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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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First agar project! Plus grow log (pics)
#18559775 - 07/14/13 10:56 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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Hey Shroomery, so I've contemplated about starting another project, but have come to the conclusion it's for the better if I do.
Here is what I'm getting a go at this time, some nice petri dishes!

 Also in this one, I noticed a little browning maybe? Hopefully no contams but time will tell!
As you can see I am having condensation problems so hopefully RR can jar in on this thread. I followed RR's video on agar precisely BUT I used a glove-box not a Flow Hood.


All the dishes are 1 transfer from a couple good GT dishes a served up a week ago. I did all the transfers today in the glove-box, all sterile procedures followed, and all cooling procedures. I am however using microscope tape which I know isn't what anyone recommends (more so being parafilm) at this time though I don't have the money or the access to any parafilm. I know many others have used microspore tape so i do not think this is my problem (with the condensation problem).
My current steps to resolve this problem are to keep my 6 (4 posted) petri dishes stacked in the plastic bag for 2-3 days. To be honest before I had transferred those 4 GT's, the dishes were on top of a photo-tron. So it had unusual high tempers compared to the room temperature which remains were it should be.
More pictures in a couple days! Take care all.
-Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
Edited by Zeparthian (09/22/13 07:18 PM)
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anne halonium
jaguarette



Registered: 05/07/13
Posts: 1,908
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Re: First agar project! [Re: Zeparthian]
#18559826 - 07/14/13 11:07 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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i love a good agar thread . ill watch this one.......
good luck.
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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For sure be a good 2 month thread thanks for the eyes!
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Uhurungus
Avoiderer of Bullshit



Registered: 04/20/13
Posts: 838
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Re: First agar project! [Re: Zeparthian]
#18559984 - 07/14/13 11:58 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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i use a SAB, not a flow hood.
what i have found is that the main cause of condensation in my dishes is moving them from one temperature range to another. i'm not sure what a phototron is but you having moved them away from a heat source is most likely the culprit. also, to avoid as much initial condensation as possible, i wait to do the actual pour until the agar is near gelling up as i can while still being able to do all my dishes. again, it's a temp shock thing.
put a coffee mug of HOT water on top of the stack to keep the top ones clear immediately after you finish pouring. also, put the sleeve back over them as well. i usually end up with 2 or 3 out of 25 with condensation but even they will clear up over a week or so.
just because you have condensation doesn't mean the dishes aren't good though. some people turn them upside down. it at least makes it so you can see your dishes clearly, but most if not all of the veterans here will tell you NOT to do that.
buy a $3.00 roll of "glad wrap". take a bread knife or something serrated and cut 1-2 inch sections down the roll. you'll end up with 5 or 6 rolls of cheap and effective dish seal material. it's said you want "glad wrap", not saran wrap. has to do with the material being breathable. you could probably UTSE and find out the exact explanation if you wanted to.
once you get the hang of agar (it's totally easy) you'll never look back.
-------------------- I'm never 100% on anything, just close enough to risk looking foolish.
Edited by Uhurungus (07/14/13 11:59 PM)
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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So here is a little update on those dishes, it's been about 3 days.
Condensation seems to be going away slowly but surly, but this one here looks like its going to never get rid of all its condensation;

All the rest look grand 



I'll update again in a couple more, thanks all!
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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anne halonium
jaguarette



Registered: 05/07/13
Posts: 1,908
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im feeling it.........
1-3 look fine. #4 possible bacteria/ psuedonmas.
let em grow out some more, and, make more agar.
hows your air quality?
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Doing transfers either today or tomorrow, their looking really close to getting an isolation going. The fourth picture posted previously DID have contamination so their all getting throw outside in a whole with he other agar that i don't need from previous transfers.
All of my condensation has went away, i found out it was from my phototron being on and changing the air temps.
The air quality as in? Temperature? Fresh? Their currently in a closet and they do get some ambient light every day or maybe even catch some rays. I open the closet to air out and refresh the air that was in there previously once a day. My elevation is now around 7,000-11,000 so I'm hoping this has no affect on any part of the process that remains undone as time is a huge factor.
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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I did another transfer, from these little dishes- This first one, i took 3 transfers from. It looked the best imo.






i transferred another 2 after that first 3 transfers from a different dish that looked the second best (running out of agar, so i could only afford to do 5 transfers this go)
Unfortunately today i looked at my transfers and the 2 from the second best dish had some wierd growth in both of the dishes. the same growth. Im suspecting it had something i couldnt see in the trasnfer dish. But I do have my 3 best ones and I can already see its just bigger than a rice grain but ALOT of rizo activity. more updates in a couple days!
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Uhurungus
Avoiderer of Bullshit


Registered: 04/20/13
Posts: 838
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looking good
-------------------- I'm never 100% on anything, just close enough to risk looking foolish.
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twistedty
Forcefully Retired



Registered: 07/01/12
Posts: 5,487
Loc: Middle
Last seen: 4 years, 5 months
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: Uhurungus]
#18673454 - 08/07/13 01:47 PM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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welcome to agar
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Nakor420
Fun Guy



Registered: 05/02/13
Posts: 1,616
Loc: The Spirit World
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: twistedty]
#18673481 - 08/07/13 01:54 PM (11 years, 5 months ago) |
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You poured those too hot... next time, wait until your agar is cool enough to handle without feeling much warmth yet still flows like liquid... This will limit the amount of steam in your dishes when you seal them.
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: Nakor420]
#18745973 - 08/23/13 07:47 AM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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I have transferred my agar to some rye berry jars, but I have a very important question. NO one has an answer for this, not that I've seen anyways. So probably about 4-7 days ago i put those agar transfers into rye berry jars, the growth seems okay but not as crazy as I suspected with all the rhizo activity I saw before the transfer, shit I saw basically nothing but tiny white cute little fingers trying to reach out and grab something. Since i've put them in the jar, they have grown but it seems slower the when they were on the agar. Also I am at or close to 10,000 feet elevation.
Is elevation at all going to affect grow times, or cultivation period? Before I had a grow going, it was down at or close to sea level.
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Nakor420
Fun Guy



Registered: 05/02/13
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I don't know about elevation...but obviously once you put the culture in grains, you have changed the conditions....the myc will not act exactly the same in different conditions...just give it time to recover and you will be fine unless you have a contaminated jar....do you use a flow hood or a SAB?
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: Nakor420]
#18748500 - 08/23/13 07:00 PM (11 years, 4 months ago) |
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I use an SAB only because I cannot afford a flow hood at this time, I asked the same question and got some really nice responses. They told me to shake the jar and get that wedge somewhat in the middle, at least covered any ways. This is what i might do, any more input?
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Nakor420
Fun Guy



Registered: 05/02/13
Posts: 1,616
Loc: The Spirit World
Last seen: 10 years, 11 months
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Yeah, burying the wedge in the grains is a good Idea, I personally try to get it covered in grains, but also in a spot where I can look at it through the side of the jar....
Edited by Nakor420 (08/23/13 09:27 PM)
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: Nakor420]
#18877468 - 09/22/13 07:14 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Small update, things are finally on the go and about to jump into a tub.
I was thinking a 40 quart tub would be fine for this setup since I have only 5 quarts of spawn ( well 6 but I plan to G2G the last one).
So far all the jars but one has been in consolidation for about 2 days. I plan on throwing these bad boys in a tub with some good ole coir, and verm, maybe a splash of gypsum on Tuesday morning.
In the process I did lose one jar to trich, but what the hell, I managed to pull out the other 6 out of 7 so were in good condition.
Temps average from nights to days from 68-77F
I'm hoping the 40 quart will to the trick, what do you folks think? 40 quart is what my math came out to be for every brick of coir ect.
 I'm expecting the tub to be in colonization for about 10 days, in that time i only plan on taking 1 picture at 5 day mark. Bare with me, shits rollin now if I don't hit any road bumps. Once the tub gets up and going, more nice pictures will be on their way! Cheers, -Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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cynical bastad
another guy
Registered: 08/17/13
Posts: 175
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Cool shit bro,
If you use 40qt tub: 7qt's spawn, 2qt's verm, 9qt's coir(brick)=18qt's. That's over half your tub, depending the dimensions?
what kind of agar are you using?
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Ill be using a 40 quart for 5 quarts of spawn, 1-2 quarts of verm mixed with my brick of coir.
So it should be roughly under half the tubs depth I would imagine.
I used malt agar though for that process, it worked grand for my first time using agar.
The ratio for my tub will be 1:2 though, so we should see rather fast colonizing times.
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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cynical bastad
another guy
Registered: 08/17/13
Posts: 175
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That's deep bro?
How tall is your tub?
You may be able to make two? Or you could knock it down to 1:1...which is still deep, at over 1/3 no?
I'm fixing to jump into agar, soooo exciting
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Not at all man, my ratio is 1:2 basically. The Tubs 40 quarts, a brick of coir we will say is roughly 9-12 quarts plus my 5 quarts of spawn, and 2 quarts of verm.
All that added up is roughly around 20 quarts of material in a 40 quart tub, ill have some nice growing room ( about half the depth).
Here is a picture of material I gathered today, even got my 5 gallon pale free from a nice store ^_^
Unfortunately I had to go get another timer for my light fixture, but heh what the hell.

Also the only 40 quart tub i could find was see threw but the top is green so i plan on cutting out a nice green corner chunk on top so the light will be coming in at a angle as the sun does. the temperature did get a little low tonight, I can feel winter settling in :o Fuk they were outa the completely see threw ones in 40 quart sizes. Any opinions before i start my project tomorrow  ? Feedback is awesomely appreciated with input and advice, thanks all! The journey starts here
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
Edited by Zeparthian (09/23/13 03:06 PM)
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Pestile

Registered: 05/02/13
Posts: 875
Loc: Northern Europe
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You can cut a large square hole in the lid and put clear film on it like in TL's thread: My One Flush Wonder Mono Tubs Using Coir Tek
  
--------------------
  
The Corbett Report
Open Source Intelligence News
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: Pestile]
#18883044 - 09/23/13 11:44 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Couple hours later I've made my full monotub, man did i wish i had power tools like previously.
I did follow that tek and I did make a nice square see threw hole, thanks Pestilence. Pictures coming tomorrow.
Tomorrow I'm going to dunk grains right before I spawn to bulk, hopefully for fast colonizing times (Thanks frank) we will see how all goes!
Be back tomorrow, cheers.
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
Edited by Zeparthian (09/24/13 04:19 PM)
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: Pestile]
#18883050 - 09/23/13 11:46 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Pestilence said: You can cut a large square hole in the lid and put clear film on it like in TL's thread: My One Flush Wonder Mono Tubs Using Coir Tek
   
If the tub is transparent but the lid is not, you can just leave it as is. No need to worry about all those modifications.
I stack all of my tubs. 90% of the light comes in through the sides. There are no negative side effects. Same goes for transparent tubs with opaque lids
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Going to be using your grain dunk Frank, here shortly.
just cleaned up my stuff last night with some bleach and this morning with some alcohol.
Really excited to see how your grain dunk works, after I spawn to bulk I'll give it a good 5 days before checking on it
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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I'm excited to see what you think! I never do without a dunk before spawning any longer 
Keep us posted!
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Doing my coir/verm right now and I used 4 quarts of water, well this seems to be on the edge of okay and to dry.
I was wondering, I'm wanting to add one more quart of water ( I also found small chunks to be still dehydrated. I cannot get a single drop of water when squeezing it either)
It's been 3 hours and I do ant to add one more quart of water and wait one more hour, good call?
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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I've done it anyways ^_^
I'll give it some time now to cool off before I add my colonized berries :o
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
Edited by Zeparthian (09/26/13 02:05 PM)
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BL00MERS
Hobbyist



Registered: 09/07/13
Posts: 56
Loc: Colorado
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Nice first time agar work! Just built a flow hood and ordered some petri dishes and will be attempting some agar work and master culture slants for the first time this weekend!
-------------------- Happy growing!
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: BL00MERS]
#18887415 - 09/24/13 11:54 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thank man, it's really come along! I'm so pumped to see how well this isolation went, and on top of that, the grain dunking! Good luck with your agar work, I made the mistake and pouring while it was to hot the first batch. This is for sure a learning thread, once again, may the agar be with you
Pretty excited 
-Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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BL00MERS
Hobbyist



Registered: 09/07/13
Posts: 56
Loc: Colorado
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Thanks, Zep.
As I was reading this thread, the condensation from pouring too hot was one of the first notes I wrote down...I guarantee I would have done the same thing. I plan on using a ELME and agar powder mixture, using TL's recipe of 500mL distilled water, 5g ELME and 9-10g agar. Curious as to what your ELME:agar-agar ratio was? I've read conflicting info from different scientific lab manuals on agar malt stating a 2:1 as apposed to TL's 1:2 ratio.
-------------------- Happy growing!
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: BL00MERS]
#18889135 - 09/25/13 12:46 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
BL00MERS said: Thanks, Zep.
As I was reading this thread, the condensation from pouring too hot was one of the first notes I wrote down...I guarantee I would have done the same thing. I plan on using a ELME and agar powder mixture, using TL's recipe of 500mL distilled water, 5g ELME and 9-10g agar. Curious as to what your ELME:agar-agar ratio was? I've read conflicting info from different scientific lab manuals on agar malt stating a 2:1 as apposed to TL's 1:2 ratio.
I can't speak for TL, but if you guys are looking for some agar recipes, might I point you over to my agar journal? 
I use 500mL of water to 10g ELME and 10g agar myself.
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: BL00MERS]
#18889142 - 09/25/13 12:47 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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I am not exactly sure on my ratio( I did not make from scratch), when I thought about doing agar (8 plus months ago) I went on one of shroomery sponsers and ordered me some of their Dehydrated Malt Extract Agar (MEA) and it worked greatly for what I did with it. I got it for around 6$ I think (which is enough to fill 20 petri dishes)
i think i didn't make it from scratch because i was watching RR videos and he said he used to make it from scratch but his MEA pre-mixed that he was using was wonderful ( or something like that).
So I picked up some from out-grow. They always throw in free things and it's wonderful to shop there!
But now that Frank has chimed in, it's time to go takes some notes on his forum
Cheers everyone
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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BL00MERS
Hobbyist



Registered: 09/07/13
Posts: 56
Loc: Colorado
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Information overload! Very nice journal, great information Frank...I'll be doing several variations with different ratios, so it will probably take me some time to hone in on my preferred recipe
Thanks, all
-------------------- Happy growing!
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Re: UPDATE 7/18/2013 [Re: BL00MERS]
#18889390 - 09/25/13 01:47 PM (11 years, 3 months ago) |
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Have fun man!
 may the be with you
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
|
Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
|
Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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Photo Update:
Day 10, and I was wanting to put the tub into fruiting. Since I unevenly layered the top protective "layer" this spot is left uncolonized BUT barley. All the mycelium is peeking threw the coir so i was debating if i could put it into fruiting. It's about 3 quarters big. Depending on what you guys think i guess
 -Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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I fruited the tub this morning, i am monitoring my poly fill holes to make sure it's up to specifications. Excited now, come on pins! So fucking ready to get lost in the movie Avatar, on some heavy cubes.
 Until than, may the  be with you. -Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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5 days with no pinning yet, but there has been knots showing up everywhere.
I'm hoping some day soon they'll all pop!
-Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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Zeparthian
Young Mycologist


Registered: 10/01/12
Posts: 223
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2 days ago, one small pin has arrived on the out edge of my mono. It's looking very healthy, although no more have popped up. I was thinking maybe the middle of my monotub was drying out to quickly, I've misted once more and tightened the top holes (they were extremely loose).
Hopefully pins soon? 
-Zep
-------------------- Having troubles? RR's here to help!
Let's Grow Mushrooms - RR
Watch, absorb, and put that information to use!
With a little help, miracles do happen
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