|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Question concerning agar consistency and texture
#22080268 - 08/12/15 07:53 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips on starting out with agar. I'm really questioning what the pre- and post sterilizing consistency should be like.
I am using powdered agar and following along (and pulling info from) both pastywhites agar tek and the grocery store agar tek
My problem seems to be a couple places of inconsistency in the tek. I followed the directions, and my agar came out feeling like a semi-solid hockey puck after sterilization.
I am going to use less agar next time, but am just wondering what the texture should be like. Am I looking for jello? Rubber? Dried contact cement?
Should it be watery before sterilizing.
Any help and comments are greatly appreciated.
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
Morel Guy
Stranger


Registered: 01/23/13
Posts: 15,577
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22080335 - 08/12/15 08:13 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Bump. Yet to work with agar myself. My guess is like making jello or gravy.
Perhaps the experts will chime in. My have you tried YouTube for a video search?
I think your making your media far to thick. Even being thick, I am not sure how you have a hockey puck after sterilization if it is still warm. I checked and there are loads of YouTube video's. The media should be like a light syrup, just as I had suspected.
-------------------- "in sterquiliniis invenitur in stercore invenitur" In filth it will be found in dung it will be found
Edited by Morel Guy (08/12/15 08:23 AM)
|
Mr.GuessWork
Stranger

Registered: 03/30/13
Posts: 4,563
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: Morel Guy]
#22080385 - 08/12/15 08:30 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
It's basically like making jello, and I don't think it matters how solid it is as long as it doesn't flow when you move the plate. The idea is to make it a solid medium so stuff doesn't mix around on the dish. If you turn the petri dish upside-down and the agar slowly flows, then contaminants will spread across the agar, and it will be a lot harder to separate colonies on a plate.
Rubbery-jello is the texture I like to use. Contact cement is a waste of agar. And after sterilization wait till the agar cools down to about 130 deg F before you pour it into the plates. Otherwise as it cools it draws too much air into the plate from the edges and you can end up with contams like trich growing around the edge of your plates.
I've been using the recipe with light malt extract, and it's been working fine with my agar: 9g agar, 10 g LME, and 500 ml water.
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: Mr.GuessWork]
#22080541 - 08/12/15 09:25 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Hey guys. Thanks for the quick responses.
The teks that I am using are no-pour teks, utilizing karo, agar and potato flakes (I'm assuming this makes PDA agar). It uses 1/4 pint jars instead of petri dishes.
I haven't tried a youtube search yet, as I work much better through written instruction vs. Visual. But I will take a look soon. Most likely when I get home from work.
My issue from that tek is that I suppose nothing is clearly written as I need it. For example, when mixing it says to use 1/4 cup agar. Two lines later it says we're looking for about 5 grams, I believe. Those two measurements do not equal, and messes up the ratio for everything else.
So I'm essentially looking for a finished product that doesn't run, and has a jello texture.
Would it be possible to do a pour tek with my same materials? I'm not against the idea of doing a pour tek if I can incorporate the same materials.
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
36fuckin5
Alchemycologist


Registered: 08/11/03
Posts: 12,079
Loc: Diving into Mystical Territori...
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22080752 - 08/12/15 10:33 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
No-pour TEKs suck.
With your mix, don't bother with the potato flakes. Mix up the Karo, water and agar. 2% Karo by weight and 20 g of agar agar per liter. Make up a batch using those parameters and you'll know how stiff agar is supposed to be.
-------------------- Redd Foxx said: If you're offended I don't give a shit and don't come see me no more. Pat The Bunny said: A punk rock song won't ever change the world, but I can tell you about a couple that changed me. bodhisatta said: i recommend common sense and figuring it out. These are the TEKs I use. They're all as cheap and easy as possible, just like your mom.
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: 36fuckin5]
#22080790 - 08/12/15 10:47 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
36fuckin5 said: No-pour TEKs suck.
With your mix, don't bother with the potato flakes. Mix up the Karo, water and agar. 2% Karo by weight and 20 g of agar agar per liter. Make up a batch using those parameters and you'll know how stiff agar is supposed to be.
Right on, 36. I'll try that out when I get home
Are you advising I mix it up and do it the same as I do the no-pour and just sterilize it in the jar?
Or should I cook it up in one batch, then pour it into the jars after?
I'm a quick study, and would like to start rocking on this so I can do some separate tests on things.
I know whatever I am mixing now is no good, as I left two jars out for a few mins in the open air as a test of my rooms conditions and I have no growth. I try to keep my lab very clean, but I doubt it's THAT clean
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
36fuckin5
Alchemycologist


Registered: 08/11/03
Posts: 12,079
Loc: Diving into Mystical Territori...
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22081432 - 08/12/15 01:28 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Mix up your agar in a pot over medium-high heat. 2% by weight (water is 1 g per ml) karo to water. 20 grams of agar per 1000 ml/1 L. Add the agar a little at a time and adjust the heat to prevent boilover. Whisk thoroughly until all ingredients are dissolved.
Pour this into whatever jar you're gonna pour from. Add water to bring it back to whatever your desired volume is. Make sure it has a filter. PC at 15 PSI for 45 minutes. If you're using jars or anything but sterile disposable petris, go ahead and PC those with the agar.
Once cooled, pour in your sterile environment.
Watch RR's videos for more detail. I use his exact method, except I mix my agar hot and I generally use a jar instead of a whiskey bottle. I also don't necessarily use premixed PDA or MEA, but sometimes I do. Media can vary, method doesn't. Jars suck for pouring because they dribble a lot, it's just what I usually have on hand.
-------------------- Redd Foxx said: If you're offended I don't give a shit and don't come see me no more. Pat The Bunny said: A punk rock song won't ever change the world, but I can tell you about a couple that changed me. bodhisatta said: i recommend common sense and figuring it out. These are the TEKs I use. They're all as cheap and easy as possible, just like your mom.
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: 36fuckin5]
#22082070 - 08/12/15 03:58 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Thank you, 36.
I'm going to be doing trying that recipe out this evening. Hopefully it goes well.
Much appreciated.
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
Posts: 22,008
Loc: sub-surface unseen
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22084597 - 08/13/15 02:50 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
i never heat or simmer or boil my agar. i put water in bottle. put agar in bottle put nutrient in bottle shake it, cover it, PC it, pour it works every time (my favorite recipe in sig)
these juice glass bottles are great. they have an indented grip where u hold it to pour

36, how come u simmer it out of curiosity? when u don't, what happens? it gets simmered in the PC during the cook for me, even when i use dog food, solid flakes, etc.
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
|
cronicr


Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture (moved) [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22084610 - 08/13/15 02:55 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
This thread was moved from Advanced Mycology.
Reason:
|
cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: blindingleaf]
#22084627 - 08/13/15 03:00 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
blindingleaf said: i never heat or simmer or boil my agar.
i haven't had too all year but that's just because somebody gave me two bottles of mea
--------------------
  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
|
blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
Posts: 22,008
Loc: sub-surface unseen
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: cronicr]
#22084632 - 08/13/15 03:02 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
i simmer it for slants and when i did no pour, but never for regular plates.
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
|
cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 61,436
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 2 years, 8 days
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: blindingleaf]
#22084638 - 08/13/15 03:03 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
same here
--------------------
  It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn I'm tired do me a favor
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: cronicr]
#22084890 - 08/13/15 05:00 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Thanks, blindingleaf.
I didn't get a chance to try 36's recipe lastnight. I had a guest come over. But I'm going to be trying batches of both recipes tonight.
BL,I'm guessing it's just your typical any-brand dry dog food, ran through a coffee grinder? Probably enough for 10 jars or so?
And what exactly is a slant?
Thanks guys. I appreciate the help.
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
Posts: 22,008
Loc: sub-surface unseen
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22084898 - 08/13/15 05:06 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
500ml pours me twenty plate at the depth i like, but u can pull off 25. if ur doing no pour (where u load ur plates/pp5's/glass jars before PCing) then its a good idea to simmer. but if u are pouring plates, the PC does all the simmering for u during the cycle. i don't even strain agar, mushrooms can eat solids, and they settle to the bottom anyway.
I use progressive brand dog food, but thats cause thats what i feed my dog so he has a beautiful coat that becomes a chick magnet. but yea, u can use any kind of dry dog food. the shittier kinds will b harder to grind b/c they have soft pieces (like kibbles and bits) but will still work i'd think.
i never tried just simple sugar agar (like 36's suggestion of dextrose only, no starch).
Franks slant TEK
or RR videos have slant section. just another way to utilize agar that is better for long term storage and saving space in ur fridge.
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: blindingleaf]
#22084987 - 08/13/15 06:03 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
Thank you very much guys. I will definitely be giving those a test today. You guys are a terrific help.
I'm also going to do some hunting around for the RR video. Looked on Amazon. Next I'll check ebay. That seems to be something I'd benefit alot from having as a reference tool. That and a hard copy of his notes.
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
Posts: 22,008
Loc: sub-surface unseen
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: johnny six-guns]
#22084992 - 08/13/15 06:04 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
u can DL it for less than $10 on his site, or at least, thats how i got it way back when
mushroomvideos.com
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
|
36fuckin5
Alchemycologist


Registered: 08/11/03
Posts: 12,079
Loc: Diving into Mystical Territori...
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: blindingleaf]
#22087635 - 08/13/15 02:54 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
I simmer for even dispersion of nutrients. I get no chunks and if I do, I strain them out. That way I actually get to use everything I put in in the way I intended, instead of some plates being stronger than others.
I <3 consistency.
-------------------- Redd Foxx said: If you're offended I don't give a shit and don't come see me no more. Pat The Bunny said: A punk rock song won't ever change the world, but I can tell you about a couple that changed me. bodhisatta said: i recommend common sense and figuring it out. These are the TEKs I use. They're all as cheap and easy as possible, just like your mom.
|
blindingleaf
blue collar underworld


Registered: 07/19/13
Posts: 22,008
Loc: sub-surface unseen
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: 36fuckin5]
#22087793 - 08/13/15 03:29 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
-------------------- A few thoughts on cultivation MICROBIAL HUSBANDRY!!!! The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
|
johnny six-guns
reluctant shaman


Registered: 08/06/15
Posts: 35
Loc: country roads.
Last seen: 8 years, 3 months
|
Re: Question concerning agar consistency and texture [Re: blindingleaf]
#22088534 - 08/13/15 06:30 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
|
|
I agree with your thinking, 36.
I haven't been able to try these yet. work has me worn out so much that other than my daily checkups, I haven't done much in there.
I'll definitely be doing it tomorrow as I have a free night. I'll report back with results and I'm sure questions.
-------------------- Cheap - fast - good. Pick any two and it won't be the third.
|
|