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AuoraBorealis
Cultivator



Registered: 06/09/15
Posts: 311
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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Substrate/Pasteurization Advice?
#26899018 - 08/25/20 03:46 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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So I have been growing since 2014. I started off with Brf and switched to monotubs within a month.
I started out using reptile coir and verm. I used wbs,a glove box, and I did grain to grain transfers of the SAME genetics for months with amazing success. I think I would average 7lbs off of 20-25 monotubs, consistently.
I did this with the bucket Tek and the basic coir/verm recipe.
I was convinced to switch to more "careful methods and incorporate straw and compost. My yields,if anything, suffered for it. Contamination and environmental factors/variables seemed to become a lot more prevalent.
It's been awhile since I've posted here because, honestly..I have consistently done things that are supposed to be impossible. The best problem is varying "opinions" from person to person. It also seems,no matter how successful a technique has been, more unknown "magical" variables have caused ups and downs. (I.E. doing grain bags instead of jars, making liquid cultures,etc)
MY QUESTION is if anyone has advice to better insure the bucket Tek properly pasteurizing a recipe of Compost,Straw,and gypsum.
Despite what anyone says,I had great success doing this in large storage bins. I have just gotten tired of contam issues. I've had equal failures in that area no matter whose advice I have followed. I am limited on money, supplies,and space though.
Pasteurization with an oven or pressure cooker for the amount of substrate I wish to produce is just not possible. It's never seemed like an efficient method lol.
But insulating home depot buckets properly is difficult. I also don't have a thermometer.
As far as water temp goes,I'd rather kill off some good nutrients if it means getting rid of any bad.
My OTHER question is whether its a better idea it use more grain spawn to ensure faster colonization and mycelial dominance of the sub. I ask this because I used to do 4 quart jars and now only do one grain bag. I've long though that the more spawn used,the more likelihood there would be no contams on the first flush.
I apologize for the rambling,I just have been continuously frustrated by the conflicting opinions online, especially when I've had much better results than I, apparently,should have had.
-------------------- Don't forget to play them some chill music. They're people too. :p
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Dr. Whitethumb
Pumperfunkfunkerpump



Registered: 06/21/20
Posts: 42
Last seen: 3 years, 25 days
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Re: Substrate/Pasteurization Advice? [Re: AuoraBorealis]
#26899028 - 08/25/20 03:57 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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hey man, though I have significantly less experience, I've only had 1 failed monotub in the few years I've been doing this. It was likely the result of using contammed spawn to hit my ratios for a large 66qt grow. Here are some places to start:
1. Only use clean spawn. Any partially uncolonized areas of grain are an indicator of contams. You're better off tossing than trying to hit ratios.
2. Use the shoebox tek if you've been doing large monotub grows. Super easy. Super cheap. Can start aiming for certain genetic hot-shots in smaller batches.
3. Use a higher spawn ratio. Again, a higher CLEAN spawn ratio. If you're getting contams before 1st flush, it's likely a spawn problem.
4. Use CVG instead of straw to reduce potential pasteurization issues. Pasteurize between 140-160. You can use a cooler instead of a bucket. On Nextdoor (mobile application for your local area, use that or FB marketplace) I'm consistently seeing insulated coolers being offered for free on those platforms.
Hope that helps m8, good luck!
-------------------- “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” - Nelson Mandela
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Kernale
Big Guy



Registered: 07/08/20
Posts: 96
Loc: Bikini Bottom
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Re: Substrate/Pasteurization Advice? [Re: AuoraBorealis]
#26899381 - 08/25/20 07:38 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I would just say use straight coir, or coir/verm like you did originally. It will eliminate any problems with pasteurization and if you use cold/roomtemp water to hydrate you can spawn right away. Time is money with bulk. Time saved means more time for prepping which means more production. I doubt the benefits of the straw and poo is worth the trouble of prepping it in the first place, at least when we're talking about real bulk production.
If you're die hard for the poo, then you could try electric turkey roasters.
EDIT: Found something for you completely by chance, by ProfessorPinHead. "I just make the sub up and bring it up to temp by using water that is the correct temps to bring it to paatirizing rang and then I use triple layered nitrile gloves to keep my hand from being burnt and split the sub up into two spawn bags and lock the bags in a stirofoam cooler. Then I wrap the cooler with a towel and it holds temp for 12+ hours....."
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Edited by Kernale (08/25/20 07:59 PM)
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tryptkaloids
Learner



Registered: 02/08/15
Posts: 12,641
Loc: Exact Center
Last seen: 2 days, 7 hours
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Re: Substrate/Pasteurization Advice? [Re: Kernale]
#26899447 - 08/25/20 08:16 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Find the origional let's grow mushrooms videos. RR made a bulk straw pasteurization video. I think the main thing when you aren't using a controlled heat is to balance the ph with lime and buffer it with gypsum, but i cant remember
-------------------- "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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AuoraBorealis
Cultivator



Registered: 06/09/15
Posts: 311
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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This is some valuable information. Thank you. Smaller containers/batches might be a good idea. I will say that a lot of times the top of my grain bags are not fully colonized,but it's usually fine. I have assumed it's just dryer and that's why.
I'm limited on resources and space. So the bucket Tek is all I have. But I think more spanw is a good idea..,as well as switching to the door bricks,instead of partially hydrated bags. I've always felt like the consistency w ago better,as well
-------------------- Don't forget to play them some chill music. They're people too. :p
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tryptkaloids
Learner



Registered: 02/08/15
Posts: 12,641
Loc: Exact Center
Last seen: 2 days, 7 hours
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Re: Substrate/Pasteurization Advice? [Re: AuoraBorealis]
#26899610 - 08/25/20 10:16 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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More spawn will make it colonize faster but you'll eventually reach a point of diminishing returns. I like to spread my spawn out so I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket.
If it were me I'd make a poo/coir based sub and do batches in the oven
-------------------- "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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AuoraBorealis
Cultivator



Registered: 06/09/15
Posts: 311
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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Re: Substrate/Pasteurization Advice? [Re: tryptkaloids]
#26899832 - 08/26/20 02:51 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I think I am going to try that for the hell of it. I don't have anything else to work with. I think I will pasteurize the straw in pressure cookers separately.
-------------------- Don't forget to play them some chill music. They're people too. :p
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AuoraBorealis
Cultivator



Registered: 06/09/15
Posts: 311
Last seen: 2 years, 10 months
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Re: Substrate/Pasteurization Advice? [Re: tryptkaloids]
#26910545 - 08/31/20 07:14 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Thanks for the reply. It was enough for me to wing it with the compost. I just mixed it with straw,put it in my pressure cooker, and baked it at 200 for 2 hours. I'm not sure if it's the compost or the straw that made the difference though. Its my belief that mush benefits from soil aeration more than most things. Straw is hollow and not uniformly compact.
I made 10 tubs with coir,and 2 with the poo. It's the same exact genetics/quality, but a huge difference.
I posted pics of the coir tubs. They seem weaker. I'm hoping they consolidate. But the 2 other bins look very healthy. Pics are below and you can clearly see the difference.
Compost and straw


Coir and Verm

-------------------- Don't forget to play them some chill music. They're people too. :p
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