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melloyello
Stranger

Registered: 07/10/07
Posts: 50
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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hey
#7484656 - 10/04/07 12:01 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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im starting my second grow tomorrow. i read that the regular lids do not allow enough gas exchange for colonizing. i have 4 holes in my lids for incubating is that not enough or should i do something else. also, when i flame my needle, it always gets back shit on it then i have to wipe that off. and i dont think my needle is staying sterile. what is the best method for a sterile incubation? another thing, im doing a popcorn substrate, should i make a 1/2 inch layer of verm to stop airborn contams like with BRP?
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redfishbluefish

Registered: 09/27/07
Posts: 132
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
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The four holes in the lid should be enough FAE for colonization. Some people flip the jars when they're almost done to allow co2 to drain out the holes, but thats optional.
I use an alcohol wipe after I flame my needle, to cool it and to uh, further sterilize it. Then I wait a little, 10 or 15 seconds, (with still air recently lysoled of course) for the alcohol to evaporate and then inoculate. I reflame after every 3 jars (if i inoculate the 3 jars pretty quickly; I don't like leaving the needle out longer than a minute or so without resterilizing)
And I think the verm layer on top is for all jarred methods. It allows FAE while keeping contams out. Shouldn't hurt any method much. Don't know from popcorn experience but common sense tells me you should be fine.
Good luck!
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Drowse
Rev B.


Registered: 03/04/06
Posts: 91
Last seen: 16 years, 1 month
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Quote:
melloyello said: im starting my second grow tomorrow. i read that the regular lids do not allow enough gas exchange for colonizing. i have 4 holes in my lids for incubating is that not enough or should i do something else. also, when i flame my needle, it always gets back shit on it then i have to wipe that off. and i dont think my needle is staying sterile. what is the best method for a sterile incubation? another thing, im doing a popcorn substrate, should i make a 1/2 inch layer of verm to stop airborn contams like with BRP?
The holes used for inoculating should be enough.
Heat your needle so it is red hot, then wipe it with an alcohol covered paper towel. Immediately inoculate afterwards.
I don't think you'll need the 1/2 inch of vermiculite, but maybe somebody else could give you better advice on that.
B.
-------------------- "... and it would be better for our country and the world in general, if at least the few people who were capable of thought stood for reason and the love of peace instead of heading wildly with a blind obsession for a new war." --Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse
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ButterWeasels
Forum Lurker



Registered: 08/11/06
Posts: 275
Loc: Saskatchewan
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: hey [Re: Drowse]
#7484768 - 10/04/07 12:31 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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if your using grains you only need 1-2 holes in the lid, for brown rice flour and vermiculite you need 4. also grains dont need a vermiculite layer but instead some sort of filter like tyvek or micropore tape over the holes at least.
your needle is sterile after it glows red slightly trust me. you can use rubbing alcohol to wipe it after you flame-sterilize it if you wanna be totally sure but i just flame it til the needle gets red hot then squirt a drop or two out the tip to cool it down.
-------------------- -==Classic Cakes Log==-
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juris1
Esquire



Registered: 08/08/07
Posts: 288
Loc: The South
Last seen: 10 years, 23 days
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Quote:
redfishbluefish said: The four holes in the lid should be enough FAE for colonization. Some people flip the jars when they're almost done to allow co2 to drain out the holes, but thats optional....
And I think the verm layer on top is for all jarred methods. It allows FAE while keeping contams out. Shouldn't hurt any method much. Don't know from popcorn experience but common sense tells me you should be fine.
Good luck!
redfish...Actually, it's gas exchange instead of FAE. Not trying to be anal or anything. Just want to clear it up so no one really tries to rip on you for saying something wrong. Some people love to rip us newbs when we say something wrong, just lookin out for ya! But, jars don't need FAE, just gas exchange. If the holes weren't there to allow fow CO2 to escape, it might cause your jars to stall and not finish colonizing. I think you understand what they are for, just had the terminology mixed up.
Melloyellow...Drowse was right, the four holes should be enough for the gas exchange. I did 17 1/2pt jars in part of my first grow, and the four holes were plenty good for the GE. I was using brf/verm in the 1/2pts, had the 1/2" layer of verm, and also had the holes covered with breathable/micropore tape. I've never used popcorn, but i'm thinking it would not be any different than using wbs, which I have done. Butterweasel was right about not using verm in your grains! For my wbs, I had four holes in the lid, with tyvek (cut up tyvek coveralls) under the lid for a filter, and then two coffee filters over the top of the lid with a rubber band securing it in place.
I think I had the tyvek in the wrong place though. I saw RR make a post, or answer a post about this, and it makes total sense! He said to put lid on first, then the tyvek over the lid, then put the lid ring on. That way, moisture can't touch the tyvek, therefore helping to reduce the chances of any contams. If the tyvek is on the bottom, it can get wet which just asking for contams to be invited. I luckily didn't have any problems with it, but next time I won't leave the tyvek on the bottom.
And as far as your needles are concerned, what method are you using to flame sterilize your syringe? If you're using a lighter, you are going to get that black junk all over it. However, if you use some denatured alcohol (in an alcohol lamp) you shouldn't get any of the black junk on your syringe. If you don't have any alcohol lamp, you can easily make one...
1. get an empty baby food glass jar. 2. drill a hole in the lid and ream it out (stick a pair of needle nose pliers in the hole and twist to make the hole smoothe) 3. place a few cotton balls in the jar. 4. fill the jar with some denatured alcohol (rubbing alcohol will work too) 5. get another cotton ball and pull it through the hole in the lid of the jar (as your wick; this cotton ball should be touching the other cotton balls in the jar). 6. light the wick and you have a homemade alcohol lamp!
Even if you continue to use your other method, wiping it down with an alcohol pad or a paper towel soaked with alcohol, you will be fine. Hope this helps. Good luck!
-------------------- "In Vino Veritas" Mycology (from the Greek μύκης, meaning "fungus") is the study of fungi, their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals (e.g., penicillin), food (e.g., beer, wine, cheese, edible mushrooms) and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection.
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ButterWeasels
Forum Lurker



Registered: 08/11/06
Posts: 275
Loc: Saskatchewan
Last seen: 3 years, 6 months
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Re: hey [Re: juris1]
#7484993 - 10/04/07 01:38 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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yea you have to put the tyvek filter or filter disc on afterwards because the flat metal part seals the jar and makes it airtight. i did it backwards too luckily on some WBS jars with way too much water in em (1st try). ive injected 28 jars so far and havent whiped the needle with alcohol once, just flame sterilizing if the needle accidently touches anything. as long as u do it real quick and dont worry about it too much you should be fine man.
the black ash on the needle is fine, heat kills endospores and bacteria which is all we want.
to safely incubate dont mess with them unless ur checkin progress.
-------------------- -==Classic Cakes Log==-
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juris1
Esquire



Registered: 08/08/07
Posts: 288
Loc: The South
Last seen: 10 years, 23 days
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I always put my lid rings on upside down (rubber side up) so it won't make it super hard to remove later when I need to take it off. RR and a lot of others recommend doing that and it's worked great for me.
-------------------- "In Vino Veritas" Mycology (from the Greek μύκης, meaning "fungus") is the study of fungi, their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals (e.g., penicillin), food (e.g., beer, wine, cheese, edible mushrooms) and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection.
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