|
sprocket
G-strain



Registered: 04/24/23
Posts: 619
Loc: USA
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
|
|
How are they working so far?
-------------------- How do pirates clone their mushrooms?
With agarrrrrr.
|
mushhead
Livonia Wanderer



Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 2,242
Loc: Dimension G-452
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: dna24]
#28363631 - 06/17/23 07:00 PM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
dna24 said:
Quote:
mushhead said: Honestly I adopted the way Stipe does his agar. It has produced nothing but good results for me and I was having a rough time because of a few different issues. Pro-tip: Don't use five-six year old LME. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28354611#28354611
shit i use 10yr old lme and its perfectly fine, its how its held that matters
Quote:
Stipe-n Cap said:

Storing your powders in air tight containers will keep them indefinitely. I keep my malt in a glass, swing-top container.
Ah. Well. Now I will admit, it was kept in a ziplock.
|
dna24
Darth Randal



Registered: 04/19/22
Posts: 511
Loc: Savages
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: mushhead]
#28363694 - 06/17/23 07:58 PM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
mushhead said:
Quote:
dna24 said:
Quote:
mushhead said: Honestly I adopted the way Stipe does his agar. It has produced nothing but good results for me and I was having a rough time because of a few different issues. Pro-tip: Don't use five-six year old LME. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28354611#28354611
shit i use 10yr old lme and its perfectly fine, its how its held that matters
Ah. Well. Now I will admit, it was kept in a ziplock.

ya mines kept in a glass jar with a tight lid. even then though unless it was infected with some nasty stuff it should have still worked. malt extract is very rich and even oxidized it should still produce growth.
--------------------
|
Zakkery



Registered: 10/15/18
Posts: 299
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 months, 24 days
|
|
This has piqued my interest a bit. Would LME that's not been stored properly be a potential contam vector even after PCing?
I've got some old LME that's clumped together. It's a pain in the arse to use as I've got to break it down but I'm wondering if it could be resulting in some contamination.
|
Screwup
Googles your dumb questions


Registered: 01/27/22
Posts: 6,340
Last seen: 10 months, 7 days
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: Zakkery] 1
#28364032 - 06/18/23 04:58 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
My LME is clumped and when I asked someone else they had clumped LME too. Neither of us have issues.
-------------------- 🅃 🄴 🄰 🄼 🄲 🄻 🄸 🄽 🄶 🅆 🅁 🄰 🄿
Help US help YOU TEK
2023 Dehydrator TEK
|
PBJ710
Strangler


Registered: 07/05/19
Posts: 3,301
Last seen: 6 hours, 44 minutes
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: Screwup]
#28364079 - 06/18/23 06:41 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
My LME turns into a brick due to humidity even when kept in airtight jars. I use a HDPE bottle and when it's time to use it, I just beat it on the edge of the counter until the LME breaks up enough, then pour the chunks out to weigh it. It takes a little longer to dissolve that free flowing powder, but it dissolves and works perfectly fine.
|
mushhead
Livonia Wanderer



Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 2,242
Loc: Dimension G-452
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: PBJ710]
#28364096 - 06/18/23 07:06 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Well, I kept mine in a ziplock bag, no humidity, sealed in a box inside of a storage unit until I could get back to cultivation. Once I was able to get back to cultivation I pulled it all out, and the plates I did were clear and looked proper. However the mycelia that grew on it, clone, spore, transfer or otherwise - even the contam - would look weak and tepid as though I did not provide enough nutrition. I spent weeks trying to figure it out when someone - can't remember who - suggested that my LME might be too old so I got new LME and I'm back in business. With the old stuff I have to use 4-5% nutes to 500ML water to get the reaction of 2% nutes with this new LME.
-------------------- Meditation Principles
Silence: Giving you room to listen / Stillness: Giving you room to feel / Spaciousness: Just giving you room
IRC: ##mycology on Libera.chat come hang!
|
Mycolorado
Hobbyist


Registered: 07/23/16
Posts: 8,579
Loc: Interdimensional Bootcamp
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: mushhead]
#28364116 - 06/18/23 07:41 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Same.
|
Stipe-n Cap
The Pride of Cucamonga


Registered: 08/04/12
Posts: 8,269
Loc: Canada
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: Zakkery] 1
#28364159 - 06/18/23 09:00 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Zakkery said: This has piqued my interest a bit. Would LME that's not been stored properly be a potential contam vector even after PCing?
I've got some old LME that's clumped together. It's a pain in the arse to use as I've got to break it down but I'm wondering if it could be resulting in some contamination.
No, there's nothing special about clumped powder. I doubt that exposure to the environment will have any negative effects whatsoever, but if you're experiencing unknown problems perhaps it's a good idea to replace any poorly handled/stored materials. When my brown sugar used for cooking becomes clumped into a brick, I throw it out an buy more, then store the new stuff in a jar. The same should apply to my DME or agar powder. My swing top has kept my DME fresh and powdery for years without any issues.
Ample sterilization cycles combined with proper venting will produce clean media. 45 mins @ 15 psi will cover a multitude of sins.

Shorter exposures may not dissolve the powders as effectively. The above chart shows the cycle duration is dependent upon volume. Most folks are running their cycles for 15-20 mins, this is a mistake, imo. Less is not more with regards to sterility assurance. The standard 15- 20 minute cycle falls below the minimum threshold for the minimum volume people are using for agar and LC. Most people are mixing 500-1000ml of agar when prepping agar.
Too many people wondering why they have contamination, strange or weak growth, sediments, etc. Increase your cycle times 
|
dna24
Darth Randal



Registered: 04/19/22
Posts: 511
Loc: Savages
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: mushhead]
#28364232 - 06/18/23 10:36 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
mushhead said: Well, I kept mine in a ziplock bag, no humidity, sealed in a box inside of a storage unit until I could get back to cultivation. Once I was able to get back to cultivation I pulled it all out, and the plates I did were clear and looked proper. However the mycelia that grew on it, clone, spore, transfer or otherwise - even the contam - would look weak and tepid as though I did not provide enough nutrition. I spent weeks trying to figure it out when someone - can't remember who - suggested that my LME might be too old so I got new LME and I'm back in business. With the old stuff I have to use 4-5% nutes to 500ML water to get the reaction of 2% nutes with this new LME.

i would like to assume you could just increase your lme in your mix and cut the nutes. now i want this lme that doesnt work to see what its like. i brewed for many years and learned a lot about malt and thats why im curious why this one doesnt seem to want to play ball. i use more sorghum syrup these days than lme just cause its easier to deal with, i hate how hydrophobic lme is.
--------------------
|
TonyCanoli
I deserve to be a stranger.


Registered: 03/16/23
Posts: 218
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: dna24]
#28364332 - 06/18/23 12:32 PM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
This has been amazing! I’ve got my LME and my new plates.
Today I’ll be making a new batch of agar.
The plan is to take 300 ML distilled water + 2% LME (6 gram) + 2% Agar Agar (6 gram). Mix at room temp in a jar, PC @ 15 PSI for 45 minutes. Pour at around 130°-135°F
Am I missing anything?
-------------------- Exploring the Myceliverse sharing Spore Stories
|
mushhead
Livonia Wanderer



Registered: 08/22/14
Posts: 2,242
Loc: Dimension G-452
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: TonyCanoli] 2
#28364411 - 06/18/23 01:49 PM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Well Tony, I would do 400-500ml if your vessel can contain it. Why half fill your agar vessel?
 Got new LME and stored in glass containers as suggested.
-------------------- Meditation Principles
Silence: Giving you room to listen / Stillness: Giving you room to feel / Spaciousness: Just giving you room
IRC: ##mycology on Libera.chat come hang!
|
Zakkery



Registered: 10/15/18
Posts: 299
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 months, 24 days
|
|
Quote:
Stipe-n Cap said:
Quote:
Zakkery said: This has piqued my interest a bit. Would LME that's not been stored properly be a potential contam vector even after PCing?
I've got some old LME that's clumped together. It's a pain in the arse to use as I've got to break it down but I'm wondering if it could be resulting in some contamination.
No, there's nothing special about clumped powder. I doubt that exposure to the environment will have any negative effects whatsoever, but if you're experiencing unknown problems perhaps it's a good idea to replace any poorly handled/stored materials. When my brown sugar used for cooking becomes clumped into a brick, I throw it out an buy more, then store the new stuff in a jar. The same should apply to my DME or agar powder. My swing top has kept my DME fresh and powdery for years without any issues.
Ample sterilization cycles combined with proper venting will produce clean media. 45 mins @ 15 psi will cover a multitude of sins.

Shorter exposures may not dissolve the powders as effectively. The above chart shows the cycle duration is dependent upon volume. Most folks are running their cycles for 15-20 mins, this is a mistake, imo. Less is not more with regards to sterility assurance. The standard 15- 20 minute cycle falls below the minimum threshold for the minimum volume people are using for agar and LC. Most people are mixing 500-1000ml of agar when prepping agar.
Too many people wondering why they have contamination, strange or weak growth, sediments, etc. Increase your cycle times  
I figured as much but just want to narrow things down. I sterilise no pours for 45 mins. Had some contam repeatedly but they're in aliens 'holy grail' containers and are showing contams around the edges mostly.
I'm thinking the containers are failing or I'm taking them out too hot and air is getting sucked in some how? Either way I've got some push close containers to try out now, as I also had some glad mini pots that didn't contam at all which were sterilised in the same cycle.
I've also revised my millet prep/sterilisation as per your write up. I was being a lazy no rinse/no soaker previously. Hopefully my current jars will go the distances. Been trich city here for my last few grows.
But yeah keeping it on topic, remember to sterilise properly and make good container choices for no pours.
|
TonyCanoli
I deserve to be a stranger.


Registered: 03/16/23
Posts: 218
Last seen: 1 year, 6 months
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: mushhead]
#28365128 - 06/19/23 06:37 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
I just don’t need that many plates so 300 is good for me.
Unfortunately though I had my first PC fail last night. Lid on my jar was too loose and my mix boiled out in to the PC.
Round 2 is tonight.
-------------------- Exploring the Myceliverse sharing Spore Stories
|
Stipe-n Cap
The Pride of Cucamonga


Registered: 08/04/12
Posts: 8,269
Loc: Canada
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: Zakkery] 1
#28365223 - 06/19/23 08:44 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Zakkery said: I sterilise no pours for 45 mins. Had some contam repeatedly but they're in aliens 'holy grail' containers and are showing contams around the edges mostly.
I'm thinking the containers are failing or I'm taking them out too hot and air is getting sucked in some how?
If this is happening without opening the containers, try cooling them completely in the pc overnight. If they were drawing a vacuum which sucked in contamination, cooling them in the pc should prevent that.
|
Zakkery



Registered: 10/15/18
Posts: 299
Loc: UK
Last seen: 4 months, 24 days
|
Re: Let’s talk Agar Recipes [Re: Stipe-n Cap] 1
#28365244 - 06/19/23 09:12 AM (1 year, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Stipe-n Cap said:
Quote:
Zakkery said: I sterilise no pours for 45 mins. Had some contam repeatedly but they're in aliens 'holy grail' containers and are showing contams around the edges mostly.
I'm thinking the containers are failing or I'm taking them out too hot and air is getting sucked in some how?
If this is happening without opening the containers, try cooling them completely in the pc overnight. If they were drawing a vacuum which sucked in contamination, cooling them in the pc should prevent that.
That's another precaution I'll be taking for sure. I used to get away with all this shit but apparently my luck has run out somewhere! Appreciate the advice as always my guy
|
|