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Northwest
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Registered: 12/28/21
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First timer with some problems
#27596915 - 12/28/21 02:45 AM (3 years, 20 days ago) |
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Hi there,
I am reading here on the forums for a couple of months now and I am trying to get my first run going. Currently I am having some problems and I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. The problem is occurring already on the grain spawn stage. For some reason I can't get good colonization on the oats. Most of the time it seemingly just stops.
Short run down of the procedure so far:
-started from prints to agar.
-2 transfers after initial inoculation of agar
- oats have been soaked in initially boiling water in a plastic bucket for 12 h - then in pc for 3 hours at >12 psi
-oats looking good so far no burst grains
I have multiple batches going on first batch is roughly 3-4 weeks old.
second batch is roughly 2 weeks old.
I have a lot of "water" in the first batch and the myc never becomes fluffy more like a thin layer on each grain. I shook the jars now two times. Last shake is roughly 24 hours ago.
Maybe someone sees something wrong with what I am doing and can point me in the right direction.
Picture of one jar of first batch:
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Forrester
aspiring sociopath


Registered: 02/05/13
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27596932 - 12/28/21 03:39 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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I think you are dealing with some bacteria in there, maybe 3h @ 12psi isn't cutting it. I'm not sure how long you need to go with only 12psi, there's a chart somewhere...
Also your oat prep might need to be changed but I've never worked with oats so I can't help much there but I'm sure someone else can.
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.
-------------------
Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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Regis
Haben wir noch pepps?

Registered: 06/07/20
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Forrester]
#27596939 - 12/28/21 03:51 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Test the hydration of the oats by cutting one grain in half. The inside should be gray. If you see most of the inside is white, it is not hydrated well. Also boiling instead of soaking works faster. Just throw the oats in a pot and let them simmer until some grains burst or the inside is mostly gray (should take around 45 min.). Not everything inside must be gray, as they will hydrate in the PC also. Bodhi has a good oat TEK, so start there.
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Inthepit
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Forrester]
#27596947 - 12/28/21 04:14 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Quote:
- oats have been soaked in initially boiling water in a plastic bucket for 12 h - then in pc for 3 hours at >12 psi
Right off I'd say you're not following a specific TEK. Those oats look pretty beat up. Try Crackatoa's easy oats Works great!
12psi, is that an Instapot? Try to score a real pressure cooker.
Only two transfers, maybe, but identifying when a culture is clean takes time and experience. Next time post pics and ask if it's good to go.
This is not a TEK, just my noob way of doing it: Oats:
2.5 (was1.5) quarts dry for 4 or 5 jars Boil water in PC, turn off, add oats and sit for 45 min Don’t forget to check oat for doneness, cut a few in half, should be gray, not white. Dry oats on a window screen till almost dry ~ 1.5 hrs PC 2hrs, ¾ filled jars, foiled, gasket oiled, trivet on jar rings, vinegar.
Also:
Quote:
tedoro: I could get my wheat to the perfect water content to a half percentage point.... but the very center wasn't hydrated. and then boom, I was a Trichoderma farmer. I make it a point to place the sample agar wedge perfectly upside down, making full contact with the new agar.
Edited by Inthepit (12/28/21 05:22 AM)
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Northwest
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Inthepit]
#27596981 - 12/28/21 06:10 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Thanks a lot for the responses.
I am doing Inocoule's "Impossibly Simple Whole Oat Prep". Just in a plastic bucket instead of a pot because I have to do all of this in the basement. The bucket has a lid as well.
The oats look after some time like this in the beginning they look different. Picture below shows second batch of oats.

Here a picture how it looked before shaking but this one is infected with trich I guess.

Quote:
12psi, is that an Instapot? Try to score a real pressure cooker.
Only two transfers, maybe, but identifying when a culture is clean takes time and experience. Next time post pics and ask if it's good to go.
yes first batch was in an instant pot second has been done in a presto for 2.5 hours I think.
I have sacrificed one jar to see whats going on with the moisture content.
Picture below. For me it looks okayish maybe a bit on the dry side but not bad ?

Edited by Northwest (12/28/21 06:29 AM)
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Forrester
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Registered: 02/05/13
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest] 1
#27596986 - 12/28/21 06:23 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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All those pics look bacterial to me. I'm guessing the oats aren't getting fully sterilized.
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.
-------------------
Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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Northwest
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Forrester]
#27596999 - 12/28/21 06:51 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Quote:
Forrester said: All those pics look bacterial to me. I'm guessing the oats aren't getting fully sterilized.
Do the pictures below look better ?
These oats have been pced in a presto for about 2 or so hours @>15psi.
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Regis
Haben wir noch pepps?

Registered: 06/07/20
Posts: 274
Loc: Germany
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27597044 - 12/28/21 07:36 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Nope, both look contaminated to me. I bet the first one stinks, too.
How do you inoculate the jars? Describe how you do your sterile work
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Northwest
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Regis]
#27597077 - 12/28/21 08:17 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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I inoculate by placing a wedge of agar inside the grain jars.
I can provide a picture of the culture on agar as well. I have one jar left.
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Inthepit
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Registered: 08/20/19
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27597107 - 12/28/21 08:53 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Quote:
I have sacrificed one jar to see whats going on with the moisture content.
Picture below. For me it looks okayish maybe a bit on the dry side but not bad ?
You need to cut an oat in half and look inside. The oat goes from white to gray when hydrated. Like Tedoro said, if the inside isn't hydrated enough that can be a cause for contam.
Edited by Inthepit (12/28/21 08:57 AM)
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Northwest
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Inthepit]
#27597126 - 12/28/21 09:12 AM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Ok not even a bit white is okay. Then I will discard the batch and startover again.
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FredNorris
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Registered: 09/25/21
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27597764 - 12/28/21 06:21 PM (3 years, 19 days ago) |
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Quote:
Northwest said: I inoculate by placing a wedge of agar inside the grain jars.
I can provide a picture of the culture on agar as well. I have one jar left.
Are you doing this inside a SAB?
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Northwest
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: FredNorris]
#27598248 - 12/29/21 05:18 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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Quote:
FredNorris said:
Quote:
Northwest said: I inoculate by placing a wedge of agar inside the grain jars.
I can provide a picture of the culture on agar as well. I have one jar left.
Are you doing this inside a SAB?
No don't have one. Hoped I can get away without one.
Below you can see pictures of my last glass of agar with myc on it.


After reading more about bacteria. The agar plate is not fully colonized could the reason be bacteria ?
Edited by Northwest (12/29/21 05:38 AM)
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Forrester
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest] 1
#27598277 - 12/29/21 06:03 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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You really can't get away with using agar and inoculating grain without a sab or flowhood, this is why you're failing. The whole point of agar work is to get a clean culture into sterile grain. Without a sterile environment you are getting neither of these.
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.
-------------------
Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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Inthepit
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Registered: 08/20/19
Posts: 1,742
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27598278 - 12/29/21 06:08 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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What Forrester said!
Did you sterilize the agar in 12psi also? Could be another vector.
A SAB would be awesome and not expensive. :
If you search for SAB TEKs you'll find lots of good plans. BOD's Easy AF Search Engine TEK

  Oooooh, now 200 Qrt. SAB Although my 90 qrt is roomy enough.
Edited by Inthepit (12/29/21 06:55 AM)
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Humbled
Local Budtender




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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Inthepit]
#27598299 - 12/29/21 06:34 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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Really, what Forrester and Inthepit said are both good advice.
I've been growing for about 15 years and I still stick with a Still Air Box (SAB) because it's portable and effective and doubles as a storage container when moving 😂
A flow hood is great because a person can do bulk clean work much easier but isn't necessary at all.
Get yourself a nice sized clear plastic tub and follow the teks above.
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Northwest
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Humbled]
#27598304 - 12/29/21 06:41 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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Thanks, hoped I could avoid it because I do not have much space available. But anyways I will go to the local hardware store and buy the tub.
I will do BOD Easy AF SAB Tek.
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Forrester
aspiring sociopath


Registered: 02/05/13
Posts: 9,352
Loc: Northeast USA
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27598307 - 12/29/21 06:46 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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I still use a SAB too, gave my flowhood away because I don't have the space for one. Love how the SAB doubles as storage when not in use
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.
-------------------
Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
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Northwest
Stranger


Registered: 12/28/21
Posts: 14
Last seen: 1 year, 11 months
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Forrester]
#27598486 - 12/29/21 10:42 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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after building the SAB what would you do ?
start all over again from print ? recycle the culture I have and make transfers ? or just make new grain spawn ?
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FredNorris
Stranger


Registered: 09/25/21
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Loc: Maine
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Re: First timer with some problems [Re: Northwest]
#27598496 - 12/29/21 10:58 AM (3 years, 18 days ago) |
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Quote:
Northwest said: Thanks, hoped I could avoid it because I do not have much space available. But anyways I will go to the local hardware store and buy the tub.
I will do BOD Easy AF SAB Tek.
I used that tek to make mine, it was very easy. I heated a Chock Full o Nuts coffee can on my stove to melt the holes. Works great.
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