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Mushpixel
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Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags?
#26818668 - 07/12/20 03:33 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Hi Guys,
I started my first grow last month.
Inoculation of two different strains on Thurs 25th June. Both liquid culture into spawn bags. I used 2.5-3 ml in each.
One was a freshly ordered syringe and the other I had a failed attempt back in April. So has been sitting in my fridge in tin foil since then.
Bag 1 (old syringe) showed really high moisture content after 2 days, and bag 2 (new syringe) almost no visible moisture on the inside of the bag.
However after 5 days I started to see mycelial growth on bag 2, which rapidly increased.
Bag 1 started to show what looked like greyish fuzz. I thought this may be contamination, but best to wait it out as some mycelium can be grey/white? Now 2 and a half weeks on bag 2 is growing rapidly, great result. Bag 1 is showing white signs at the bottom but seems to be swamped in a milky liquid? Also grey/white fuzz in most other places.
It should be noted I stupidly injected to the centre of the spawn not the edge so I could see what's happening. My mistake.
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Bag 1:
Do you think this looks like contamination, and should I bin it ASAP?
HIGH RES IMAGES BELOW
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Bag 2:
Do you think I should proceed to 'shake' the bag, and mix the mycelium to the other areas of the bag?
HIGH RES IMAGES BELOW
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Thanks for any replies!
Mush
Edited by Mushpixel (07/12/20 04:15 AM)
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redhandmat
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Mushpixel]
#26818673 - 07/12/20 03:52 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Your ictures are low res and dont allow for zoom. But Im pretty positive that Bag 1 has at least a big bacterial contamination, maybe something else too (mold). Bag 2 looks mostly fine to me. But a shake will definitely let you know for sure. If it doesn't recover on time after a shake, if at all, then you will know.
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: redhandmat]
#26818680 - 07/12/20 04:08 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Okay, thank you for the advice, also apologies, hope these are better?



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w00tmycelium
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Mushpixel]
#26818686 - 07/12/20 04:18 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Your first picture had some weird tint but couldn't really tell if contam or not. I don't usually toss stuff out ASAP and try to see how it goes, but I think I'm in the minority. Previous comment is right on the other bag, shake up a little bit and see how it goes. Otherwise those are all looking pretty good.
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: w00tmycelium]
#26818730 - 07/12/20 05:08 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks buddy!
So I broke up the first bag with my hands, inside was 0 mycelial growth, some milky looking substance like toffee? Looked pretty unhealthy. So happy to throw that one out.
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redhandmat
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Mushpixel]
#26818748 - 07/12/20 05:26 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Im not sure if bag 2 is that good either to be honest. But you may still fruit it. For future growths I would highly recommend you to clean your syringe on agar. Its highly probable that the old syringe is dirty. The new syringe may be too.
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: redhandmat]
#26818757 - 07/12/20 05:39 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Oh really? What makes you say that about bag 2?
Both syringes were cleaned with 70% iso, and then the needles brought to red over a lighter.
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Failboat
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Mushpixel]
#26818767 - 07/12/20 05:56 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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The icecream whiteness is a clue, and then the uncolonized wet grains mushed against the sides with yellow around them are bacterial for sure.
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Failboat]
#26818779 - 07/12/20 06:18 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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God damn it
Not sure what I did wrong.
I was very sterile during inoculation, rye bags were bought online, "ensured" contam-free.
Been kept at 26-28 deg C for the whole time in a cardboard box.
Thoughts?
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Failboat
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Mushpixel]
#26818783 - 07/12/20 06:23 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Let her finish. It seems healthy enough to get a flush, but not ideal. Pre-made bags are not guaranteed clean. Spore syringes are assumedly NEVER clean. Did you use a SAB or FH? ~22°C or 75°F is preferred. Don't incubate, remove the carboard box.
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Failboat]
#26818805 - 07/12/20 07:04 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Will do!
I'm currently searching for an autoclave/pressure cooker but seem to be none in the UK that are a decent size.
I had a small room with a large dustsheet over all surfaces. Room was left still for a long time and everything doused in isopropyl. Not ideal I know but, no flow hood or SAB yet. Still new to this.
Everywhere I read says 26-28 C for colonisation? Especially for these strains. The only reason I'm using a large box (non sealed) is because I struggle to keep regular temperature in this rented house. The insulation is terrible and my room can fluctuate from 15-26 C in a day. Hence I thought best some control needed.
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redhandmat
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: Mushpixel]
#26818856 - 07/12/20 07:46 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Mushpixel said: Oh really? What makes you say that about bag 2?
Both syringes were cleaned with 70% iso, and then the needles brought to red over a lighter.
Thats not what I mean (external contaminants), although thats also possible. I meant that the syringe may have some bacteria inside. Although it is very possible that some syringes are contam free, more often than not they have contaminations. Thats why we use agar to get clean cultures (or do BRF cakes, as they are more resilient)
Its very difficult to help you know what went wrong because so many things are unknown to you, and thus to us as well. Its much easier to help you when you start doing your own grows. But bag2 may yet give you some mushrooms.
You can find pressure cookers in the UK, just check ebay. You dont have to go for the big american PC's. You can do well with a smaller PC. I have one that can do 3 grain jars at a time. And thats fine for me
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LotKid
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: redhandmat]
#26818868 - 07/12/20 07:57 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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First bag is trash. Break and mix up the 2nd bag really well and see how it recovers. If it recovers and fully colonizes then spawn it or expand it. If it doesnt recover its no good.
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Mycobro420
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: LotKid]
#26818901 - 07/12/20 08:23 AM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Ya first bag looks like bacterial.an for rest do what lotkid said
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: LotKid]
#26819486 - 07/12/20 01:56 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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thanks buddy
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Mushpixel
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Re: Possible Contamination in 1/2 spawn bags? [Re: redhandmat]
#26819493 - 07/12/20 01:59 PM (3 years, 7 months ago) |
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Ah okay, I'm with you!
Do you know what pressure cooker you have? Or could point me to it? I'll take a look 
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yeah I had a quick look at some agar work, seems do-able but probably above my level right now. I should probably invest in making a small SAB.
It's also very difficult to find sterilised grain spawn in the UK, i assume everyone just does it themselves?
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