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Plague_Wraith
Horseman


Registered: 07/22/15
Posts: 79
Last seen: 8 months, 20 days
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Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc.
#22375725 - 10/13/15 08:55 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Hello all, 
I have several questions pertaining to several different teks. I am a long time lurker and have thoroughly utilized the search function before asking anything. If I ask any questions that have appeared before, it is because often the posts/teks I've found on the subjects are quite a few years old and I wonder if new information has surfaced but not been stated or even explored. Please refrain from sarcasm and trolling, I have enough on my plate.
Thank you in advance for any help/insight you can offer. It is greatly appreciated, truly.  PW
*Measuring Question:
1. People refer to measuring out a quart of various ingredients. Using a quart jar, should I fill the jar to capacity (absolute top of the jar) or to just below the bottom threads?
*Answer: For spawn 3/4 of a quart jar. For substrate fill to the jars absolute capacity (very tip-top).
*Regarding Damion5050's Elementary Coir Tek:
2. Following the recipe of 1 brick of coir, 2 quarts of vermiculite, and (Frank's addition) a handful of garden gypsum - Is it possible to double the batch in a single 5 gallon bucket, or will preparing a single brick pretty well fill it to capacity? If there is room for a double batch, is there room for a triple batch?
*Answer: Preparation of one brick of coir per one 5 gallon bucket - no doubling up.
*Regarding Frank's 12 Steps to Shrooms:
3. Frank suggests drilling a 1/4 inch hole in the top of the coir preparation buckets. Is this really needed? A few members brought up that it is probably for steam/heat dissipation purposes to help ensure the bucket doesn't collapse inward. This is the first I've heard of this and it seems to be uncommon advice.
*Answer: Drilling a 1/4" hole in the top of the coir preparation bucket is deemed as an unnecessary precaution.
4. Is the addition of garden gypsum to the coir preparation really needed? My understanding is that it helps to neutralize the ph level of the substrate and adds trace minerals. High acidity apparently aids contaminants (Fact: this is true inside the human mouth)? Does it really help that much? Does it affect yields?
*Partial answer: The addition of garden gypsum to the coir preparation is not necessary, but does increase yields.
*Regarding synthetic lighting:
5. Some members use vertical lighting and others use horizontal lighting for their fruiting chambers. Does it really matter? If so, which is better?
*Answer: Direction of light doesn't seem to matter. Vertical lighting is preferred.
6. Is there a significant difference between natural lighting and synthetic lighting? It seems that synthetic lighting is the way to go to ensure the best possible care.
*Answer: Synthetic lighting allows for more control/care.
7. How far should a synthetic light be from my fruiting chamber? I had considered installing a plexiglass window on the top of my storage tote and simply letting the light sit on top.
*Answer: As close as possible without significantly increasing chamber temperature.
*Regarding substrate depth: 8. My plastic storage tote has a large bubble on the bottom by manufacturer design for structural purposes. Off the top of my head, it's around 1.5" in height and does not effect the corners of the tote or along the edges. This will be a monotub. With these factors in mind, is it best to shoot for a 4 or 5 inch substrate depth (this includes 1.5 inches of plastic)? Should I do a full 4 or 5 inches without the included 1.5" bubble (this would put the corners at a dept of around 5.5-6.5 inches total. While dangerous to assume, I was thinking that the deeper the substrate the more nutrition that will be available for the mycelium and that could possibly increase yields.
9. Have you had better results with a 4 or 5 inch substrate depth for monos?
*Regarding Liquid Cultures: 10. How long does an LC typically last if kept at room temperature? I know refrigerated LCs can last months at a time but are often used up maybe long before they actually expire.
11. Is it better to top up an LC with a sterile mixture of water and whatever your sugar is, or to use the original LC to create a batch of LCs if you don't intend to use it right away?
Regarding Worm Castings: 12. Do worm castings have a higher nutritional value than brown rice flour? In my mind, it would make sense that they are extremely nutritious and maybe one of the best substrates to use.
13. What is the proper way to hydrate worm castings without it turning to mud/gel? Maybe go 1:1 with vermiculite? Achieving field capacity is difficult using just the castings. They also seem to be pretty heavy once they re-solidify. I have interest in using worm castings for pf-style cakes in place of brown rice flour. I would also use it in spawn bags if I was confident that I had the correct moisture content.
14. If you were going to use Damion5050's Elementary Coir Tek and add worm castings would you have to pasteurize the worm castings on the stove and then add them? My first attempt at using pasteurized worm castings resulted in stalled growth and the blueish-green penicillin mold. I suspect that this could either be tied to moisture content or that I hit 180F during the pasteurization process for a while. It could also have been that I used 1.5 pints of spawn to 3.5 pints of substrate.
*More questions are surely soon to follow based on your responses. Thank you again, Shroomery.
-------------------- Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. - Mark Twain
Edited by Plague_Wraith (10/14/15 12:41 PM)
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wowimflabbergasted
supercalifragilistic



Registered: 07/16/12
Posts: 18,918
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Re: Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc. [Re: Plague_Wraith]
#22375798 - 10/13/15 09:09 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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You seem cool.
1. A quart of spawn is typically 3/4 an actual quart and any other measurement using quarts is usually a whole quart.
2. That recipe makes up about 10qt of sub and a 5gal bucket is 20qt. I don't think doing 2 per bucket would be a good idea.
3. Never heard of drilling a hole.
4. Gypsum isn't necessary but it does improve yields.
5. Lighting doesn't matter so much try to get it overhead if possible.
6. Synthetic lighting gives you much better control.
7. As close as possible without heating up the chamber too much. Again, not THAT important, I keep mine about 1.5' away.
8. 3-4" substrate is ideal. Just try and make it flat, level and smooth...don't make up for the bubble.
9. LC at room temp? I dunno...not very long probably.
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Grim767
Traveler of the Abyss



Registered: 05/30/15
Posts: 225
Loc: The Abyss
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc. [Re: Plague_Wraith]
#22375828 - 10/13/15 09:14 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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1. I fill to bottom of threads dont think it would matter if you filled to top 2. Not enough room i use 2 pails 3.i dont drill hole 4. Gypsum isnt nessisary but does add calcium and i find tends to give you bigger fruits Cant really help with the other questions sorry
-------------------- Trade List I won't bow to something that I've never seen, Can't believe in something that doesn't believe in me, I'm not blood of your blood, I'm no son of your god, I have no faith in your faith, Still I find salvation.
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Smoothcat
Renegade-master



Registered: 10/07/15
Posts: 1,254
Last seen: 5 months, 28 days
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Re: Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc. [Re: Grim767]
#22375888 - 10/13/15 09:26 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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The lid blew off my bucket with a mighty bang when hydrating my coir, it's airtight as its used for brewing beer, perhaps that's why he suggests drilling a hole 
Anyway I wouldn't do it, I just won't seal the lid fully next time for the first few mins then I'll crack it on tight once the coirs expanded some.
-------------------- Back once again with the ill behaviour Links I like
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Inocuole
Scalpel of Evil's Bane



Registered: 11/21/11
Posts: 24,863
Loc: ★
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Re: Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc. [Re: Grim767]
#22375908 - 10/13/15 09:30 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Grim767 said: 1. I fill to bottom of threads dont think it would matter if you filled to top
And you've been at it like that.. how long? How do you shake your grain when you fill it all the way to the threads?
Also I never drilled a hole in a bucket either, no ill effects.
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Grim767
Traveler of the Abyss



Registered: 05/30/15
Posts: 225
Loc: The Abyss
Last seen: 7 years, 3 months
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Re: Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc. [Re: Inocuole]
#22377422 - 10/14/15 08:34 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Inocuole said:
Quote:
Grim767 said: 1. I fill to bottom of threads dont think it would matter if you filled to top
And you've been at it like that.. how long? How do you shake your grain when you fill it all the way to the threads?
Also I never drilled a hole in a bucket either, no ill effects.
Well the question says for measuring various ingredients not specificly grain so i answered for when measuring quarts of water verm coir ect. If using grain i only fill about 3/4...
-------------------- Trade List I won't bow to something that I've never seen, Can't believe in something that doesn't believe in me, I'm not blood of your blood, I'm no son of your god, I have no faith in your faith, Still I find salvation.
Edited by Grim767 (10/14/15 08:36 AM)
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Plague_Wraith
Horseman


Registered: 07/22/15
Posts: 79
Last seen: 8 months, 20 days
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Re: Questions about: Damion's Coir Tek, Frank's 12 Steps Tek, Monotubs/Sub Depth, Lighting, LCs, etc. [Re: wowimflabbergasted]
#22378412 - 10/14/15 12:37 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
wowimflabbergasted said: You seem cool.
Updated the original post with: - More standardized numbering system. - Slashes through answered questions (Some questions I wanted more feedback for so I didn't edit them yet) - Added answers for ease of reading for those with similar questions - Added new questions
Thanks for the responses, guys. It's appreciated.
Edited by Plague_Wraith (10/14/15 12:43 PM)
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