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Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else?
    #26147950 -

Does anyone else seem to have contamination issues pop up more in the summer time?

I've been growing gourmets since last October and I haven't had a single contamination issue up until summer hit :/

Trying to do this commercially and we've finally found a space to go larger in. Moving in less than a week.

I need to get this contamination issue under wraps so I can move forwards.

My grain jars have been getting green mold or bacteria and my petri dishes occasionally have been getting bacteria or mold on them as well...

I don't believe I'm doing anything different and I'm continually practicing "sterile" procedures. All my work is done in front of a flow hood.

Luckily summer is almost over so I'm hoping next year I can tackle this. I believe its mold season here currently anyway and its been getting upto 90-100 degrees outside daily...

May just shut everything down until we move and get all my gear cleaned up nicely before the move. I would like to have stuff ready to move into the new tent though instead of waiting 8 weeks for a new cycle.

I will probably try to do another set of petris this week fresh from the master slants instead of transfers and I'm hoping that's where my issues lie... old cultures.


Any help or insight is greatly appreciated!


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Back from my Hiatus :smile:

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman] * 1
    #26148215 -

You should check your flow hood. I spray the front of my hood with Lysol or similar every time. If you are actually using sterile teks then it has to be your hood. I would check your pre-filter and then Put an open Petri with agar in front of your hood for about 10 mins. Seal up the Petri and see if anything grows on it. If it does you got a problem with your hood. If it does not grow anything it is your tek. I have no difference in summer as opposed to any other time of year.

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01] * 1
    #26148470 -

The season shouldnt matter if youre using proper sterile technique. How is your lab set up?


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26148591 -

I feel ya Shroom! The petris I poured are fine though. Maybe its my grain tek? And maybe the few petris I had go bad this week were from slipping on bad old generation cultures that finally got out of hand. Still been using roger's guide to making grain. Maybe I need to replace my polyfill? I noticed the jars that seemed to have newer lids didn't have the same issue... so maybe that's part of the problem. And as for the petris.. maybe I just fucked up this week. I suppose it happens... I've done good for almost a year now with no contamination so I've kind of been beating myself up over it. lol

Thinking about switching to doing grain spawn bags instead. Trying to figure out if that would be easier than jars.

I should probably just retrace my steps... maybe I've been slacking too much in some area.

I do spray Lysol or whatever on the front of the flow hood before use and I sanitize the table with 70% iso every time.

Edit: Also the only reason I say its probably the grain jars is because the past few weeks I've been having problems with the grain spawn, usually its just a few. The petris have been fine up until this week. It has been hotter than usual in the space where I keep my petri dishes and grain spawn. Luckily were moving someplace where I have a designated space for just working and can control the climate easier!

Edited by Jooceman (08/22/19 07:16 PM)

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Chwyn]
    #26148595 -

And to answer your question Chwyn. I have my flow hood with a table, but my grow chamber is next to it on one side and my steamer on the right. The only other issue I might be having is that outside air comes inside because its an old house (which is why I thought the season might be affecting it). Buttttt, if my jars are done right it shouldn't matter, I should be able to sit them out on the porch in open air. I might try doing grain spawn bags or replacing all the polyfill and see if that helps. I know this can be fixed. Its just process of elimination.


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman]
    #26148631 -

Adding to the other 2 I posted. I checked my pre-filter and it had quite a bit of dust buildup on it. I have been using the same jars with the same polyfill and the same pre-filter for almost a year now (in October). All these things adding up could be the culprits... :facepalm:

I'm going to grab a new pre-filter and maybe redo the polyfill on my jars. Hopefully that will fix the problem. Thank you guys for the input!

I will probably still try the petri dish method you stated above shroom, even though I just poured these dishes last week.


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman] * 1
    #26148851 -

Grain bags are definitely easier. If you only had the problem once I would change that pre-filter and just try again. You probably have diminished air coming from your flow hoods HEPA. Due to not being able to get air through the pre-filter. You can change the polyfill although poly really does not go bad as long as it is there and you are sterilizing properly.

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26149926 -

I'm going to get a new one this week and do some trial grain bag runs since my petris were fucked up I can take this week off to experiment!

Since we're on the topic of grain bags... do you make your own shroom? or do you even use them? I know you told me to use the resealable zip ties for my substrate bags and its worked great. I have concerns for sterility when using it for grain bags. I plan on getting an impulse sealer soon so that shouldn't really be a problem in the future...

Also I don't really like the idea of using LCs to inoculate large grain bag runs.. So the best method would be doing grain masters to spawn bags to substrate, correct?


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman]
    #26149968 -

Yes I make my own grain bags I use the ties on them as well. As long as you twist the bag tight b4 putting on the tie you should not have a problem at least I never have had a problem.

Yes, I start out with a master jar and then use the whole Jar for a grain bag usually about 6 lbs is in the grain bag (or 2 lbs millet (same thing as wild bird seed) and 2 lbs whole oats they will soak up aobut 2 lbs water in the 24 hour soak). I use millet and whole oats 50/50 by weight. I soak for 24 hours drain for an hour and straight in the bag and to the PC it goes. No simmer or boil.

I do Two grain jars so I can do two grain bags. That way if I have a problem and one bag contaminates. I have a second bag to use as a back up. When I get to the bottom of the 1st bag I have some left over and I inoculate another two bags to keep the process going. By the time I use the 2nd bag the ones I inoculated with the 1st bag is ready to go and it starts all over. I know it sounds a little confusing but just read it a few time and you will get it. I use the cable ties for my grain bags also without a problem. I would not buy an impulse sealer unless you really want one. But I don't see the need for one. They are more time consuming than the ties and I never have to guess if I got a good seal. The only problem with the reclosable cable ties is now I have them all over my house. There are so many uses for them it is unreal.

I use this to spawn to my 5 lb sub and grain bags...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-ounce-Spoodle-Portion-Control-Spoon-Ladle-Server-Green-Handle-Choose-Style/193049445552?hash=item2cf2a4c4b0:m:m-hhuZrM0nTRxQvWxaY1AiQ

It makes life much easier. Just place it in a spawn bag and seal it with a cable tie and PC for 15 mins at 15 psi.

I just started using 12 lb blocks in an xls bag to cut my work in half and I bought this one for that purpose...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8-ounce-Spoodle-Portion-Control-Spoon-Ladle-Server-Blue-Handle-Choose-Style/193049445548?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=493241177963&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

It takes me less than two minuets a bag to spawn using that and that includes mixing the bag up really well.

Edited by SHROOMSISAY01 (08/23/19 07:03 PM)

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26149981 -

I am currently building a wet bagger to save even more time. I will probably sell the plans If people are interested and build it out of wood from home depot.  I currently weigh out my soy and fuel pellets and place them in a bag and use a flow meter to fill the bag with water. I then fold the bag and place it in my steamer. Then when I spawn everything gets mixed up. This way cuts down on the time of filling your bags and mixing everything up tremendously.

https://www.amazon.com/YF-S201-Controller-Display-Solenoid-Indicator/dp/B07RX97L7J/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=zj-lcd-m+flow+meter&qid=1566606854&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Edited by SHROOMSISAY01 (08/23/19 07:05 PM)

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26150208 -

I'm going to message you tomorrow to ask you some more questions! I use rye, but I'm assuming it works the same way. I do simmer though.

I just worry about contamination in the top part that isn't impulse sealed or sectioned off with the cable tie. I got what you were saying, you basically just have a perpetual cycle off the bags. I'm just confused on how to keep it sterile if you're using a ladel to go into the bag. I was thinking about just pouring it from the mouth of the bag.


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman]
    #26150223 -

Once grains are fully colonized they are very hard to get contamination in. I hate pouring from the bag trust me the spoodle is the way to go. Not only is it easier but all your bags end up with the same amount of spawn so they all finish colonizing very close to each other. In 10 days my bags are finished although I wait 14 days to fruit. I am sure you are over spawning also (wasting spawn). I have no contamination doing it this way. It is cleaner and more efficient. But if you like pouring from the bag just pull the bag down past where it was sealed then you will only be pouring from a sterile bag.

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26150228 -

I forgot to say rye is way too expensive and way to much work. Whole oats and millet is way cheaper and actually works better in my opinion. You end up with way more inoculation points with this combo. If you soak for 24 hours and drain for an hour there will be excess moisture on the grains. When in the steamer it is absorbed by the whole oats and come out perfect every time. That is my experience anyway.

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26150678 -

I personally like rye, but it is expensive. I know where to get whole oats, but not millet.

So if I'm doing 6 lb sub bags just use that 4 oz ladel?


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Back from my Hiatus :smile:

Edited by Jooceman (08/24/19 10:22 AM)

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26150680 -

Also, how do you make sure you aren't cross contaminating with that spoodle? That makes me paranoid lol.


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman] * 1
    #26151341 -

Jooceman said:
I personally like rye, but it is expensive. I know where to get whole oats, but not millet.

So if I'm doing 6 lb sub bags just use that 4 oz ladel?


Jooceman said:
Also, how do you make sure you aren't cross contaminating with that spoodle? That makes me paranoid lol.


Any feed store should have millet. I found it on line it was like $16 for 50 lbs but I had to buy 7 bags for $112. Then I found a 50 lb bag for $12 right down the street at country boy seeds.

Yea the spoodle made me nervous at 1st. I put the spoodle in a spawn bag and PC for 15 mins at 15 psi or just place it in with my grain when I sterilize it. Then when I open up my spawn bag in front of my flow hood I open the bag with my spoodle and place it in the bag of spawn. I have never had a problem at all doing it this way. If you think about it you are more likely to nock off contaminates from lifting the bag over your sub or spawn bag than using a sterilized spoodle. Anyway it is just the way I do it. To everyone there own!! I will tell you this though I will never do it another way unless they come up with a way to do it automatically for cheap.

I know you probably don't want to buy 7 bags of millet but here is where I got mine I think.

https://nrsworld.com/products/white-millet-50lb?variant=23539866501220&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwIPrBRCJARIsAFlVT89uxJRlI-O_3nnmUiVTXensntH6SoPO2da9lvqXh4WON06_GAI0m1IaAptPEALw_wcB

I am sure you can find it locally if you look.

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26172149 -

I may very well be looking to buy bulk millet soon since we're upscaling production and I've been thinking about selling spawn on the side. I'm moving up to 25-100 bags a week, up from 20 6 lb. bags a week at the current place. I haven't decided if I want to do the 6 lb. bags or the 12 lb. bags to save time since were expanding the business. Obviously going bigger saves time and money, so I may just do that! Instead of doing 100 6 lb. bags I could do 50 12 lb. bags… a big difference, especially if you go bigger and start hiring employees or whatever.

Thanks for the guidance once again Shrooms! I may need to talk to you again about the steamer. I've made some changes with mine, but I'm possibly looking to build a 240v 100 gallon one this go around!

On a side note... changing the filter on the flow hood fixed my problems I believe! Everything since then is going great. Crazy what a little dust can do! :thumbup:


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman]
    #26172193 -

Great to hear the flow hood is working better now. I should change mine also. It's not something you think of every day.

Something to note about going to bigger bags. Is that you will probably not get the same amount of production from 50 12 lb bags as you do 100 6 lb bags. I just switched my self. I have not gotten a flush from the 12 Lb bags yet. So I can not speak to the difference in the flushes you will get. But according to other people, the flushes will be reduced. Only time will tell by how much.

I would do a test run with 200 xls-a bags before you commit to those bags. That will give you enough time to do side by side comparison and figure out what is best for you.

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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: SHROOMSISAY01]
    #26172498 -

Thanks for the tip! :thumbup:

Regardless, doing the grain spawn bags already cuts my time in over half to get to the sub bag stage!

Another question I had is how many 6 lb bags would a 5 lb or whatever bag of grain spawn inoculate in your experience? That is going off of the 4 oz ladel and 8 oz ladel method you had talked about using.

I just inoculated my first 2 grain bags today! Hopefully it goes smoothly.


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Re: Summer Contamination Woes... Anyone else? [Re: Jooceman]
    #26172701 -

About 40 5 lb bags. My 3015 and Elma are done in about 10 days after inoculation. I just switched to 12 lb bags so I haven't gone through a bag of spawn yet but it should be about 20. That will leave you enough spawn to inoculate another grain bag also.

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Mushrooms, Mycology and Psychedelics > Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms
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