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SWBZA
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How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar
#28605443 - 01/01/24 06:34 AM (27 days, 3 hours ago) |
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Hi all.
I use a commercial hydrophobic lid filter and a home-made SHIP on my LC jars:

The LC pretty much "sits on the bottom" in a large jar. What is the best way to draw up the culture, and not just liquid? I currently tilt the jar per photo below, sometimes after swirling to disperse the mycelium, but I'm concerned that the SHIP is now below liquid level, and it just feels like I'm inviting contam (although part of me tells me the jar is sterile inside, so just paranoia, maybe). I try my best not to get the filter wet - I'm sure it will wick if I do and my jar will be doomed.
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oxo
oxo

Registered: 11/27/22
Posts: 107
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28605444 - 01/01/24 06:38 AM (27 days, 3 hours ago) |
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I use a magnetic stir bar to mix the solution and a 4" needle to extract. Some folks put a marble or small stone in the solution before sterilizing, and then manually agitate the LC.
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RockinRobot
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28605445 - 01/01/24 06:40 AM (27 days, 3 hours ago) |
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Personally, I would start by using more LC in the jar so that you don't need to tilt it as far.
When I use my LC I fill the syringe several times and squirt it as forcefully as I can into the LC to asperate and break up the mycelium as much as possible before taking my sample for my jars. I also Use a magnetic stir bar in my LC.
I never use my LC a second time. I make new LC from the first syringe I remove from the old jar, even before I knock up my first jar of grain.
Edited by RockinRobot (01/01/24 06:41 AM)
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: RockinRobot]
#28605503 - 01/01/24 08:06 AM (27 days, 1 hour ago) |
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RockinRobot, what do you mean you don't use your LC a second time? My understanding is you make 200ml (or whatever) LC so you can knock up 20 or 30 grain bags. Unless you're a commercial farmer, that takes several months, so you'll be using the LC jar over and over. The liquid level will keep dropping as you suck up mycelium to inject your grain bags, and eventually the jar will be empty. I think there is something I don't quite get. Please enlighten me?
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oxo
oxo

Registered: 11/27/22
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28605522 - 01/01/24 08:33 AM (27 days, 1 hour ago) |
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I make a bunch of syringes at once. Say I have 400mL LC in a jar, I'll put that into 15+ 20mL syringes. I rarely go back to a jar that I've already pulled from, but that's just me.
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: oxo]
#28605535 - 01/01/24 08:40 AM (27 days, 1 hour ago) |
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I'm always interested in feedback. The more, the merrier
So, you store those syringes in the fridge and use as needed? Do you just put the caps back on the needles, or do you remove the needles and put those little Luer caps on? The idea sounds good. Thanks.
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RockinRobot
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA] 1
#28605550 - 01/01/24 08:46 AM (27 days, 1 hour ago) |
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Quote:
SWBZA said: RockinRobot, what do you mean you don't use your LC a second time? My understanding is you make 200ml (or whatever) LC so you can knock up 20 or 30 grain bags. Unless you're a commercial farmer, that takes several months, so you'll be using the LC jar over and over. The liquid level will keep dropping as you suck up mycelium to inject your grain bags, and eventually the jar will be empty. I think there is something I don't quite get. Please enlighten me?
Every time you use the SHIP or open the jar there is a chance for contamination to enter.
All goes back to my time. For me, it is less time wasted making a new jar of LC than to risk contamination a month or more into colonizing grain or substrate because I wanted to keep an old jar going. LC is cheap to make at 0.1% LME.
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CultiV8
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Registered: 08/16/14
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: RockinRobot]
#28605636 - 01/01/24 10:12 AM (26 days, 23 hours ago) |
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you can buy long LC needles from sponsored supplies vendors or amazon. blunt ones can be sharpened with a dremel.
some also attach a blunt needle/tube to the inside of their LC SHIPs, so a normal size needle inserted into the center will draw liquid up through the tube. scroll down to "no tilt LC lids" here
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: CultiV8]
#28605641 - 01/01/24 10:17 AM (26 days, 23 hours ago) |
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Interesting! Thanks
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A.k.a
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA] 1
#28605684 - 01/01/24 11:02 AM (26 days, 22 hours ago) |
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I made lids with no filter only a ship, so I can just hold the jar upside down.
Before that I would just put the ship as far to the side of the lid as I could, then swirl the jar around to get the lc mixed up and tilt the jar. It’s pretty easy to get it all without splashing the filter.
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LAGM2020     
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: A.k.a]
#28605761 - 01/01/24 12:14 PM (26 days, 21 hours ago) |
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Quote:
A.k.a said: I made lids with no filter only a ship, so I can just hold the jar upside down.
Before that I would just put the ship as far to the side of the lid as I could, then swirl the jar around to get the lc mixed up and tilt the jar. It’s pretty easy to get it all without splashing the filter.
With no filter, the LC is okay?
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oxo
oxo

Registered: 11/27/22
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28605851 - 01/01/24 01:17 PM (26 days, 20 hours ago) |
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Quote:
SWBZA said: I'm always interested in feedback. The more, the merrier
So, you store those syringes in the fridge and use as needed? Do you just put the caps back on the needles, or do you remove the needles and put those little Luer caps on? The idea sounds good. Thanks.
disclosure - I have about a year's worth of production gourmet cultivation experience. This is what I do, and I am still learning and refining my procedures.
I use one 4" needle and it stays stays in the LC jar during extraction, and you cycle the syringes through it.
1 - attach 4" needle to first sterile syringe 2 - sterilize 4" needle w/ torch 3 - insert syringe w/ 4" needle into LC jar (I use SHIP, so I insert through that) 4 - fill and remove the first syringe from the 4" needle leaving it in the jar 5 - cap syringe w/ sterile luer cap 6 - attach next sterile syringe to 4" needle in LC jar 7 - fill syringe 8 - remove full syringe from 4" needle 9 - cap syringe w/ sterile luer cap 10 - repeat / goto step 10 11 - when done filling syringes, remove the 4" needle
I then put the syringes in a large ziploc bag and label the bag. I store the syringes in the fridge, but I can't say it's necessary. This all looks more complicated than it actually is.
Here's a visual example:
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A.k.a
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: oxo]
#28606160 - 01/01/24 05:28 PM (26 days, 16 hours ago) |
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Yep I use pint jars and fill them 1/3-1/2 way up. The myc will kinda wilt and go flat after a month or two though I assume from lack of air. I just tested some that are like 5 months old and the myc came back to life pretty quickly on agar.
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LAGM2020     
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: oxo]
#28606461 - 01/01/24 09:10 PM (26 days, 12 hours ago) |
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Quote:
oxo said:
Quote:
SWBZA said: I'm always interested in feedback. The more, the merrier
So, you store those syringes in the fridge and use as needed? Do you just put the caps back on the needles, or do you remove the needles and put those little Luer caps on? The idea sounds good. Thanks.
disclosure - I have about a year's worth of production gourmet cultivation experience. This is what I do, and I am still learning and refining my procedures.
I use one 4" needle and it stays stays in the LC jar during extraction, and you cycle the syringes through it.
1 - attach 4" needle to first sterile syringe 2 - sterilize 4" needle w/ torch 3 - insert syringe w/ 4" needle into LC jar (I use SHIP, so I insert through that) 4 - fill and remove the first syringe from the 4" needle leaving it in the jar 5 - cap syringe w/ sterile luer cap 6 - attach next sterile syringe to 4" needle in LC jar 7 - fill syringe 8 - remove full syringe from 4" needle 9 - cap syringe w/ sterile luer cap 10 - repeat / goto step 10 11 - when done filling syringes, remove the 4" needle
I then put the syringes in a large ziploc bag and label the bag. I store the syringes in the fridge, but I can't say it's necessary. This all looks more complicated than it actually is.
Here's a visual example:
Thanks! Really appreciate the video link, too. I'm going to give this method a shot.
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: A.k.a]
#28606463 - 01/01/24 09:14 PM (26 days, 12 hours ago) |
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Quote:
A.k.a said: Yep I use pint jars and fill them 1/3-1/2 way up. The myc will kinda wilt and go flat after a month or two though I assume from lack of air. I just tested some that are like 5 months old and the myc came back to life pretty quickly on agar.
Amazing how resilient but at the same time fragile myc can be...
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SlugWorthx1


Registered: 03/16/20
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28606483 - 01/01/24 09:28 PM (26 days, 12 hours ago) |
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These are really convenient and efficient in pulling up LC without the need for a needle, which allows for thicker myc to be pulled up.

The clamp allows you to pull up additional syringes without air getting inside. They're also pretty affordable. The one on the left is made by a shroomery member gr0wer which is around $25. The one on the right was by another vendor for around $10-15
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SlugWorthx1]
#28606494 - 01/01/24 09:41 PM (26 days, 12 hours ago) |
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Quote:
SlugWorthx1 said: These are really convenient and efficient in pulling up LC without the need for a needle, which allows for thicker myc to be pulled up.

The clamp allows you to pull up additional syringes without air getting inside. They're also pretty affordable. The one on the left is made by a shroomery member gr0wer which is around $25. The one on the right was by another vendor for around $10-15
New toys! Woohoooo!
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Nillion
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28606513 - 01/01/24 10:06 PM (26 days, 11 hours ago) |
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One can also use an inner membrane of tyvek on such jars, allowing them to be nearly inverted. If done right the liquid can be held at an angle that doesn't reach the hole the needle makes as one draws the myc solution out.
One can even make this very simple and do a polyfill lid with an inner tyvek membrane and get great results as long as they use good technique and cultures.
Or so I've heard
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: oxo] 1
#28611411 - 01/06/24 08:28 AM (22 days, 1 hour ago) |
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Quote:
oxo said: I make a bunch of syringes at once. Say I have 400mL LC in a jar, I'll put that into 15+ 20mL syringes. I rarely go back to a jar that I've already pulled from, but that's just me.
Let it not be said good advice goes wasted.

Lots of work, though!
But Satisfying:

Have a great day all.
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A.k.a
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA] 2
#28611484 - 01/06/24 09:38 AM (22 days, 17 minutes ago) |
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I would definitely recommend testing the ones you labeled for expansion when the rest runs out right now.
Trust me it sucks so bad when you have a great lc and then the last one is dirty
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LAGM2020     
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: A.k.a]
#28611532 - 01/06/24 10:17 AM (21 days, 23 hours ago) |
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Quote:
A.k.a said: I would definitely recommend testing the ones you labeled for expansion when the rest runs out right now.
Trust me it sucks so bad when you have a great lc and then the last one is dirty 
Oooh, good point! Thank you. Didn't think of that. Much appreciated.
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oxo
oxo

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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28623004 - 01/16/24 06:39 AM (12 days, 3 hours ago) |
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Circling back to this after thinking about some of the replies and watching LC techniques. I do like the idea of using a media bottle with the extraction lid and one syringe to inoculate many jars/bags. It looks much easier to store a media bottle of LC and have one syringe than it is to make, store, and use many LC syringes. Watching Gary work convinced me to try it out:
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: oxo]
#28628552 - 01/20/24 12:57 PM (7 days, 20 hours ago) |
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It does look more efficient and cost effective. Going to be an acrobatic exercise in a SAB, though. Having the advantage of being able to stir continuously while working will not be feasible.
Mmm... I've got a birthday coming up. I think some crowd funding for a laminar flow hood is called for
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A.k.a
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: SWBZA]
#28628578 - 01/20/24 01:24 PM (7 days, 20 hours ago) |
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If you use a pint or half pint jar with like 150-200ml in it and no filter only a SHIP, you can just shake it up and then flip it upside down and suck it into the syringe. You could prob do it open air even but it would be very easy in a SAB also.
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LAGM2020     
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SWBZA
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Re: How to draw up the "good stuff" in a large LC jar [Re: A.k.a]
#28629231 - 01/20/24 09:22 PM (7 days, 12 hours ago) |
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Quote:
A.k.a said: If you use a pint or half pint jar with like 150-200ml in it and no filter only a SHIP, you can just shake it up and then flip it upside down and suck it into the syringe. You could prob do it open air even but it would be very easy in a SAB also.
Thank you. Keep it simple and cheap
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