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Zmush
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Is this the reason for most of my failure?
#28704918 - 03/19/24 03:43 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Hi. New cultivator here. Never made it to spawning to bulk. My agar game has been clean. Almost no contams. But when it comes to jars, that's a different story. Almost 75% failure rate.
Plan was to make LC tomorrow and was prepping the jars. I have some Adhesive 0.3 micron filter bought from Amazon that I planned to use (NOT from Microppose - imitation product).
I've been using the same filters on my grain jars. I've been getting allot of contaminations. So wanted to test those. I put a pint jar with 300ml water in the microwave with the filter attached.. As soon as it came to boil, the filter expanded and couldn't deal with the pressure and came loose. When I took the pint jar out of the microwave I pressed the adhesive filter back to the lid and it stayed attached. Filter was also wet and soaked in water. So are they really waterproof and provide GE?
That make wonder, all the grain jars I have PCed, they probably have come loose but I have not noticed as they get attached when it stops boiling. Could this be the reason for all the contams I've been getting?
Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 03:47 PM)
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Naraz
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush]
#28704938 - 03/19/24 04:03 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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I'm new too. I've only had a bulk produce 10g of shrooms so still learning hehe. I think the colonization of the grain part is the hardest. Like the last 2 pressure cooks didn't colonize at all. I
However, colonizing agar is pretty easy and fun. It makes some feel better that at least that's working.
I think grain is just hard to get right. It has to be organic, enough minerals, no tap water, the right size hole for FAE but not too much either, the right ph and ya still fails lol
I think for the next few grows im just going to buy my grain spawn as maybe that can rule one more thing out that im doing wrong.
Edited by Naraz (03/19/24 04:05 PM)
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RockinRobot
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Naraz] 5
#28704945 - 03/19/24 04:12 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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If you haven't successfully done Agar to grain then you aren't ready to make LC. Making LC requires immaculate Agar and you getting a 75% failure rate agar to grain tells me your agar work is not as good as you think.
You can't sterilize in the microwave.
I suggest you read the hitchhikers guide thoroughly before you do ANYTHING else
HitchHikers Guide
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Camera93
We got dicks like Jesus



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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Naraz]
#28704951 - 03/19/24 04:17 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Quote:
Naraz said:
I think grain is just hard to get right. It has to be organic, enough minerals, no tap water, the right size hole for FAE but not too much either, the right ph and ya still fails lol
I think for the next few grows im just going to buy my grain spawn as maybe that can rule one more thing out that im doing wrong.

this is not da way.
OP, how long are you pressure cooking grain for? I don't have any experience with the stickers, but you could try a little silicone and also covering the lids with foil.
I would also suggest not jumping to LC, if your agar game is clean you are better off going agar to grain. Post some pics of your plates so we can rule out that you do indeed have a clean culture to work with.
Naraz, thats a bit of an over-complication of grain prep. you need fully hydrated grain, that is dry on the outside. I would suggest using a filtered lid, but I often run no mod lids that are just cracked a bit for the gas exchange (GE). I have never taken the ph of my hydration water.
what grain are you guys working with? We can go over a basic prep 
Dont go spending your hard-earned money on cube spawn, that'll just lead to more variables to be honest
-------------------- All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine. Whatever you decide won’t really impact our survival Close your eyes, and do the best that you can
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Shroomerquest



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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush]
#28704974 - 03/19/24 04:44 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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You aren’t ready for Lc
“Almost no contam” is no where near enough. Get the agar game cleaned up first.
As for the jar filter popping off, loosen the lid a qtr turn while pc’ing…tighten when done. Are you covering with foil?
--------------------
 Relax…yOu’re triPping
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Shroomerquest]
#28704988 - 03/19/24 05:02 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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I’ve been venting for 2hours, 15min vent before hand.
I have reached out to many cultivators regarding my agar game and shared pictures, had really good positive feedback.
I have materials laying around and wanted to give LC a try. I have a clean jar and plan is to do GLC to LC. Got lots of free time. So why not, right?
So wanted to test in the microwave and see how the filter works, to my suprise it came loose. Will they also get loose in the PC. Seems like those filters can’t handle the pressure.
For some reason, most of my jars contam. I recently bought plastic lids. But prior I used those metal rings. I tightened them lreally hard before PC. The lids where a b* to get off. Once they came loose, I think they vacummed and a lot of air got sucked. In SAB of course. But that is weird, since I used those filters for GE and they shouldnt vacummed
. Really dont understand why my jars contam left and right. I’ve done some jars with plastic lids, so we will se. Bummer that those stickers where loose. Makes me wonder if they do not provide what promised due to being an chinese imitated product.
Or my agar game is not as good as I thought? Could be lol 😂
Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 05:10 PM)
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush]
#28704989 - 03/19/24 05:03 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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I even cover with tripple foil. My OCD is extreme lol..
Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 05:06 PM)
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KRANE
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush]
#28704992 - 03/19/24 05:10 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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What grain are you using? Did you check out the hitchhiker's guide?
As far as the filter patches, did they say they were autoclavable? I know microppose had to find the right silicon "glue" to make those work.
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: KRANE]
#28704993 - 03/19/24 05:12 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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I’m using Rye berries. Soak for 12-24 hours and let it come to boil for a few minutes. I’m following RR’s tek on Rye berries. To the point.
Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 05:16 PM)
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: KRANE]
#28704996 - 03/19/24 05:14 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 05:15 PM)
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Naraz
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Camera93]
#28704998 - 03/19/24 05:15 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Quote:
Camera93 said:
Quote:
Naraz said:
I think grain is just hard to get right. It has to be organic, enough minerals, no tap water, the right size hole for FAE but not too much either, the right ph and ya still fails lol
I think for the next few grows im just going to buy my grain spawn as maybe that can rule one more thing out that im doing wrong.

this is not da way.
OP, how long are you pressure cooking grain for? I don't have any experience with the stickers, but you could try a little silicone and also covering the lids with foil.
I would also suggest not jumping to LC, if your agar game is clean you are better off going agar to grain. Post some pics of your plates so we can rule out that you do indeed have a clean culture to work with.
Naraz, thats a bit of an over-complication of grain prep. you need fully hydrated grain, that is dry on the outside. I would suggest using a filtered lid, but I often run no mod lids that are just cracked a bit for the gas exchange (GE). I have never taken the ph of my hydration water.
what grain are you guys working with? We can go over a basic prep 
Dont go spending your hard-earned money on cube spawn, that'll just lead to more variables to be honest
I've tried popcorn, rye, brf cakes, WBS, and organic rice so far. The rye and rice never did anything. The first popcorn I did worked for bulk, though. I pressure cooked it for 20 minutes in an insta pot and then normal pressure cooked in a 15psi one afterward. It was a bit more on the wet side as I forgot to dry it that go, but somehow that worked. Later i did G2g popcorn and while it colonized, it triched when I bulked it. I realized later that it was too puffy in the jar(i cant smell well but it might have smelled too).
For the lids I have 6 of the green filter lids with that little mushroom up top as the filter. WBS and rice never worked for me but those were just the only ones that I used the lids with.
Another issue could be I was using too little LC. I do have a better grasp on agar so i might try making my own jar of LC and use that along with some agar wedges in other batches and see how that goes.
Past that, ya lots to work on lol. I think If I can get the incubation part down I'll be okay. Like I said i just think the grain stuff seems like the hardest part as i was able to fruit from bulk before.
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Mwj12977
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush] 1
#28705003 - 03/19/24 05:22 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Those filters don’t stick to plastic as well as they stick to aluminum. With plastic you also need to wipe the surface with solvent before you stick the filter on or they don’t stay put.
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Mwj12977]
#28705009 - 03/19/24 05:28 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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What is a solvent. What do you use?
I wash the lids with soap and spray over with ISO, let it dry completly before I use the stickers.
Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 05:29 PM)
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Mwj12977
OLD DAD


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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush] 1
#28705013 - 03/19/24 05:38 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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I use acetone to wipe the lids when I’m putting stickers on. ISO tends to leave more residue behind. Also, I’m physically wiping it with some “knuckle grease” and a cotton ball to remove any surface oils that are present. Not just spraying it and letting it dry. You’re basically putting the sticker in a thin invisible layer of iso residue that is preventing a solid adhesion.
Edited by Mwj12977 (03/19/24 05:45 PM)
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Mwj12977]
#28705047 - 03/19/24 06:10 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Thanks for the tip. Will buy some and try it out.
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Zmush
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Mwj12977]
#28705147 - 03/19/24 07:56 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Knuckle grease. What is that. Just normal car grease huh? Couldnt find any. Isnt that counterprodictive?
Edited by Zmush (03/19/24 07:59 PM)
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TPython
A Fraction of the Whole


Registered: 12/01/12
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Zmush] 1
#28705159 - 03/19/24 08:11 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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😂 sorry Mwj I had to step in on this one cause it had me cracking up.
It’s just a variation of the saying “elbow grease”, means putting some muscle into it. No actual product
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IamBrick

Registered: 08/08/23
Posts: 248
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Naraz]
#28705165 - 03/19/24 08:18 PM (3 months, 5 days ago) |
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Quote:
Naraz said: I've tried popcorn, rye, brf cakes, WBS, and organic rice so far. The rye and rice never did anything. The first popcorn I did worked for bulk, though. I pressure cooked it for 20 minutes in an insta pot and then normal pressure cooked in a 15psi one afterward. It was a bit more on the wet side as I forgot to dry it that go, but somehow that worked. Later i did G2g popcorn and while it colonized, it triched when I bulked it. I realized later that it was too puffy in the jar(i cant smell well but it might have smelled too).
For the lids I have 6 of the green filter lids with that little mushroom up top as the filter. WBS and rice never worked for me but those were just the only ones that I used the lids with.
Another issue could be I was using too little LC. I do have a better grasp on agar so i might try making my own jar of LC and use that along with some agar wedges in other batches and see how that goes.
Past that, ya lots to work on lol. I think If I can get the incubation part down I'll be okay. Like I said i just think the grain stuff seems like the hardest part as i was able to fruit from bulk before. 
theres a bunch of reasons why your grain prep is messed up and you're overcomplicating it with all that nonsense. 1. those green lids suck, buy gray ball lids and mod with 1/4" hole and sfd or mod the standard metal ones, anythings better than those 2. your PC process seems super wack unless im understanding something incorrectly, hydrate grains, 1.5 hrs at 15psi, dont forget to vent for 10 minutes to start 3. besides your grain prep process im going to assume your inoculate is bad also, you need to go agar>grain, dont even bother with lc if you cant do that process correctly because youre just asking for heartbreak and bac 4. "too little LC" isnt a thing and is no reason for contaminated grain spawn
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Imatryin
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: IamBrick]
#28705315 - 03/19/24 10:42 PM (3 months, 4 days ago) |
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Does your grain grow contam if you leave an un -inoculated jar sit for a month? I like to keep lids simple. I originally drilled a hole in the metal lid and covered with 3 layers micropore tape. It worked but those aluminum hats in the pc were a pain. I now use unmodified plastic lids and leave them loosened during pc. No need for aluminum hats. I tighten the lid upon removal. Jars sitting around for 2 m show no growth until I put something in them. I leave them 1/4 turned open when colonizing and the myc seem very happy.
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IamBrick

Registered: 08/08/23
Posts: 248
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Re: Is this the reason for most of my failure? [Re: Imatryin]
#28705334 - 03/19/24 11:16 PM (3 months, 4 days ago) |
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whats the purpose of letting an unnocced jar sit for 2 months? use .3 micron sfds and you wouldnt get any contam, micropore tape is garbage and has almost no place in myco, especially as a reliable filter. as far as unmodded, they work fine, but the first time you forget to tighten your lid back up and you shake WBS all over the room, youll wish you just modded everything. ask me how i know  set and forget is the way.
Edited by IamBrick (03/19/24 11:17 PM)
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