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frommoon
Stranger
Registered: 06/18/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Plutos Third
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Incubating Cased Trays - Whats Really the Point ?
#5804150 - 06/29/06 05:53 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm doing cased grain trays now. Ive done my share of the reading and am still finding it hard to understand the point of incubating/foil covering trays once they are cased for 3 to 5 days before the FC. 1. Your grain is already out the sterile jar or bag environment so there is risk in stowing them away without much fresh air (contams). 2. Its summertime and my FCs are only 2 degrees cooler than my incubation box so I see no advantage there. 3. The pasturized or sterized casing is not going to get any cleaner by being tucked away. So why not just go right to the FC. If there are some really good reasons for this intermediate step, I would like to know. Oh - one last question - should we cold shock cased grain trays? thanks, f
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Incubating Cased Trays - Whats Really the Point ? [Re: frommoon]
#5804213 - 06/29/06 06:17 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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you want your mycelium to grow up and into (but not completely colonize) the casing layer. incubating helps speed this along, and when you decide the layer is colonized enough, the drop in temerature as it moves to your FC provides one of the very important pinning triggers. ideally, you keep it covered without peaking so as not to give it FAE yet, that way you coordinate the introduction of fresh air, temperature drop, and light all simultaneously which leads to bountiful pinsets. if your incubator is only 2 degrees different than your FC, you're totally right and it doesn't really matter... but you'll still want to keep it covered a few days so you can take advantage of those other two triggers... two are better than none! its not so much a matter of contaminates at this point, as your colonized substrate will be pretty resistant. on one hand, not incubating is actually a little safer because bacteria will thrive in warmer environments.
so you see the intermediate step is what allows you to take better advantage of your pinning triggers... even if you leave out the warmth of the incubation process. this way you're in control and you're calling the shots, telling the mycelium its time to pin.
and no, you absolutely shouldn't cold shock it, unless you'd like to delay things by a day or two. cubes don't need to be cold shocked, it does no good and only slows the process down. there's lots of misinformation and/or misunderstanding in that area...
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frommoon
Stranger
Registered: 06/18/06
Posts: 45
Loc: Plutos Third
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
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Re: Incubating Cased Trays - Whats Really the Point ? [Re: creamcorn]
#5804363 - 06/29/06 07:15 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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thanks for that. made it easy to understand the logic. my main concern is that I have been getting cobweb in that intermediate stage. I think I'll try incubating trays for 2 days instead of the 5 that I have been, therefore getting the advantages you speak of but before the cobweb sets in. I think its my basement environment that is the problem. Cause I PC the heck out of everything and my grain spawn always comes out good yet the casings get cobweb during the tray incucation. Not every tray, but enough. too many. thanks again. f
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hyphae
born to grow


Registered: 12/13/02
Posts: 6,228
Loc: the rain forests
Last seen: 12 years, 8 months
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Re: Incubating Cased Trays - Whats Really the Point ? [Re: frommoon]
#5804712 - 06/29/06 09:26 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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Timing bro timing.
-------------------- Getting the most out of your casings!, A pinning strategy. Oyster Shell "Flour" $2 for 1lb. a hell of a deal Not what is overlay but rather what overlay is Gas Exchange vs. FAE "We all have priorities. I used a closet once setup a nice little lab trouble was all the shit that was in there ended up in the bedroom that pissed off the GF then I ended up dumping her as she was getting in the way of my sterile culture technique! Ya I got priorities too!!!"
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Incubating Cased Trays - Whats Really the Point ? [Re: hyphae]
#5805044 - 06/29/06 11:14 PM (17 years, 7 months ago) |
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well luckily there's lots of ways to combat the cobweb: apply your casing layer a little on the dry side, and bring it up to the correct moisture level with a mister - using 10% peroxide (standard 3% solution in the brown bottle) and 90% water... this will greatly reduce the chances of cobweb creeping in early. if you still have problems you can increase the concentration of peroxide somewhat, as its going to break down in those couple days time anyway... and if you really want to get into it check up on your pH, make sure to buffer a little above neutral so that mold growth won't be favored. even though you're not giving FAE just yet your container shouldn't be totally sealed, there should be a small hole or two for gas exchange as if you were colonizing a jar (so depending on your trays, a layer of foil with holes in it and a second layer loosely on top, or if you have a plastic lid that fits on your trays punch a few small holes stuffed w/polyfill or covered with micropore tape). cobweb loves stagnant air and while you don't want to be introducing the FAE just yet, allowing it to breathe a little prevents the stagnation.
and yeah, timing is key to the best pinsets... you can't always go by a set length of time because every case will be different, and you don't want to cut it short because of the threat of cobweb, so try some of these other ideas to keep it away. good luck!
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