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OfflineTheAaronious
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Registered: 08/24/20
Posts: 5
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
Free Air Exchange, Rubberbands, and Foil
    #26897078 - 08/24/20 12:39 PM (3 years, 5 months ago)

Good Afternoon everyone. I had questions regarding Free Air Exchange. I am currently attempting to grow mushrooms again. I tried it back when I was around 20 years old, with a little bit of success. I was only able to get one viable crop, then was plagued with contamination issues every time afterwards.
    I am now 37, more financially secure, and felt it was a good time to get reacquainted to the hobby. I have also acquired plenty of extra fabrication skills through woodworking. I am much more confident in engineering and fabricating tools and facilities I would need to get better at growing.
    I am currently following, to the best of my knowledge, PFTek. I had ordered 4"x4" foil sheets (used for candy making/wrapping), to save time in cutting heavy duty kitchen foil. I noticed that the thickness of these sheets is very thin, compared to kitchen foil. When pulling jars out of the incubation chamber for inspection during incubation, these sheets tend to fall off easily, and do not "grab" the rings on the jar very well. By putting rubber bands around the outside of the ring, it helps hold the foil in place.
    Regarding Free Air Exchange; I have read in every guide that brown rice flour cakes will consume oxygen, and expel CO2, and that the incubation tub will need opened at least once a week for air exchange. Will putting rubber bands on the jars to hold the foil, restrict the air exchange? (they are not very tight, just enough to secure the foil). The size and thinness of the foil, also does not allow me to put a "dome" in the foil, as some guides suggest. It is far too flimsy.
    I am using brown rice flower, fine vermiculite, and spring water for the jars, 1/2 pint. I inoculated several jars 4 days ago, and are already showing mycelium growth (12 of 14 jars). I was concerned about fine grade vermiculite, but seem to be doing fine. It is all that I can find in my area. But i read on this forum, that it should be fine.
   
    • Will putting a rubber band around the rim of the jar to secure the foil, restrict the air flow?
    • I was looking at self healing ports for inoculation. Wouldn't these completely restrict air flow? Or is the enough pressure to force air out through the treads of the jar? And if so, can they still take in oxygen through the threads?

    Thanks for any future input from the community. I did a search on the forum but couldn't find answers specifically addressing these questions. Thanks!


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InvisibleMunchauzen
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Registered: 06/22/11
Posts: 14,343
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Re: Free Air Exchange, Rubberbands, and Foil [Re: TheAaronious] * 1
    #26897104 - 08/24/20 12:57 PM (3 years, 5 months ago)

Quote:

• Will putting a rubber band around the rim of the jar to secure the foil, restrict the air flow?
    • I was looking at self healing ports for inoculation. Wouldn't these completely restrict air flow? Or is the enough pressure to force air out through the treads of the jar? And if so, can they still take in oxygen through the threads?




1. yes it will. the foil is not supposed to go back on after inoculation.
2. if you use a SHIP on a jar, it has to have a filter of some kind to allow gas exchange

FYI You are not using a good version of the PF-Tek. Any version that contains an incubator is out dated. Take your jars out of that thing now, remove the foil, and put them on a shelf somewhere. The dry verm layer on top is your filter, not the foil.


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OfflineTheAaronious
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Registered: 08/24/20
Posts: 5
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
Re: Free Air Exchange, Rubberbands, and Foil [Re: Munchauzen]
    #26897238 - 08/24/20 02:13 PM (3 years, 5 months ago)




FYI You are not using a good version of the PF-Tek. Any version that contains an incubator is out dated. Take your jars out of that thing now, remove the foil, and put them on a shelf somewhere. The dry verm layer on top is your filter, not the foil.




I have a dedicated spare bedroom that I am using. It has painted walls and carpet. I blocked the HVAC vent in the room. I suppose the primary reason for the incubation chamber was temperature control. I thought about using a space heater to keep the room warm, but decided against it because it moves air, and the potential fire hazard. My incubation chamber is just a tub-in-tub with an aquarium heater and water. Each also has a probe style humidity/temperature monitor. Manual venting (humidity so i can use them in the fruiting chamber also). I am using approximately 1/2" of fine dry vermiculite in the top of each jar. As far as the TEK, I originally was using info I found on Erowid with I was very young, but following directions for a kit that I got to get restarted. But I'm trying to adapt it using my own supplies (tubs, jars, making my own jars, etc)It was an all-in-one tub setup, so once the jars were done, I had to use the same tub for fruiting. I'm trying to incubate and fruit simultaneously.
    • Is it safe to use only use vermiculite as the filter? No foil at all? Even with manual venting in a non-sterile environment? I keep the door closed, pets are not allowed in that room, HVAC blocked? I'm keeping the tubs at 80 degrees F*.
    • Or is it okay to use a space heater for the room and leave the jars in the open, with vermiculite and the lids/with 4 holes? and ditch the double tubs with the water/aquarium heaters?


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InvisibleMunchauzen
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Re: Free Air Exchange, Rubberbands, and Foil [Re: TheAaronious]
    #26897247 - 08/24/20 02:19 PM (3 years, 5 months ago)

here is an updated trustworthy PF Tek guide from a user here, I advise you use it instead of your kit instructions  https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/24179086

1. yeah just vermiculite and the lid with holes in it. don't leave the foil on.
2. shouldn't have temps over 75F, room temperature is perfect for jars. The incubator is a vector for contaminates, and all around doesn't do anything very beneficial for you. don't use it.
3. unless its like 50 degrees in your room, I wouldn't heat it at all. Room temp is fine. 65-75 is ideal.


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Offlinetryptkaloids
Learner
I'm a teapot


Registered: 02/08/15
Posts: 12,647
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Last seen: 38 minutes, 38 seconds
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Re: Free Air Exchange, Rubberbands, and Foil [Re: TheAaronious]
    #26897254 - 08/24/20 02:23 PM (3 years, 5 months ago)

Its a bad idea to keep the foil on during colinization because it restricts gas exchange. Manual heating isnt neccesary, if its comfortable for you its comfortable for them.

I only cover the vent closest to my still air box to keep the air atill while im working. Otherwise i keep everything else running. Fans and all. Unless im doing sterile work

The dry verm layer is a good filter if left undisturbed. Don't move them around a bunch


--------------------
"Remember, kids, the difference between science and screwing around is writing it down" -adam savage
Flowchart for Recommended plan of action.
Learn the tried and true way to grow mushrooms
Use the Damn search engine
After you know what you're doing, take a break 
Pick a book, Make some chips!
Josex said:Don't take the site seriously bro, ain't worth it.
 


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Offlinetryptkaloids
Learner
I'm a teapot


Registered: 02/08/15
Posts: 12,647
Loc: Exact Center
Last seen: 38 minutes, 38 seconds
Trusted Cultivator
Re: Free Air Exchange, Rubberbands, and Foil [Re: tryptkaloids]
    #26897259 - 08/24/20 02:24 PM (3 years, 5 months ago)

The best fruiting chambers are passive ones that do the work without much intervention look into shoeboxes and monotubs. The best way to set yourself up for success is getting into agar as soon as possible.


--------------------
"Remember, kids, the difference between science and screwing around is writing it down" -adam savage
Flowchart for Recommended plan of action.
Learn the tried and true way to grow mushrooms
Use the Damn search engine
After you know what you're doing, take a break 
Pick a book, Make some chips!
Josex said:Don't take the site seriously bro, ain't worth it.
 


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