|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
SheetsofSound
Stranger
Registered: 06/30/14
Posts: 2
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
|
Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated
#20207385 - 06/30/14 11:45 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Hello fellow shroomery members. I have been lurking on this site for quite some time before attempting my first grow using the PF Tek. I have a quick question regarding the growth in my jars, whether they are contaminated or not. I'm a bit paranoid about contamination as I know from microbiology class that such substrate could allow a bad spore to grow in dangerously large concentrations unseen in nature. The jars emit no smell from about 4 inches from the inoculation holes, but honestly I'm afraid to smell any closer. I worry irrationally sometimes. Some background information first. I am using the PF tek, keeping it as simple as possible with verm, brf, and water. I steam sterilized. I inoculated 4 jars on May 8th, but didn't see any growth for 2 weeks. I left some micropore tape on the holes, but then decided it was better to take it off for FAE. I saw not much growth during this time, but the substrate shrunk and the jars were sweating, and a tiny clearish white fuzz started growing where inoculated. I figured all was well. I inoculated 4 more jars on about May 22nd. These grew similarly, taking maybe a bit less 2 weeks to germinate without any tape on the inoculation holes. The spores I have are about a year old, so I figured maybe that explains the long germination time. They are ecuadorian, and I've read that strain takes a bit longer to colonize. The jars from May 8th have spewed some yellow residue which I hope is just metabolites because I have waited so long to fruit. I also cannot see well into the jars due to the diamond pattern of the glass. The substrate has shrunk away from the glass but the glass has what appears to be thin fungal growth. What worries me is the growth isn't a full, dense white, but more wispy translucent white on the substrate, maybe I can't see it because of the pattern, or maybe it's because all mycelium growth is slightly different. As I am a rookie, I appreciate any advice from the experienced members of the shroomery to lend me their eyes for just a minute. Thank you all very much.
Here is some pictures of the May 8th jars:
   
Here are the May 22nd jars:

|
Sagescruffy
CH



Registered: 10/30/09
Posts: 2,011
Loc: PNW
Last seen: 4 months, 3 days
|
Re: Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated [Re: SheetsofSound]
#20207448 - 06/30/14 12:09 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Those don't look too well. Are those fully colonized? It's hard to tell with the glare and diamond pattern but they look contaminated to me.
-------------------- Love.  
|
MonkeyJesusFresco
am i suspended in agar?



Registered: 10/09/12
Posts: 3,308
Loc: South East USA
Last seen: 24 days, 18 hours
|
Re: Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated [Re: SheetsofSound]
#20207465 - 06/30/14 12:15 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
remove the tape because it's impeding gas exchange (different from fresh-air-exchange, just to be clear)
metabolites are typically signs of bacterial contamination
can't tell much cause of the jars...but when I look at these pics, it looks like a "puddle" of metabolites at the bottom of the jars, is that just an optical illusion, caused by the jar bottom on the table or something? or is it actually a puddle of metabolites?
|
blojo02184
Big Red



Registered: 05/15/13
Posts: 3,527
Loc: Maine
Last seen: 6 months, 22 days
|
Re: Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated [Re: MonkeyJesusFresco]
#20207526 - 06/30/14 12:35 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Definitely read up on the how to take pictures topic.
I can't find it currently.
But definitely get that window out as a backlight. Lay an all black sheet over a chair and photograph the jars in the middle of the sheet. Helps cut down glare from other light sources
|
SheetsofSound
Stranger
Registered: 06/30/14
Posts: 2
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
|
Re: Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated [Re: SheetsofSound]
#20207863 - 06/30/14 02:29 PM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
I'm sorry about the bad lighting in the pictures. I think 2 of the older jars have a "puddle" of metabolites, but I believe it accumulated over time because I have waited so long to fruit them. They were probably fully colonized a few weeks ago. Are metabolites always a sign of bacterial contamination? I've read differing views on the subject. Here are some better pictures, I hope they convey the coloring better. Also, some specks of vermiculite appear yellow but I think its just the discoloring of the verm.
May 8th jars:

May 22nd Jars:
Thanks again guys.
|
blojo02184
Big Red



Registered: 05/15/13
Posts: 3,527
Loc: Maine
Last seen: 6 months, 22 days
|
Re: Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated [Re: SheetsofSound]
#20209608 - 07/01/14 07:12 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
They don't look too bad.
If they are completely colonized and consolidated, pop one them fuckers open and take a good whiff.
Sweet, or spicy, or musty, or anything but fresh mushrooms is a bad thing.
|
Myco_wizard
Let the magic begin...



Registered: 04/02/14
Posts: 209
Loc: Cosmos
Last seen: 8 years, 8 days
|
Re: Rookie, first attempt, any assistance appreciated [Re: blojo02184]
#20209673 - 07/01/14 07:46 AM (10 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
I would say they look fine. Its the diamond pattern on the jar that's making it hard to tell though. I would do as aforementioned and take a wiff to see what it smells like. If it smells like fresh mushrooms fruit those mofos. If its contaminated its most likely bacteria and not mold.
|
|
|
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: Shroomism, george castanza, RogerRabbit, veggie, mushboy, fahtster, LogicaL Chaos, 13shrooms, hamloaf, cronicr, Stipe-n Cap, Pastywhyte, bodhisatta, Tormato, Land Trout, A.k.a 484 topic views. 34 members, 112 guests and 26 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ] |
|