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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,887
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That's interesting. I assume you're using a loop with dry spores and not a syringe?
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,887
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I noc'd up another batch tonight with the last remaining spore solution I had in my syringes. I actually mixed up the strains so I have no idea what I'm growing, but whatever.
First, here's a better shot of the mycelium I thought was contaminated. It uh, definitely is. I tossed it.

Second, here's a plate that I guess got a bit less of the agar than the others, so it's a bit shallow (like my first 3 ex-wives, ha ha ha, just kidding). Is this an issue or is there enough agar for the mycelium to grow?

Here are some videos for y'all to critique. Hopefully I performed these techniques well enough to use as guides for fellow noobs.
Wiping Condensation w/ Sterilized Paper Towel
This gave me trouble the first time I made these because I had no idea how the hell to get rid of the condensation properly. This time, I used the sterilized napkin, durrr.
I tried keeping everything I handled below the open container, as well as keeping it higher up in the box (not sure if that part matters).
Inoculating Agar w/ Single Drop On Surface & Into Agar
This is the part I think I butchered terribly last time. The first inoculation is a single drop in the center. The next one, I actually go into the agar and inject, which gave me trouble last time.
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,810
Loc: Canada
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Well that was def contamed. Guess the first instinct was right. Seriously the condensation is not as big a deal as you guys seem to think. I never ever wipe or need to pour out condensation. You get more condensation with pour agar than you do with these. Seriously if its that bad, pour the plates thinner and once you pull em out put them in the fridge for two days. It should be mostly gone. Even if its not, if you inoculate or transfer by the time the culture grows out enough for you to use or transfer again it should be cleared up.
Condensation is not really a problem unless your dealing with a lot of bacteria. But in itself is not a vector for contam. There might have been a touch of condensation on thus plate when I first transfered it but, I don't think it's an issue anymore.
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Pudgy
Fail-2-Win

Registered: 09/30/14
Posts: 657
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Quote:
Pastywhyte said: Well that was def contamed. Guess the first instinct was right. Seriously the condensation is not as big a deal as you guys seem to think. I never ever wipe or need to pour out condensation. You get more condensation with pour agar than you do with these. Seriously if its that bad, pour the plates thinner and once you pull em out put them in the fridge for two days. It should be mostly gone. Even if its not, if you inoculate or transfer by the time the culture grows out enough for you to use or transfer again it should be cleared up.
Condensation is not really a problem unless your dealing with a lot of bacteria. But in itself is not a vector for contam. There might have been a touch of condensation on thus plate when I first transfered it but, I don't think it's an issue anymore.

The only reasons I dislike the condensation is because I love to see the myc growing and want to learn so I need to see and study. Besides, it's such a minor obstacle I wiped my containers out, even wiped the moisture off the surface of the agar and got no contam.
The condensation is worth the fact that I have readily available supplies to practice agar cultures at stores local to me. Next time I'll try 'spooning' a more shallow dish and refrigerating it prior to noc.
Edited by Pudgy (10/26/14 06:28 AM)
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,887
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Pudgy]
#20755485 - 10/26/14 02:12 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yup. I want mine clean so I can see in them. I let mine cool for days in fridge before and the condensation stayed. Pasty, no opinion on my inoculation vid?
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
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still loving this thread lol
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  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
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Pudgy
Fail-2-Win

Registered: 09/30/14
Posts: 657
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: cronicr]
#20755539 - 10/26/14 02:22 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Cron ... Plug your face into the USB, download all of your knowledge and make it public please!
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Pudgy]
#20755562 - 10/26/14 02:27 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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just gotta stick my floppy disk in the hard drive and consolidate
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  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
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Pudgy
Fail-2-Win

Registered: 09/30/14
Posts: 657
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: cronicr]
#20755668 - 10/26/14 02:59 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
cronicr said: just gotta stick my floppy disk in the hard drive and consolidate
spread ya spores man
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Violet



Registered: 12/06/11
Posts: 4,205
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Quote:
Pastywhyte said: Seriously the condensation is not as big a deal as you guys seem to think. I never ever wipe or need to pour out condensation. You get more condensation with pour agar than you do with these. If you inoculate or transfer by the time the culture grows out enough for you to use or transfer again it should be cleared up.
Condensation is not really a problem unless your dealing with a lot of bacteria. But in itself is not a vector for contam.
I second the above statements exactly. Although I have poured out condensation a number of times.
-------------------- Intentionally or not, here in mushcult we are purveyors of love culture and enlightenment movement. Let's try to act like it! PODS TEK - Growing Invitro with BRF/verm or Grass Seed containers The simplest, quickest, safest tek! For beginners, culturers, lazy people, stealth lovers, contam haters, and alternative seekers! • Violet's Teks and Posts •
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afk77
Stranger


Registered: 12/01/13
Posts: 139
Last seen: 7 years, 10 months
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Violet]
#20758005 - 10/27/14 12:30 AM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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def giving this a try!
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,887
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Violet]
#20758081 - 10/27/14 12:54 AM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Violet said:
Quote:
Pastywhyte said: Seriously the condensation is not as big a deal as you guys seem to think. I never ever wipe or need to pour out condensation. You get more condensation with pour agar than you do with these. If you inoculate or transfer by the time the culture grows out enough for you to use or transfer again it should be cleared up.
Condensation is not really a problem unless your dealing with a lot of bacteria. But in itself is not a vector for contam.
I second the above statements exactly. Although I have poured out condensation a number of times.
I never thought condensation would cause contams. It's just difficult to see growth inside and I'd love to be able to check stuff out without removing the lid because that means gloving up, spraying down SAB, etc.
It takes like 10 seconds one time to wipe down each jar.
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Inocuole
Scalpel of Evil's Bane



Registered: 11/21/11
Posts: 24,863
Loc: ★
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I've found that leaving some of my plates in front of some sunlight from the window caused them to create tons of condensation, which they hadn't otherwise been having issues with. All the ones still on a shelf with only ambient light have no condensation at all. (Was trying to see if sunlight would affect pinning or size on agar, no noticeable effects from what I've gathered. Only doing it with dishes I've transferred from already)
Also I noticed I can see almost perfectly through the top part even when the sides fog up.
I gotta transfer that pin clone I posted a few pages back today, it's got some robust growth coming from it. Not fast, but real thick. I love the triangular branching scheme they tend to follow.
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stareatclouds
star eat clouds?



Registered: 09/29/14
Posts: 9,887
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Inocuole]
#20759374 - 10/27/14 12:56 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Are you using the actual Pasty plates in the tupperware containers? There isn't a top part in the ones I'm using, which have a purple non see-through lid and there's a paper towel stuffed on top.
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Inocuole
Scalpel of Evil's Bane



Registered: 11/21/11
Posts: 24,863
Loc: ★
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Yeah I'm using the exact ones in the tek. I didn't leave the paper towels on mine so I can see through the tops right now.
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magicMerlin



Registered: 01/26/12
Posts: 617
Loc: Toronto
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Quote:
Pastywhyte said: Also do not toss these, if they have sporulated mold you can PC for 30 min and then empty them. I have some that I have probably used 25-30 times now.
Leave micropore tape and lid on and pc 30 minutes, then I can open them open air to toss? And wash the pp5 soap & water?
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Inocuole
Scalpel of Evil's Bane



Registered: 11/21/11
Posts: 24,863
Loc: ★
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Quote:
magicMerlin said:
Quote:
Pastywhyte said: Also do not toss these, if they have sporulated mold you can PC for 30 min and then empty them. I have some that I have probably used 25-30 times now.
Leave micropore tape and lid on and pc 30 minutes, then I can open them open air to toss? And wash the pp5 soap & water?
Exactly like you said, yep. Or do what Muda does and open them under water so that they're never exposed to air.
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Pudgy
Fail-2-Win

Registered: 09/30/14
Posts: 657
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Inocuole]
#20760141 - 10/27/14 04:08 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Anything wrong with a thin layer of agar at the bottom? I did just enough to cover the bump in the middle of the bottom.
I just did an agar to grain and the agar wedge was massive. I don't care for a massive piece of agar. Also when I did my first transfer, it took an extra two days to colonize the wedge.
I was hoping I could get away with thin layers for small wedges, for ease of transfer.
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Inocuole
Scalpel of Evil's Bane



Registered: 11/21/11
Posts: 24,863
Loc: ★
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Pudgy]
#20760161 - 10/27/14 04:12 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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I'm pretty sure that's fine. Thick agar is not really beneficial for the most part from what I've seen. Just don't do it like paper thin, maybe 2-3 mm thick? My first transferred wedge was thick as fuck and it was a pain to get out of there. Probably got some bacteria all up in that trying to wedge it out.
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Violet



Registered: 12/06/11
Posts: 4,205
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Re: Pasty Agar Tek [Re: Inocuole]
#20760302 - 10/27/14 04:49 PM (9 years, 3 months ago) |
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Extra thin agar can possibly only support thin "rhizo" growth. I myself, as well as others I've seen, have mistaken growth on thin or nutrient-weak agar for great rhizomorph. I no longer care so much about impressive-looking rhizo. My best cultures hardly do it, and I only see it on weak nutrition anyway which I pretty much never use. So it's best to have at least a little bit more than just the minimum required for a working surface area.
Thick agar is very beneficial for storing a container in refrigeration long-term.
If you have problems transferring deep wedges, try poking into the depth sideways with the scalpel after cutting and removing the wedge, or using a second sterile tool (tweezers, my favorite. I usually only use tweezers now).
-------------------- Intentionally or not, here in mushcult we are purveyors of love culture and enlightenment movement. Let's try to act like it! PODS TEK - Growing Invitro with BRF/verm or Grass Seed containers The simplest, quickest, safest tek! For beginners, culturers, lazy people, stealth lovers, contam haters, and alternative seekers! • Violet's Teks and Posts •
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