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gordita
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 18
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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sterilization of grow bags
#5331354 - 02/23/06 11:42 AM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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hi all,
I have access to a large autoclave for a short period of time soon. I want to sterilize a large amount of substrate (WBS, rye, brf...haven't decided yet) in grow bags. I would like to use RIVAL Seal-a-Meal vacuum saver bags as they seem to be relatively heavy duty in nature. I have a few questions regarding these however, and would appreciate some help if anyone has any ideas.
1. Will the bags melt in the autoclave? I can't find what material they are made of anywhere!
2. Can I evacuate the air (either partially or fully) with the vacuum sealer, and then seal shut, and still autoclave? Will the substrate be sterilized if sealed inside? Will sealing the bags cause the air inside (if only partially evacuated) to expand and burst the bags?
3. How long do you think the sterilized substrate would remain viable if sealed in the bags?
I would like to sterilize a large volume of substrate while I have access to such an awesome autoclave, and keep some for later. Once sterile, I would be injecting them with LC to colonize and fruit or use as spawn. Thanks in advance for ANY help you could give me!!
gordita
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Room4Shroom


Registered: 01/15/03
Posts: 1,195
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: gordita]
#5331430 - 02/23/06 12:07 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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as long as the bags that you're using are autoclavable, you'll be fine. Check out the sponsors - mycosupply has pretty good prices.
http://www.mycosupply.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=SBFP01
2. You DON'T want to vacuum seal the bags before PCing
3. As long as the bag is airtight, the substrate will remain sterile forever, in theory. The problem is water content that might be screwed up if the bags sit too long. I'd guess like six months off the top of my head, but other people with more experience will probably have more accurate time scales.
Good luck with everything, man! Take pictures!
Edited by Room4Shroom (02/23/06 12:18 PM)
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thenewguy05
The Mushroom Man


Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2,123
Loc: My Underground Layer
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: Room4Shroom]
#5331440 - 02/23/06 12:13 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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DO NOT SEAL BEFORE AUTOCLAVING!!!! if you do your steam will have to vent from somewhere so it will make it's own spot to vent. simply fold over and clip with a paper clip, then seal after sterilized.
the bags shouldn't melt unless they touch the sides of the autoclave. i line the sides of my pressure cooker with wavey tin foil so the bags don't absorb the heat off the hot metal.
the contents should remain viable for the life of the bag. if i were you i would go buy a big bag of rye and go to town.
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Room4Shroom


Registered: 01/15/03
Posts: 1,195
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: thenewguy05]
#5331459 - 02/23/06 12:20 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
thenewguy05 said: DO NOT SEAL BEFORE AUTOCLAVING!!!! if you do your steam will have to vent from somewhere so it will make it's own spot to vent. simply fold over and clip with a paper clip, then seal after sterilized.
Right - What he said
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gordita
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 18
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: Room4Shroom]
#5331902 - 02/23/06 02:24 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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thanks for the advice!
ok I've got one more....I will seal the bags after sterilization, not sure whether to vacuum seal or not. However, I would like to start the bags colonizing with LC by injecting the bag directly, and covering the hole with micropore tape. My question:
Is it necessary to puncture more holes in the bag to aid in air exchange? If possible, I would like to make ~2 holes from injecting LC, cover them and be done to avoid possible contams. However, I do understand the value of air exchange. Anyone have any experience with this?? THanks again.
gordita
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cappa
Nerd
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 854
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: gordita]
#5331959 - 02/23/06 02:40 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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No opinion on the air exchange because I haven't used those. I recommend you look at the sponsors grow bags, if they have one, then you will probably want one. But I will point out that if you are planning on making an air exchange then their is very little point in vacuum sealing them. 
My $.02.
~Cappa.
-------------------- Their are 10 types of people. Those that understand binary, and those who don't. ~Cappa.
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gordita
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 18
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: cappa]
#5331977 - 02/23/06 02:49 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
cappa said:
But I will point out that if you are planning on making an air exchange then their is very little point in vacuum sealing them. ~Cappa.
I would like to vacuum seal the bags that I will not be using immediately, so as to aid in preservation of the substrate until I am ready to use it in the future. When I am ready to use them I was wondering if I should puncture more holes for air exchange. I have a good opportunity to use a nice laboratory quality autoclave, so I want to sterilize as many bags as possible for later use, or to give to friends etc. Thanks for the responses though!!
gordita
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xxanxx
Mycophile


Registered: 12/13/05
Posts: 343
Last seen: 10 years, 6 months
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: cappa]
#5331979 - 02/23/06 02:49 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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you need to use bags with filter patches on them
MycoFactory, Myco-Supply, and Sporeworks sell them
-------------------- "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -Hunter S. Thompson, RIP
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tiny_rabid_birds
Nocturnal


Registered: 11/08/05
Posts: 15,653
Loc: estados unidos
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: xxanxx]
#5332018 - 02/23/06 02:58 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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How long will you have access to this autoclave?
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gordita
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 18
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Quote:
tiny_rabid_birds said: How long will you have access to this autoclave?
I will have access for this weekend, maybe next as well. I am trying to get by on the cheap making my own bags just fyi....thanks
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Edgekrusher
God
Registered: 10/10/05
Posts: 674
Last seen: 17 years, 1 month
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: gordita]
#5332170 - 02/23/06 03:56 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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I work for a dental clinic and have access to the practice's autoclave machines. Are they considered a superior form of sterelizing when compared to a PC?
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gordita
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 18
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: Edgekrusher]
#5332392 - 02/23/06 05:28 PM (17 years, 11 months ago) |
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i believe that an autoclave and PC are the same thing. the autoclave I will be using is not to be used to cook food like PC's, but rather for sterilization using high temp and high pressure. I believe the one I will be using has variable pressure/temperature/time settings based on your desired sterilization outcome.
hope that helps!
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Edgekrusher
God
Registered: 10/10/05
Posts: 674
Last seen: 17 years, 1 month
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: gordita]
#5341749 - 02/26/06 04:33 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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Yeah, I know... I use one everyday. I was just wondering if it was superior to the ole PC. Guess not.
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agar
old hand


Registered: 11/21/04
Posts: 9,056
Loc: Somewhere Else
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Re: sterilization of grow bags [Re: Edgekrusher]
#5341807 - 02/26/06 04:56 PM (17 years, 10 months ago) |
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They both do the same thing.
Autoclave is often - more precise.

AA PC works like a charm.
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