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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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About to start working with agar.
#20562826 - 09/13/14 05:40 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Here's what I've got. I know the SAB is too small, but it was the biggest tote I could find at walmart. I have:
SAB Agar agar Potato flakes Light corn syrup and honey (any recommendations on which is better?) Food coloring Makeshift Petri dishes Gloves Tyvek suit Micropore tape All necessary cleaning/sanitizing supplies Propane soldering torch Last but not least, a syringe of PE uncut
I was planning on following pastywhyte's easy agar tek. It seems very beginner friendly. It will be about 1.5 hours before I get started. Any last minute advice?
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Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,915
Loc: Milky way
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20562837 - 09/13/14 05:41 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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honey is naturally anti fungal but people use it all the time with success. Corn syrup is a pretty standard source of dextrose.
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: bodhisatta]
#20562873 - 09/13/14 05:52 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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See that's what I thought, hence the name potato dextrose agar. Never realized honey was antifungal. Kinda defeats the purpose of using it. Also what kind of sugar is honey, anyway?
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20562883 - 09/13/14 05:53 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Shit I just realized I lost my micropore tape. I don't really want to go to the store again. Can I use really tightly stuffed polyfill instead of micropore tape?
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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tripdawg420
low life with no life



Registered: 02/02/09
Posts: 7,653
Loc: illinois
Last seen: 10 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20562907 - 09/13/14 05:59 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: tripdawg420]
#20562929 - 09/13/14 06:04 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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If I may give a suggestion
NEVER put your SAB on the floor, put it on a shelf somewhere, close their hand holes when not in use don't move it too much around
you preferably want it in its own room
stay clean, clean tables, don't work with shrooms when you are dirty in clothes(take a bath if needed)
close doors,turn off fans when you do mycology work
else looks good!
read up on slants that is essential if you want to store your cultures you can't store petri cultures as they dry out within a few weeks usually (unless you add wood into them later)
make a slant and you can keep your isolate indefinitely
but sometimes it is preferable to start over anyway.... having a clean isolate can just be very nice
make some LCs too if you want, but be extremely careful about sterility there, so easy to get them contamed
To use sab: spray down SAB with alcohol/bleach, wait some mins gloves on hands, clean with alcohol heat needle red hot outside with alcohol lamp , bring it inside re-heat needle between each jar (is what I usually do to avoid cross contamination) , some do every 2-3 jars, but I always do between each jar
(an alternative agar recipe I love is oatmeal agar, perfect grow media for me, I make a bucket at a time and freeze it, but haven't tested it after freezing , hope it still works... it can be hard to make that is why I freezed it)
Edited by lessismore (09/13/14 06:13 PM)
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: lessismore]
#20562961 - 09/13/14 06:11 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
lessismore said: If I may give a suggestion
NEVER put your SAB on the floor, put it on a shelf somewhere, close their hand holes when not in use don't move it too much around
you preferably want it in its own room
stay clean, clean tables, don't work with shrooms when you are dirty in clothes(take a bath if needed)
else looks good!
read up on slanting, that is essential if you want to store your cultures you can't store petri cultures as they dry out within a few weeks usually
make a slant and you can keep your isolate indefinitely
but sometimes it is preferable to start over anyway.... having a clean isolate can just be very nice
make some LCs too if you want, but be extremely careful about sterility there, so easy to get them contamed
To use sab: gloves on hands, clean with alcohol heat needle red hot outside , bring it inside re-heat needle between each jar (is what I usually do to avoid cross contamination) , some do every 2-3 jars, but I always do between each jar
(an alternative agar recipe I love is oatmeal agar, perfect grow media for me, I make a bucket at a time and freeze it, but haven't tested it after freezing , hope it still works... it can be hard to make that is why I freezed it)
Nice. So the SAB isn't too small 
I had planned on showering, changing clothes, and donning the tyvek suit once my Petris are in the PC. I tried making LC once and it failed miserably. I was thinking of making LI with some agar wedges though. My only real question now is if I can drill a small hole in the lids and stuff it super tight with polyfill. I've been drinking and a run to the store is out of the question. Oh and the SAB is on a big dining table.
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
Edited by NumeroEno (09/13/14 06:12 PM)
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bodhisatta 
Smurf real estate agent


Registered: 04/30/13
Posts: 61,915
Loc: Milky way
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20562983 - 09/13/14 06:17 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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never made pasty plates before just use regular petri dishes and pour them myself so IDK about the tape.
You don't need to wipe the SAB with alcohol or bleach just water or very diluted soap water works. the still air is what keeps you sterile not the bleach or alcohol.
you can store your SAB on the floor just don't use it on the floor. I use my SAB to store mycology stuff when I'm not using it as a SAB. Like I said the still air and your technique/skill are what make or break your work not silly shit like bleach alcohol and obnoxious precautions.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,899
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 3 hours, 11 minutes
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: bodhisatta]
#20562992 - 09/13/14 06:18 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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yes poly will work
-------------------- 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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ant707
not a puppet


Registered: 07/26/14
Posts: 579
Loc: northeast florida
Last seen: 7 years, 11 months
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20562998 - 09/13/14 06:19 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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if you read thru this tek http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=2&Number=19035259&fpart=&PHPSESSID=
it says that "Since they close air-tight no parafilm need be bought or messed with."
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lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: bodhisatta]
#20563007 - 09/13/14 06:22 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
bodhisatta said: never made pasty plates before just use regular petri dishes and pour them myself so IDK about the tape.
You don't need to wipe the SAB with alcohol or bleach just water or very diluted soap water works. the still air is what keeps you sterile not the bleach or alcohol.
you can store your SAB on the floor just don't use it on the floor. I use my SAB to store mycology stuff when I'm not using it as a SAB. Like I said the still air and your technique/skill are what make or break your work not silly shit like bleach alcohol and obnoxious precautions.
True, I store on floor too, I have just had bad luck recently
But probably because I inject near a leaky door, door sealing is not good and air from outside is leaking in at times. Or because of broken PC seal, it is partially broken/leaks now.
I have had success 4 out of 4 times (19 out of 20 pftek jars) with just normal soap+water like you say. Many swear to soapwater cleaning
I did it not to get rid of contams like you say, just very fast, to get rid of the nasty stuff I might have dropped from previous innoculatiosn (like old LC stuff spilled on bottom or such), quick cleaning of bottom and lid of SAB, always turned out fine.
Floor is just nasty for mycology stuff, you bring nasty stuff from the floor onto your table when you move it. Lots of spores. But it can work if you are very careful and not bring them in with your arms.
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: ant707]
#20563015 - 09/13/14 06:24 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
cronicr said: yes poly will work
Sweet.
Quote:
ant707 said: if you read thru this tek http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=2&Number=19035259&fpart=&PHPSESSID=
it says that "Since they close air-tight no parafilm need be bought or messed with."
So do I even need to alter the lids for GE? The Rubbermaid things I bought definitely have an imperfect seal.
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20563020 - 09/13/14 06:26 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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So drafty rooms are really bad, even if I seal the SAB while not in use? Guess I should move it to a less drafty room.
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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tripdawg420
low life with no life



Registered: 02/02/09
Posts: 7,653
Loc: illinois
Last seen: 10 hours, 32 minutes
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20563037 - 09/13/14 06:29 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
EnoRoxxx said: So drafty rooms are really bad, even if I seal the SAB while not in use? Guess I should move it to a less drafty room.
tack plastic up in corner of the room and so your sab work in there
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ant707
not a puppet


Registered: 07/26/14
Posts: 579
Loc: northeast florida
Last seen: 7 years, 11 months
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20563039 - 09/13/14 06:30 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
EnoRoxxx said:
The Rubbermaid things I bought definitely have an imperfect seal.
if thats the case then you deft need to seal it somehow. the tek i stated used screw-top containers.
do you have glad cling wrap?? that would work.
i dont think poly would really work if the lid doesnt seal properly.
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Pastywhyte
Say hello to my little friend



Registered: 09/15/12
Posts: 37,972
Loc: Canada
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: ant707]
#20563043 - 09/13/14 06:31 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
ant707 said: if you read thru this tek http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=2&Number=19035259&fpart=&PHPSESSID=
it says that "Since they close air-tight no parafilm need be bought or messed with."
Yes but that is V tek which uses threaded containers. You do need a hole for pop tops (I can't tell from the pic if yours are or not tho), you can use polyfil and while your SAB is small, it will be fine for culture work. You might want a bigger one for G2G but for now your in business
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lessismore
Registered: 02/10/13
Posts: 6,268
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20563052 - 09/13/14 06:33 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
EnoRoxxx said:
Nice. So the SAB isn't too small 
Poly works good as one said. The SAB is much too small IMO, but it will work.
You should get a bigger one, one where you can innoc 4-6+ jars in easily IMO
It's less than half the size of mine, I use a normal bedroller , and added another one on top + made a seal on them.
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: Pastywhyte]
#20563067 - 09/13/14 06:38 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Yeah that's what I figured. To me it seems like agar kinda eliminates the need for G2G. I mean 6 quart jars fit comfortably in my SAB, and since I'm only growing for personal consumption I see no reason to have an enormous SAB.
So that's awesome. It's your tek I'm following and if you say poly will work fine then I'm golden. I'll keep updating this thread with my progress. Hopefully this can be my agar to grain to 66qt mono grow log. I did spawn a 66qt mono yesterday and it's rockin away, but this grow will really be my first step into doing it right
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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NumeroEno
I come from the land of lizards



Registered: 07/24/14
Posts: 9,652
Loc: Gamehendge
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: lessismore]
#20563075 - 09/13/14 06:41 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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Once I've got agar down I'm def investing in a bigger SAB. I made a big error by going to walmart instead of lowes. I've been looking all over for a big pack of glad mini rounds and by the time I went through the hassle of going to walmart, I didn't want to go anywhere else.
--------------------
Let it grow! Let it grow! Greatly yield!
What shall we say, shall we call it by a name
As well to count the angels dancing on a pin
Water bright as the sky from which it came
And the name is on the earth that takes it in
DOG FOOD AGAR
MY ELECTRIC INOCULATION LOOP
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Mdahmer
Aloysius devadander abercrombie



Registered: 04/05/14
Posts: 2,516
Last seen: 7 years, 5 months
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Re: About to start working with agar. [Re: NumeroEno]
#20563103 - 09/13/14 06:51 PM (10 years, 4 months ago) |
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ive bought 110qt tubs at walmart and 66t tubs and all kinds of sizes i see there, and thats at walmarts all across my state where ive lived.
maybe they were just out at the time. not that you cant use that but eventually you will wanna G2G its so much easier to innoc one qt with a huge wedge like half a plate then in ten days or so g2g it out to 7-10 more jars
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