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cosmic.vibrator
Humble Apprentice



Registered: 05/02/16
Posts: 61
Last seen: 5 years, 6 days
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First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics)
#23488028 - 07/29/16 01:33 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Been a minute since I have posted anything. Have had a few successful grows since my beginning failures. Still harvesting fruits off of a few smaller projects.
I was hoping to get some feedback on this monotub I have colonizing right now. How does it look to you? I have a little while before 100 percent colonization, but I was hoping to receive some comments as to the perceived health of this tub.
The substrate is a blend of Coir, Vermiculite, Cow Manure, Worm Castings, Compost, Spent Coffee Grounds, and some of the soil from my back yard, which contains Gypsum, Peat Moss, Compost, and Clay dirt. I was going for a robust sort of blend. I don't know the ratios, I just mixed by hand, and added what felt right, focusing on getting a good texture for the myc.
The bulk sub mix was pasteurized at 140-160 for a little over 90 minutes, and was left to cool down all day. It was contained in two oven (turkey) bags, and submerged under water, and brought to heat slowly. Spawned at nighttime.
The spawn is also a funky blend. I spawned 5 rye berry jars. There was a B+ jar, Tasmanian, Ecuadorian, Golden Teacher, and Treasure Coast. All between 50% and 75% filled quart jars, all 100% colonized.
Here is the picture after roughly 5 days:

How does this look to you? See anything to be worried about? Should I do something about the exposed grains?
This is a Sterilite 66 Qt. Tub.
It is a photo taken with my phone, so if it is too blurry, I will take another one.
Edited by cosmic.vibrator (07/29/16 01:46 AM)
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d0urd3n
Just call me "D"

Registered: 09/15/10
Posts: 5,237
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: cosmic.vibrator]
#23488041 - 07/29/16 01:49 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Looks good so far. I wouldn't mix different strains like that in the future if I was you. Exposed grains shouldn't be an issue. What you can do is just cover them in a slight "top layer" of substrate at the time of spawning next time if you feel like it.
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cosmic.vibrator
Humble Apprentice



Registered: 05/02/16
Posts: 61
Last seen: 5 years, 6 days
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: d0urd3n]
#23488048 - 07/29/16 01:59 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks for the quick response. I didn't research mixing different strains, so I'm unknowing of any side effects this might have. I just noticed many similarities in all the fruits produced by the different MS syringes I have been using, so I figured I might as well spawn what I have ready to go, instead of waiting for the 5 different strains to colonize on their own. Plus, I'm curious to see the out come of mixing the spawn like that.
Do you have experiences, positive or negative, with mixing "strains"?
-------------------- "So! You take, let us assume, a third toke; long and slow. You vaporise... and you take it in, and in, and in... and there is a sound... like the crumpling of a plastic bread wrapper, or the crackling of flame... and a tone... a mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and there is this....... There is a cheer... The gnomes have learned a new way to say hoooooooorrayy..." - Terrance Mckenna
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cosmic.vibrator
Humble Apprentice



Registered: 05/02/16
Posts: 61
Last seen: 5 years, 6 days
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: d0urd3n]
#23488049 - 07/29/16 02:01 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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By the way, those are some fantastic photos you have in your signature. Very beautiful. Love the nature, too. Reminds me of the NW.
-------------------- "So! You take, let us assume, a third toke; long and slow. You vaporise... and you take it in, and in, and in... and there is a sound... like the crumpling of a plastic bread wrapper, or the crackling of flame... and a tone... a mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and there is this....... There is a cheer... The gnomes have learned a new way to say hoooooooorrayy..." - Terrance Mckenna
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d0urd3n
Just call me "D"

Registered: 09/15/10
Posts: 5,237
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: cosmic.vibrator]
#23488062 - 07/29/16 02:15 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks . Yep I am in the inland NW
Haven't done it personally, just because of what I have read. It seems in general that mixed stains tend to under-perform compared to one strain or one culture. You are pitting strains against each other in a sense. Also if you intend to make spore prints you can't label them properly.
If you want to do say two strains in one tub in the future you can just make two liners in one tub and use those to separate them.
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cosmic.vibrator
Humble Apprentice



Registered: 05/02/16
Posts: 61
Last seen: 5 years, 6 days
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: d0urd3n]
#23488083 - 07/29/16 02:27 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Hm, I'll have to do some reading. I'll definitely keep updates on the progress of this tub.
I spawned one quart of B+ to a 12 quart tub of Coir/Verm. I'll probably turn it into a mini dubtub when it's ready. It's colonizing fast, and I probably used about 6 quarts of substrate. I'll upload a pic when it's closer to 100%.
-------------------- "So! You take, let us assume, a third toke; long and slow. You vaporise... and you take it in, and in, and in... and there is a sound... like the crumpling of a plastic bread wrapper, or the crackling of flame... and a tone... a mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and there is this....... There is a cheer... The gnomes have learned a new way to say hoooooooorrayy..." - Terrance Mckenna
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cosmic.vibrator
Humble Apprentice



Registered: 05/02/16
Posts: 61
Last seen: 5 years, 6 days
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: cosmic.vibrator]
#23488475 - 07/29/16 07:47 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Just an update, not a bump. It is subtle, but it has definitely grown since last night. 

I think it's looking pretty damn good. I love this hobby, especially when colonization picks up. Love to watch it. I pretty much hang out with my tubs and cakes whenever I can. I never get tired of them.
Here's the 12 quart tub colonizing:

and some more:



What do you think?
The smaller tub was spawned on 7/24
-------------------- "So! You take, let us assume, a third toke; long and slow. You vaporise... and you take it in, and in, and in... and there is a sound... like the crumpling of a plastic bread wrapper, or the crackling of flame... and a tone... a mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and there is this....... There is a cheer... The gnomes have learned a new way to say hoooooooorrayy..." - Terrance Mckenna
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cosmic.vibrator
Humble Apprentice



Registered: 05/02/16
Posts: 61
Last seen: 5 years, 6 days
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Re: First large Monotub :) Colonization stage. (Pics) [Re: cosmic.vibrator]
#23491072 - 07/30/16 12:57 AM (7 years, 5 months ago) |
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Update:
So, when I checked on the larger 66 qt tub again, there was a light green spot. Of course, I panicked, and jumped to the conclusion that it is Trichoderma. The only weird thing is that it seemed to be a lighter color green then I have dealt with in the past, and it also seemed to be, at least in my experience, a lot "weaker" then the Trich I've dealt with before. It was almost as if it was making a last ditch effort to get a hold onto the substrate. Or, maybe it was something different altogether. All I know is that it was no where near forest/emerald green... It was a lot paler, and more powdery.
I decided not to toss it, but to take a wait and see approach. I understand the risk involved, and I know the trich spore population has already grown in numbers at my place, but I think the cube mycelium will come out on top. I know that the mean green always comes back, but I'm going to take the chance, albeit a stubborn one, and fight for a decent flush or two. We shall see.
I'm thinking that since I followed what I believe to be proper pasteurization technique, It must have come from one of the jars of spawn. They were all "fully colonized", but that doesn't mean there wasn't any thing hiding under the radar. Plus, the little green dust was definitely from a grain. Ugh. This should be interesting...
Anyway! The smaller 12 qt tub is still contaminant free, and colonizing like a champ. I am spawning another qt of B+ to a 16 qt sterilite container of pasteurized coir/verm tonight. The substrate is cooling down now, so in the meantime I'll focus on making sure my grow area is clean, organized, and anything that was compromised will either be tossed, or quarantined somewhere safe.
There's where I am at. I wish I would have taken a picture of the issue, but I needed to handle it first. Maybe if/when it pops up again.
Onward!
-------------------- "So! You take, let us assume, a third toke; long and slow. You vaporise... and you take it in, and in, and in... and there is a sound... like the crumpling of a plastic bread wrapper, or the crackling of flame... and a tone... a mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and there is this....... There is a cheer... The gnomes have learned a new way to say hoooooooorrayy..." - Terrance Mckenna
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