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hallmaker
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Newbie Questions for making Agar
#26486143 - 02/14/20 09:08 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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Thanks for the help. 1. I have Pyrex 500 ml bottle. I plan to mix agar recipe > pour it in the bottle > boil the bottle > pressure cook the bottle. Won't pressure cooking the bottle boil the ingredients?
2. Boiling the pyrex bottle - I do not want to crack it. I know not to put it near cold water. How long should it boil for?
3. PDA - To make a Potato Dextrose Agar - when it comes to the starch - do I just use the water from boiling potatoes? I did not want to use flakes cause I was thinking the potato water would make the agar clearer...
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iwh678
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: hallmaker]
#26486175 - 02/14/20 09:41 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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1. I boil my agar before putting in media bottles just to make sure it is completely dissolved.
2. Pyrex is durable, it should crack. Why would you be putting near cold water anyways?
3. Yes you just use the water from the boil. Potato water will be more clear from flakes buts of course that's relative. PDA is not very clear compared to other mixes. Light malt extract agar is what you want if your shooting for clear. Clear agar is kind of over rated though. Many people add coloring so its not clear.
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c10h12n2o
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: iwh678]
#26486204 - 02/14/20 09:57 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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Check the agar guide in my sig, answers all these questions and has photos to help illustrate
I like to boil in a beaker in the microwave (half full, it boils over FAST, explained the technique in my guide).
Then I filter it through cheesecloth into the funnel, and it comes out crystal clear every time
Boiling and filtering first makes it mix more homogeneously
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  C10's Agar Guide + Tips and Tricks | c10's Flow Hood Build Guide "Partial knowledge is more triumphant than complete knowledge; it takes things to be simpler than they are, and so makes its theory more popular and convincing." "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies" ― Friedrich Nietzsche
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mushboy
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: c10h12n2o]
#26486227 - 02/14/20 10:15 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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i use cold water for my shit.no pre boil or filter
and your agar guide link is to the hood build fyi
Edited by mushboy (02/14/20 10:17 PM)
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iwh678
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: mushboy]
#26486241 - 02/14/20 10:25 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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I find I get more sediment in my agar when I throw the mix in the pressure cooker cold. That's not detrimental or anything just more of a personal preference. This is with LMEA by the way.
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c10h12n2o
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: mushboy]
#26486311 - 02/14/20 11:23 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
mushboy said: i use cold water for my shit.no pre boil or filter
and your agar guide link is to the hood build fyi
Lol thanks man, just added that today. Fixed it
Yeah it's by no means necessary to boil or filter, but I find I get less sediment and more consistancy that way
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  C10's Agar Guide + Tips and Tricks | c10's Flow Hood Build Guide "Partial knowledge is more triumphant than complete knowledge; it takes things to be simpler than they are, and so makes its theory more popular and convincing." "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies" ― Friedrich Nietzsche
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gizmo1



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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: mushboy]
#26486419 - 02/15/20 01:46 AM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
iwh678 said: 1. I boil my agar before putting in media bottles just to make sure it is completely dissolved.
2. Pyrex is durable, it should crack. Why would you be putting near cold water anyways?
3. Yes you just use the water from the boil. Potato water will be more clear from flakes buts of course that's relative. PDA is not very clear compared to other mixes. Light malt extract agar is what you want if your shooting for clear. Clear agar is kind of over rated though. Many people add coloring so its not clear.
What? Color doesn't affect clarity. If it does you are putting way too much food coloring. Also the clearest plates I've ever seen were PDA.
Quote:
mushboy said: i use cold water for my shit.no pre boil or filter
and your agar guide link is to the hood build fyi
How clear are your plates? Got any pics? I like to use distilled water and filter. I mix mea cold filter then add agar and heat for no pours or PC if pouring. It still comes out good if I dont filter but not as good as it could be.
Edited by gizmo1 (02/15/20 11:30 AM)
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hallmaker
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: c10h12n2o]
#26486678 - 02/15/20 08:16 AM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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Thanks c10.
I have your agar guide saved as a favorite and read it at least twice and ordered a lot of your suggestions. Problem is I do not have a microwave. That is why I need to boil the pyrex.
1. Can I just place pyrex into a pot with water when boiling or do I need to place something between the pot and glass?
2. How long do I need to boil the solution?
3. Should I keep the screw cap off, loose or tight?
4. If I am making PDA and I am measuring out 1 liter of water - can I make the entire liter boiled potato water or do I need to just make it 3% or so of the liter of water? Can I have too much potato water?
Thanks for the help
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InfiniteDreams


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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: hallmaker]
#26486680 - 02/15/20 08:20 AM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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1. Place something between the pot and glass, e.g. use a steamer basket. 2. 1 second 3. loose 4. idk pda
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hallmaker
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: iwh678]
#26486691 - 02/15/20 08:30 AM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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Do you mean my pyrex will crack if I boil it? The only thing I know is not to cool it off fast as this will definitely crack it. Thanks
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Mr.Wizard
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: hallmaker]
#26486825 - 02/15/20 10:14 AM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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It should not crack. You don't want to expose the glass to rapid temperature change, that's what cracks/breaks glass.
Check out the links in my sig, they will do you well Sir.
-------------------- Tricks to the search bar: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/24270830 Where to Start: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/24420178/fpart/52#27623666 My easy to see modified no-pour: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26467702 I am so happy and grateful that we get to live in joyful abundance, while things get better, and better.
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Backbone
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: c10h12n2o]
#26487082 - 02/15/20 01:18 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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The other day i made agar and had chunks in my bottle after i pcd they were gone. I think if you pour the water in first and then mix in the agar and lme (if thats what youre using) it will clump up. Maybe better to pour in ingredients and then mix in water
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mimir
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: Backbone]
#26487106 - 02/15/20 01:39 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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You can boil it first in the microwave to dissolve it and then PC, but the PC will boil it so there's no need unless you are making a huge amount of it and are afraid clumps of the powder might not dissolve without mechanical stirring. Generally, pouring the powders, then the water, then mix before PCing is enough to get a clear solution by the end of the process. You could also boil the water and pour it in the bottle with the powders, they should dissolve completely even before PC. If you are afraid of the heat shock cracking the bottle (which you shouldn't, it's Pyrex) you can warm it under hot water from the tap. Boiling the solution inside the Pyrex bottle, IMHO, is just an unnecessary hassle. Either microwave it or put it as is inside the PC
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c10h12n2o
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: mimir]
#26487118 - 02/15/20 01:47 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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I specifically bought a microwave from craigslist for this purpose
The way you are describing is gonna be very time intensive
In the microwave I heat till it starts to boil, reduce power to 50% , then watch carefully and try to get it to boil for 20-30 seconds (breaks and stirs in between to keep it from boiling over).
Then I filter through cheesecloth lined funnel
All this is really just for cosmetics and uniformity though, it's not mandatory but I always do it
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  C10's Agar Guide + Tips and Tricks | c10's Flow Hood Build Guide "Partial knowledge is more triumphant than complete knowledge; it takes things to be simpler than they are, and so makes its theory more popular and convincing." "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies" ― Friedrich Nietzsche
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Backbone
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Re: Newbie Questions for making Agar [Re: c10h12n2o]
#26487165 - 02/15/20 02:21 PM (3 years, 11 months ago) |
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i used bods tek for agar, he says you should definitely have a microwave, i think i agree
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