Home | Community | Message Board


This site includes paid links. Please support our sponsors.


Welcome to the Shroomery Message Board! You are experiencing a small sample of what the site has to offer. Please login or register to post messages and view our exclusive members-only content. You'll gain access to additional forums, file attachments, board customizations, encrypted private messages, and much more!

Shop: Mushroom-Hut Substrate Bags   Myyco.com Golden Teacher Liquid Culture For Sale   North Spore Injection Grain Bag   Left Coast Kratom Buy Kratom Extract   OlympusMyco.com No Unicorns Here—Just Quality Bags That Work   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck

Jump to first unread post Pages: 1
OfflineBlueAndOrange
Psychedelic success story…
Male User Gallery


Registered: 01/11/22
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 9 days, 10 hours
Question about swabs and contams
    #27802035 - 06/01/22 09:30 PM (2 years, 7 months ago)

So I have started cultivating from swabs thanks to the kindness and generosity of those who are sharing the fruits (or at least the spores) of their labor. My first swab was the FP+ that fahtster shared, and these took off brilliantly by just swabbing my agar plates.

Other swans I have received are not doing as well and there is a lot of contamination going on.

I think my sterile technique is decent, and I’m working in front of a properly dialed in 2’x4’ ffu. In fact, I spilled agar on the stainless steel work table when I poured my last batch of plates, and have left the flow hood on and am watching the agar to see if anything starts growing. The table is totally clean. I have to believe the contams are coming from the swabs.

I have since learned that I would be better off using sterile water and sterilizes tweezers and putting a drop of water on the swab and plucking the fibers off and embedding them in the agar. I will do this moving forward.

So, thoughts about the contams? Do swabs have a high contam rate? After watching the RR videos I’m afraid of opening the dishes in front of the hood as I don’t want to blow the mold around my house. I have enough sources of spores that I’m going to just toss the plates.

Just trying to learn as much as possible from my fails.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleMysticMycologist
Dirt Sherpa
Male


Registered: 10/14/21
Posts: 1,755
Loc: seeking samadhi
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange]
    #27802049 - 06/01/22 09:48 PM (2 years, 7 months ago)

Prints and swabs usually are dirty to varying degrees. Faht’s swabs are the exception. The best I’ve used. I don’t know how he does it, but those babies could almost go straight to grain. He may not even be human.

You can usually expect some contamination on your germ plates, and if you’re cleaning up a wild print then it is always a mess. Just make several small transfers early and keep cleaning it up. It is actually very rewarding and therapeutic once you get the hang of it. To take something so dirty, and turn it into a sexy rhizo plate you can post in the agar thread. I wouldn’t worry to much about taking transfers from a plate that is showing the first signs of contam or some mold. I’m pretty sure we all do it. That’s how it is done.


--------------------
Two eyes to look, One eye to see.
Prying open my third eye

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Offlinesan pedro guy
Captain
 User Gallery


Registered: 10/22/17
Posts: 1,806
Last seen: 25 days, 23 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange]
    #27802051 - 06/01/22 09:49 PM (2 years, 7 months ago)

I think swabs are mainly for fruit that don’t drop enough spores to do a print, or if you’re trying to do like hundreds of giveaways and prints don’t make sense….

Personally, id rather have a print than a swab. A print can noc up hundreds or more of germ plates…

you’re awesome either way for doing this! :thumbup:

edit: whoops! misread, thought you were making swabs


--------------------
Noob Grow Along 2022

Edited by san pedro guy (06/01/22 09:50 PM)

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineBlueAndOrange
Psychedelic success story…
Male User Gallery


Registered: 01/11/22
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 9 days, 10 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: san pedro guy]
    #27802061 - 06/01/22 10:08 PM (2 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

san pedro guy said:
I think swabs are mainly for fruit that don’t drop enough spores to do a print, or if you’re trying to do like hundreds of giveaways and prints don’t make sense….

Personally, id rather have a print than a swab. A print can noc up hundreds or more of germ plates…

you’re awesome either way for doing this! :thumbup:

edit: whoops! misread, thought you were making swabs




I will be awesome when I make my swabs. I’ll be paying forward all the generosity I’ve been shown. I’ll be making swabs and printing. Especially when I get the FP+ and Nats going.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineVibetyme
Smoke 1
Male User Gallery


Registered: 06/08/21
Posts: 1,775
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 21 days, 3 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange]
    #27802145 - 06/01/22 11:39 PM (2 years, 7 months ago)

I think swabs have slightly higher of a contam risk. Just because you are rubbing the gills with a cotton swab and everything that was on the underside is now on the swab. Bacteria, mold etc.

I have had a several swabs contam on me in one form or another.  Just try and transfer away from any contams.

Usually I dip my swabs down in sterile water.  I have found it you wanna pull off just a little it is best to cut the swab in sections otherwise the whole thing will come off of the stick.

Because of the added risk I try and take extra precautions when making swabs, I always use a sab, clean long sleeve shirt,gloves,alcohol those gloves,face mask and I'm very careful never to touch the swab anywhere other then the mushroom gills then back in the sleeve.

Sorry you are having troubles homie!

Good luck!


--------------------
Vibetyme's LAGM 2.022

Vibetyme's LAGM_23

Vibetyme's LAGM_24

                 

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineHindsight
Mad Scientist
 User Gallery

Registered: 01/24/21
Posts: 2,706
Last seen: 1 year, 8 months
Trusted Cultivator
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: Vibetyme] * 1
    #27802277 - 06/02/22 05:32 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

Buy some 2ml vials with screw caps. Fill with distilled water and cap them. Also buy a plastic vial holder that holds like 40 vials. Put the vials in the holder and PC that to sterilize. Then put it on your flow hood table and keep it there. When ready to swab, uncap a vial and dump the swab in and let soak a minute. Pull it out and streak a couple plates with it, then torch tweezers and pull some fibers off and jam those in a couple more plates. This is my process and it works well for me.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineBlueAndOrange
Psychedelic success story…
Male User Gallery


Registered: 01/11/22
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 9 days, 10 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: Hindsight]
    #27802419 - 06/02/22 08:38 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

I like this 2ml vial solution. I also have a distilled water maker, so I can just make it to need.

I’m just glad the contams are coming from the swabs. I’m still nervous of opening the dishes in front of the ffu as I don’t want mold spores flying around the house.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleGuerrilla
Original Asshole


Registered: 01/30/21
Posts: 3,179
Loc: United Kingdom Flag
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange] * 1
    #27802443 - 06/02/22 09:00 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

Like other people mentioned sterile water will help you. Some people are better at getting clean swabs. I have a lengthy and OTT process and always get good feedback on my swabs, haven't seen contam in them yet.

Sterile water > streak a few plates > bury cotton filaments or entire swab in a final plate.

Your spilled agar on your work surface is 1) out of flow and 2) on a non sterile surface so it's not an effective method of testing sterility. It will surely contaminate, or it will dry out first. Leave an agar plate open for 10 minutes.


--------------------
Being pissed on does not make you a real man.

...OR DOES IT?

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineBlueAndOrange
Psychedelic success story…
Male User Gallery


Registered: 01/11/22
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 9 days, 10 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: Guerrilla]
    #27802543 - 06/02/22 10:59 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

The work surface was stainless steel wiped down with iso, and just below the flow. I would have thought it would catch falling contams if they were there. The ffu has been running 10 days keeping the air in that room as clean as possible.

Anyway, 10 days after the spill no contams growing. Probably dried out though.

I’ll open a few plates for 10 mins today.

Also ordering the little vials.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleGuerrilla
Original Asshole


Registered: 01/30/21
Posts: 3,179
Loc: United Kingdom Flag
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange]
    #27802550 - 06/02/22 11:04 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

Quote:

BlueAndOrange said:
The work surface was stainless steel wiped down with iso, and just below the flow. I would have thought it would catch falling contams if they were there. The ffu has been running 10 days keeping the air in that room as clean as possible.

Anyway, 10 days after the spill no contams growing. Probably dried out though.

I’ll open a few plates for 10 mins today.

Also ordering the little vials.




ISO alcohol sanitises, it doesn't sterilise. If you sprayed ISO alcohol into an agar plate you would see contamination. Just below the flow is open for turbulence and contamination, which is why we use elevated racks.

I'm sure the plates will turn out just fine and it's more than likely the swabs causing issues.

You shouldn't really be running your FFU for that long. There's not any point. Switch it on when you need to work. The room doesn't need to be clean, only your working area, whilst working.


--------------------
Being pissed on does not make you a real man.

...OR DOES IT?

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineBlueAndOrange
Psychedelic success story…
Male User Gallery


Registered: 01/11/22
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 9 days, 10 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: Guerrilla]
    #27802551 - 06/02/22 11:07 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

I’m mostly running it that long because I’m waiting for the plates I poured to evaporate all the condensation before bagging them. I’m still struggling with condensation in my dishes when I pour. And even when they are condensation free they condense on the lids as soon as I parafilm them.

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleGuerrilla
Original Asshole


Registered: 01/30/21
Posts: 3,179
Loc: United Kingdom Flag
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange]
    #27802562 - 06/02/22 11:19 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

10 days is still excessive.

If there's condensation after that long then they won't clear up. You poured way too hot.

A slight excess in condensation should clear up within an hour or so in flow. But pouring at correct temps, they can be wrapped immediately after cooling and the condensation will dissipate shortly or in the following days.


--------------------
Being pissed on does not make you a real man.

...OR DOES IT?

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
OfflineBlueAndOrange
Psychedelic success story…
Male User Gallery


Registered: 01/11/22
Posts: 1,079
Last seen: 9 days, 10 hours
Re: Question about swabs and contams [Re: BlueAndOrange]
    #27802570 - 06/02/22 11:31 AM (2 years, 7 months ago)

I have a temp gun and am pouring at 116-120.

I have a water bath with thermometer and a heat gun.

I pored the last batch so thin I’m worried it’s too thin. Still don’t know why getting clear agar plates is challenging me. Most have cleared up. Some just have a few spots of condensation. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong….

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Jump to top Pages: 1

Shop: Mushroom-Hut Substrate Bags   Myyco.com Golden Teacher Liquid Culture For Sale   North Spore Injection Grain Bag   Left Coast Kratom Buy Kratom Extract   OlympusMyco.com No Unicorns Here—Just Quality Bags That Work   MagicBag.co All-In-One Bags That Don't Suck


Similar ThreadsPosterViewsRepliesLast post
* I have a question on CONTAMS PLEASE some one help me WhoWhatWhen 733 6 04/10/03 10:37 PM
by jakeholman
* 2 questions splix 817 6 05/17/01 03:37 AM
by Taz
* 1st Successful Substrate Jars& Terrarium Questions FreakShow 3,357 11 11/20/01 01:08 AM
by geokills
* Microscope Questions rumfor69 123 2 05/30/22 06:42 AM
by rumfor69
* wbs question smith 749 5 04/13/03 10:17 PM
by SixTango
* matts 781 3 06/25/02 06:00 PM
by GSAfarmer
* Re: Another Newbie question phrozendata 912 5 05/19/00 09:53 AM
by Anonymous
* Quick Dunk Question Anonymous 1,555 18 05/11/10 08:44 PM
by tajmahal420

Extra information
You cannot start new topics / You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled / BBCode is enabled
Moderator: Shroomism, george castanza, RogerRabbit, veggie, mushboy, fahtster, LogicaL Chaos, 13shrooms, hamloaf, cronicr, Stipe-n Cap, Pastywhyte, bodhisatta, Tormato, Land Trout, A.k.a
318 topic views. 12 members, 55 guests and 46 web crawlers are browsing this forum.
[ Show Images Only | Sort by Score | Print Topic ]
Search this thread:

Copyright 1997-2025 Mind Media. Some rights reserved.

Generated in 0.023 seconds spending 0.007 seconds on 12 queries.