SpitballJedi said:

I find that I can stuff those holes pretty damn tight. I back off a little. If you have condensation on the walls, then a dry ring around the polly is a good sign of FAE.

---

Fesperse said:

SpitballJedi said:

I find that I can stuff those holes pretty damn tight. I back off a little. If you have condensation on the walls, then a dry ring around the polly is a good sign of FAE.

---

See, that's the thing. I do have the dry rings around my poly holes but there are still some pins that have the aerial myc. I've now taken all the polyfill out of one of the top holes so waiting to see how that goes.

---

MastaBlastar said:

Fesperse said:

SpitballJedi said:

I find that I can stuff those holes pretty damn tight. I back off a little. If you have condensation on the walls, then a dry ring around the polly is a good sign of FAE.

---

See, that's the thing. I do have the dry rings around my poly holes but there are still some pins that have the aerial myc. I've now taken all the polyfill out of one of the top holes so waiting to see how that goes.

---

Are you not worried about contaminates?

---

Fesperse said:

Hey Frank, have a tub going right now and stuffed the bottom holes tightly as per this thread. Top holes are very loose. The box still doesn't seem to be getting the right FAE. There is an oscillating fan in the room and a ceiling fan. It's definitely not too dry, I can see water droplets on the sub and myc. There are a few pins that look a little stretchy and a few pins with the fuzzy myc feet.

Any advice on this? There's plenty of airflow in my room. Also, there is a somewhat fluffy chair that sits on top of my box (it applies the same weight another mono on top of this one might). If this changes how you're supposed to stuff the poly, i'd love to hear some tricks.

---

It sounds like you should give it some time, sometimes what you describe can be caused by genetics.  I stuff the bottom as tight as possible. You should never need to back off or loosen them up. You want your RH as high as possible at the surface of the substrate. I get the best results when I stuff them as tight as possible.

I would not worry about putting weight on the top of the tub. That'll increase your FAE a bit as well. However keep in mind that tiny droplets all over the surface is a good sign as is the condensation on the walls.

Basically like SJ said above, I only mess with the top. Take one hole out if you'd like to try it. But you can generally get amazing results with loose on both top holes, tight as hell on the bottom

FrankHorrigan said:

It sounds like you should give it some time, sometimes what you describe can be caused by genetics.  I stuff the bottom as tight as possible. You should never need to back off or loosen them up. You want your RH as high as possible at the surface of the substrate. I get the best results when I stuff them as tight as possible.

I would not worry about putting weight on the top of the tub. That'll increase your FAE a bit as well. However keep in mind that tiny droplets all over the surface is a good sign as is the condensation on the walls.

Basically like SJ said above, I only mess with the top. Take one hole out if you'd like to try it. But you can generally get amazing results with loose on both top holes, tight as hell on the bottom

---

Bangkok said:

Frank,

Do you use a light for the tubs or just a normal room light? Also, what point in the process are you providing light? 12/12?

thanks

---

Quote:

I colonize them under a warm, thick blanket that lets little if any light through.

---

forestly said:

Thanks for a great thread. I wanted to ask why you colonize in total darkness. As i understand colonization is faster when light is introduced..

---

If it is, I haven't noticed it in my last 100 tubs

I have noticed that colonization is faster when the heat the tubs produce is insulated a little bit with the blanket. Colonization time sits around 4-6 days for me now

MastaBlastar said:

OK.  I was more thinking along the lines of say you have 2 70 qt tubs, one taller and shorter lengthwise, and other shorter and longer lengthwise, you would pick the taller one?

---

I would go with the taller one

UltimateAnswer said:

Just wanted to thank you for your work frank. I've been reading over your stuff since i joined back after several years. I used this gem actually as part of my first grow. Come check it out soon I'm only a week or less away from spawning to bulk. Thanks again

---

I'm glad to hear it has worked well for you!