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benis12
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Should I switch from jars to bags?
#26825001 - 07/15/20 11:41 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Hey y'all -
Been cultivating with quart jars for years and wondering if I should switch it up. Jars are great, but the constant shaking is taking it's toll on my arms and shoulders as I'm dealing with a very large number of jars.
Do you find bags to work just as well? Better? Would love to hear from anyone with experience in both methods.
The idea of running bags with 5qts of spawn and just squeezing them around instead of shaking the individual jars is very enticing to me and my sore wrists and shoulders.
Thanks!
Edited by benis12 (07/15/20 11:41 AM)
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Pastywhyte
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: benis12]
#26825006 - 07/15/20 11:43 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Bags are far more finicky to get right and not nearly as forgiving as jars are. That being said they greatly increase your sterilization capacity. I’d suggest you start small, do a single run of bags and see how it goes. Dial it in from there. I do like bags for the lack of cleanup. No jars to wash or store.
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natedawgnow
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: benis12]
#26825007 - 07/15/20 11:44 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Typically jars and bags are used in conjunction with eachother.
I do master jar to 10 jars, then 10 jars to 20 bags, then 20 bags to 20 tubs. You can also do 1 jar to 10 jars, 10 jars to 40 bags; or 1 jar to 10 bags, and 10 bags to 200 bags.
I like bags
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benis12
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: natedawgnow]
#26825013 - 07/15/20 11:47 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Thanks for the info. What's the re-usability like for bags? I've had the same few hundred jars for over 5 years, wondering if I would need to replace bags more frequently?
I'll give them a shot. Do you have a link to any recommended type/brand? Thanks again
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natedawgnow
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: benis12]
#26825021 - 07/15/20 11:51 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Bags are pretty much 1 use only.
Unicorn 3t .2 micron bags for grain spawn
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southbounpachyderm
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: Pastywhyte]
#26825036 - 07/15/20 11:55 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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quick question for pasty. how much do you hydrate your grain for your bags? I've been having problems with too much condensation in mine for a bit.
My method is dumping a load of 16 quarts of dried grain into boiling water and then letting it sit for around 12 minutes or so and draining. Laying out until dry to the touch and loading into my 75x. I've been noticing that they may be a bit too wet with this method. What is yours like if you dont mind me asking
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Crackatoa
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I'm not trying to answer for pasty, I know everybody kinda does theirs differently. After I drain I let set in my colander until it's not dripping and put in fridge overnight and until I get home from work and then bag and PC. I will let them set it for awhile and get to room temp, I've found even the condensation from fridge to PC will make them look wet after PC cycle, but letting them sit for awhile makes them come out pretty. Link in my sig for how I do my bags, you gotta play around until you find your perfect timing.
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southbounpachyderm
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: Crackatoa]
#26825104 - 07/15/20 12:25 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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I wish i had the fridge space to test this method out. I think the ole lady would stab me
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mycologi.st
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I switched to bags some time ago but they can be tricky sometimes. I'm hoping to move away from the Unicorn bags with their perforated filter to MycoSac with the zippers.
I massage my bags a few times as they're cooling to help moisture redistribute and minimize any condensation. Seems to work well.
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mushpunx
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: benis12]
#26825288 - 07/15/20 01:42 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Do work you with a flow hood or SAB? Bags are doable in SAB but definitely a lot more flow hood friendly. An impulse sealer is also a good investment with bags (not necessary tho).
Like Pasty said bags definitely increase the amount of spawn you can sterilize at once. I can only fit 10 qt jars in each my 21qt AA and 23qt Presto, but I can fit 4, 5qt spawn bags in each (20qts of grain). Mind you qt jars aren't filled all the way.
I usually go agar wedge - qt master jar , G2G - 5qt bag for a total 6qt spawn bag (per tub).
Bags are one time use only. Don't order a case right away, just grab a few and try a few runs with them to see if you like them.
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benis12
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: mushpunx]
#26826486 - 07/16/20 08:14 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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I work in a SAB, never bothered with a flow hood.
Thanks for all the info - decided on sticking with my jars. The main reason being I don't like the idea of the wasted plastic associated with one-time-use bags. Feels wasteful and unnecessary in my application. I'll just keep shaking and give my arms a break from time to time. 
You guys are the best, thanks so much for the info!
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Crackatoa
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: benis12]
#26826497 - 07/16/20 08:24 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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They do have a biodegradable version.
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tonz0Funguy



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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: natedawgnow]
#26826665 - 07/16/20 10:14 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
natedawgnow said: Typically jars and bags are used in conjunction with eachother.
I do master jar to 10 jars, then 10 jars to 20 bags, then 20 bags to 20 tubs. You can also do 1 jar to 10 jars, 10 jars to 40 bags; or 1 jar to 10 bags, and 10 bags to 200 bags.
I like bags 
great Idea i never thought of still using jars like this. If your having water content issue,(i know I did)I figured out to just boil 40ish% of the the total dry grain(given a 10-14% natural water content of the grain) so if using 2 cups dry grain slightly >1cup water, if using jars you can add water for nsns you just need to shake jar at the end of the pc cycle. With this method it helps to buy some premium wbs with this method bc its way cleaner.
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mushpunx
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Re: Should I switch from jars to bags? [Re: tonz0Funguy]
#26827206 - 07/16/20 03:21 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
benis12 said: I work in a SAB, never bothered with a flow hood.
Thanks for all the info - decided on sticking with my jars. The main reason being I don't like the idea of the wasted plastic associated with one-time-use bags. Feels wasteful and unnecessary in my application. I'll just keep shaking and give my arms a break from time to time. 
You guys are the best, thanks so much for the info!
Hey man you know another option is to get some larger jars too, half gallons or gallons.
I have a set of about 20 gallon jars. They're pretty cool, you can just g2g quart grain master - gallon jar - tub. A lot less G2G to do, less jars + shaking.
The major downside is the space they take up in a PC. I can only fit one per cycle in each of my PCs, so I just sterilize one or two at a time.
They're really nice if you just wanna pull out a culture and grow a couple tubs.
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