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Chuckfinely
another round for me an my buddy

Registered: 06/27/13
Posts: 628
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar?
#19209054 - 11/30/13 03:35 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ive been using RR's liquor bottle method for a couple years now. I use a boonsfarm bottle with a big hole poked in the lid and a filter disc inserted.
Works pretty well except the pouring part is always a bitch for me. Have to have an oven mit on and I usually spill a little.
anything that is a little easier to pour from, or am I stuck with the bottle? Have some petri dishes on my schedule in about a week and I was hoping to avoid the 10 wasted dishes
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bEelzeBosS
Swing on the spiral

Registered: 06/15/13
Posts: 395
Last seen: 8 years, 10 days
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: Chuckfinely] 1
#19209064 - 11/30/13 03:38 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Let it cool off more before you pour. The hotter it is, the more condensation in your petris.
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FrankHorrigan
The Inquisition



Registered: 01/04/11
Posts: 10,573
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: bEelzeBosS]
#19209070 - 11/30/13 03:41 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I use a wine bottle as well, it works fantastic.
Like chaotic said, let it cool until you can handle it comfortably. This way you won't end up with sopping wet petri lids.
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Forager
Mycophile

Registered: 02/15/11
Posts: 440
Last seen: 3 years, 17 days
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: bEelzeBosS]
#19209074 - 11/30/13 03:42 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
chaotic646 said: Let it cool off more before you pour. The hotter it is, the more condensation in your petris.
Like these guys said- you should really be able to handle your container comfortably while pouring
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Always looking for interesting active prints (especially Gymnopilus spp. and sclerotia producers) and cacti and poppy seeds.
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Chuckfinely
another round for me an my buddy

Registered: 06/27/13
Posts: 628
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: FrankHorrigan]
#19209077 - 11/30/13 03:43 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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For some reason I was under the impression I had to handle it while piping hot in order for the agar to stay liquid
Thank you guys for pointing out I'm being ridiculous 
I will let my bottle cool down a bit my next attempt
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SpitballJedi
Ancient Astronaut



Registered: 10/13/12
Posts: 8,598
Loc: Nibiru
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: Chuckfinely]
#19209298 - 11/30/13 05:02 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yes, what they said.
I used Snapple bottles for a while. The small size made it easy to manage in a SAB.
I recently bought a Pyrex media bottle. Very nice.
-------------------- The Basics A little civility goes a long way The Noob Forum The Hammock Hangers' Forum
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teknix
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Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: SpitballJedi]
#19209313 - 11/30/13 05:09 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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An Erlenmyer flask with cotton wrapped in cheese cloth for the stopper is the best imo.
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dr.alkaline



Registered: 12/15/12
Posts: 684
Last seen: 4 years, 9 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: teknix]
#19209369 - 11/30/13 05:30 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Run cold water in the sink and swirl your bottle in circular motion under the water. rotate the bottle as needed, and try not to get any faucet water around the neck and def not around the cap. The neck should cool relatively quickly and a good rule of thumb is the body of the bottle should be cool enough to hold your hand on for 5 seconds or so before you have to remove your hand to avoid discomfort. This is perfect temp for pouring agar and a common trick of the trade in research labs.
Also to avoid condensation on your agar dish lids you can stack your petris after pouring and rest a coffee mug full of boiling water on top the stack. this will help dramatically to reduce condensation.
spilling a little is not favorable, but it can help to rotate the bottle a few degrees before you try to pour again if you spill down the neck to cut down on contamination.
Edited by dr.alkaline (11/30/13 05:32 PM)
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DannyDGAF
Boomer Enthusiast



Registered: 06/10/13
Posts: 533
Loc: USA
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: dr.alkaline]
#19209432 - 11/30/13 05:44 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
dr.alkaline said: Also to avoid condensation on your agar dish lids you can stack your petris after pouring and rest a coffee mug full of boiling water on top the stack. this will help dramatically to reduce condensation.
I'm curious as hell, how does this work o_O
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"You tell him, and I will smack you. I will smack you like a bad, bad donkey!" Our dreams are a second life. I have never been able to penetrate without a shudder those ivory or horned gates which separate us from the invisible world. "In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind" - Tim Leary
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teknix
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Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: dr.alkaline]
#19209437 - 11/30/13 05:46 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Oven mits work good too:

Or you could just let the agar cool down enough so it doesn't burn you.
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teknix
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Registered: 09/16/08
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: DannyDGAF]
#19209439 - 11/30/13 05:47 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
DannyDGAF said:
Quote:
dr.alkaline said: Also to avoid condensation on your agar dish lids you can stack your petris after pouring and rest a coffee mug full of boiling water on top the stack. this will help dramatically to reduce condensation.
I'm curious as hell, how does this work o_O
To avoid condensation you stack them upside down with the agar on top after they have solidified.
The easiest way to pour them ime, is to stack all the dishes in sets of 5, then lift the dishes from the bottom lid, exposing the the bottom of the bottom tray and pour, then put the lid on and expose the next bottom and pour. It goes really fast that way and you limit the exposure to the air, and when you set the lid down, the next bottom becomes exposed to pour if you are just gripping the lids.
When the stack is done, you swirl the dishes in a slow circle to make sure the surface of each bottom is covered with agar.
Edited by teknix (11/30/13 05:53 PM)
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dr.alkaline



Registered: 12/15/12
Posts: 684
Last seen: 4 years, 9 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: DannyDGAF]
#19209449 - 11/30/13 05:49 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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vapor condenses on a cool surface, and the cover of a petri will cool much faster than the rest of the dish. If you stack petris, each petri insulates the one below it from having a rapidly cooling cover, except the top one which is exposed to the cool air. the coffee mug helps keep the top one warm as well and this cuts down on condensation. Give it a try and see for yourself.
The guy above me is right too. dealers choice. I am usually let my dishes cool overnight or while I am out running errands, so I stick with the coffee mug trick.
Edited by dr.alkaline (11/30/13 05:51 PM)
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DannyDGAF
Boomer Enthusiast



Registered: 06/10/13
Posts: 533
Loc: USA
Last seen: 6 years, 8 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: dr.alkaline]
#19209456 - 11/30/13 05:52 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
dr.alkaline said: vapor condenses on a cool surface, and the cover of a petri will cool much faster than the rest of the dish. If you stack petris, each petri insulates the one below it from having a rapidly cooling cover, except the top one which is exposed to the cool air. the coffee mug helps keep the top one warm as well and this cuts down on condensation. Give it a try and see for yourself.
Oh yeah I ain't thinkin straight today... Thanks for lettin me know tho for future agar work! I'll try both methods.
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"You tell him, and I will smack you. I will smack you like a bad, bad donkey!" Our dreams are a second life. I have never been able to penetrate without a shudder those ivory or horned gates which separate us from the invisible world. "In order to use your head, you have to go out of your mind" - Tim Leary
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teknix
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Registered: 09/16/08
Posts: 11,953
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: dr.alkaline]
#19209463 - 11/30/13 05:55 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
dr.alkaline said: vapor condenses on a cool surface, and the cover of a petri will cool much faster than the rest of the dish. If you stack petris, each petri insulates the one below it from having a rapidly cooling cover, except the top one which is exposed to the cool air. the coffee mug helps keep the top one warm as well and this cuts down on condensation. Give it a try and see for yourself.
The guy above me is right too. dealers choice. I am usually let my dishes cool overnight or while I am out running errands, so I stick with the coffee mug trick.
I don't see the point? You're still going to have to stack them upside down or the water will condense on the lid, unless your not panning to store them at all I guess.
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dr.alkaline



Registered: 12/15/12
Posts: 684
Last seen: 4 years, 9 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: teknix]
#19209475 - 11/30/13 05:59 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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If you are around to flip your plates after the agar solidifies, but before the plate cools. Your method is choice.
Lets say you have a busy schedule or want to go to sleep and will not be around to flip the plates before the agar cools completely. Then to avoid the problem of condensation you place a coffee mug on top of the stack of petris as they cool.
Is it right?
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teknix
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Registered: 09/16/08
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: dr.alkaline]
#19209511 - 11/30/13 06:10 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Honestly, I don't know because I have never done it. I usually just leave them sit right side up until they get packed and then flip them upside down.
The next day they will have some water on the lid, but by the time they are used there isn't water on it, but I guess there are tons of petri dishes already made to use so the new batch sits in the fridge for a couple days at least.
If I wanted to use the freshly poured dishes the next day then I would probably try it out if I was making a few dishes to use. Usually we make 20+ at a time though, so I don't know how many mugs of hot water I would need, lol.
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Dark76


Registered: 07/14/13
Posts: 121
Last seen: 5 years, 8 months
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: teknix]
#19209551 - 11/30/13 06:19 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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There are some interesting tips here regarding petri preparation that might be worth considering.
Not offering as fact but as points for discussion...
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bootster

Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 1,531
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Re: Anything better than a liquor bottle for agar? [Re: teknix]
#19209582 - 11/30/13 06:25 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I use an olive oil bottle if doing a liter with a pint liquor bottle, but use two pint liquor bottles with metal lids for the 500 ml batch. You want to leave plenty of overhead room in your bottles.
I cap the bottles with the metal caps and put foil and a rubber band over that.
I never use them the next day until I'm sure that they are clean with no liquid condensation anywhere in the petris.
I use a Sterilizer so I have a leg up over most PC users here but good luck.
Sincerely, bootster
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