore muscles. my mom makes them with beans inside . well i had stacks of plates in my gloveboxe and i put the heat bag in a ziploc bag and laid it over my plates. and like you said, it worked like a charm ! thanks
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Terry M
Stranger in a Strange Land



Registered: 06/18/10
Posts: 1,502
Loc: Rhode Island
Last seen: 9 years, 3 months
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I just leave my stacks of agar plates on a wire shelf, without any covering or wrapping. Any condensation disappears, and I've had no problems with the agar drying out. I'll generally use them up within a few weeks.
-------------------- Liberté, égalité, humidité.
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HIGHIMTHENEWGUY


Registered: 05/15/08
Posts: 162
Loc: Wonderland
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: Terry M]
#17551781 - 01/15/13 11:45 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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By not wrapping plates directly after pouring wouldn't that lead to an increased risk of contams? I'm gonna give it a try though, because it would help save on parafilm.
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psylosymonreturns
aka Gym Sporrison



Registered: 10/16/09
Posts: 13,948
Loc: Mos Eisley,
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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Re: Never get condensation on agar plates again! [Re: HIGHIMTHENEWGUY]
#17552468 - 01/15/13 02:30 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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i know eh thats what i would think too. but i bet it depends if you have a lab or if your do it at home. as you can see Terry ,Amanita, and RR are really set right up. i dont have a lab so i try to protect everything from the air in my house!
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