Radamanto said:

You could try something like Beef's Wheat tek, where he soaks and then simmers (not boils) to reduce burst grains as much as he can. But in the end burst grains shouldn't be a problem at all, their only downside is that they make a small mess inside the jars but the myc kinda loves the exposed starch (and in my experience grows a bit faster than on normal grains)

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Radamanto said:

Burst grains make it harder to identify contaminated jars for sure, due to the stains and stickiness they can leave inside, but they don't increase contam rates by themselves, they are as sterile as normal grains.

And about the fermentation, I have never used Beefs soak simmer tek but maybe you could try soaking for a bit less if you are worried about the grain fermenting. The important part is to simmer them until they are translucent inside when you cut them.

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Thanks for clearing that up, I will do some small adjustments to keep my jars as clean as possible until I get a better grasp on what to look for during colonization in terms of contamination

Mackload said:

Mr Piggy said:

  The first time I did PF TEK I did it full nude right out of the shower 

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Mr Piggy said:

Mackload said:

Mr Piggy said:

  The first time I did PF TEK I did it full nude right out of the shower 

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Kloakk said:

Radamanto said:

You could try something like Beef's Wheat tek, where he soaks and then simmers (not boils) to reduce burst grains as much as he can. But in the end burst grains shouldn't be a problem at all, their only downside is that they make a small mess inside the jars but the myc kinda loves the exposed starch (and in my experience grows a bit faster than on normal grains)

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Good read and thanks for the link. 20 hour soak got me worried tho, if I ferment anything it's wort and I get to choose the yeast.. I was under the impression that burst grains could increase contam rates and make it harder for beginners like me to detect bacterial infection, is that just old info?

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ThurmanMurman said:

Mr Piggy said:

Mackload said:

Mr Piggy said:

  The first time I did PF TEK I did it full nude right out of the shower 

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only myself to blame

Death Angel said:

How effective are grow bags? Are they okay for beginners?

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Williambuttlicker said:

This is the first cake I’ve managed in a monotub that I’m proud of. “Amarillo” from an agar sample I cleaned. I pitched the agar plate to a 1500 ml mason jar of boiled/pasteurized oats. Substrate consisted of coconut coir and vermiculite. When I mixed the grain to substrate, I estimated by eye and hand 1:1. It sat 78-80 degrees in total darkness in the tub for 40 days. Today I wafted it with fresh air after misting it with about 500 ml of water over a period of about 25 minutes. I made my monotub from a tub I drilled holes in and covered with micropore tape. If anyone really wants dimensions and specifications for that, I’ll answer.
I just honestly want to know if I’m fucking doing this right. I’ve completed a few harvests with awesome results both in quantity and experience. I had some issues with my past ape, gates, and portobello strains getting infected in the jar after it was already cleaned on agar. It’s obviously an issue with inoculation or transfer to substrate, but I think I’ve figured that out. I guess I’m just looking for confirmation that this looks as good as I think it does, and that my process wouldn’t be laughable if I talked to someone irl about it. I’m a pretty insecure introvert, and have a hard time talking to people, especially for help. I appreciate any help or constructive criticism in advance. All love,.

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Radamanto said:

Is this looking good/clean to you guys? It’s a “T1” from a x7x+ agar baggie courtesy of nektar (no pours are easier but good photos are hard af)

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LadysKnight said:

In Stipe's threads, he mentions the perils of a long soak/fermentation. It's as scary as you can imagine. It's a warm broth for bacterial multiplication. Just like wort in a carboy. I don't soak. Simmer is the way.

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