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bandog
Stranger


Registered: 01/19/07
Posts: 109
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Not sure ...
#7530061 - 10/18/07 04:37 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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... but I think this might be some contamination in the corner of one of my boxes ...

Just kidding about this, of course ... it's definitely contamination.
This is one box of six - bulk (colonized brown rice - spawned to coir/verm/wormpoo/coffee grounds/gypsum - cased with verm) To avoid contamination such as this, I've been advised: 1. to fan more frequently ("trich doesn't like CO2") 2. to switch to a mono-tub tek
Of the above, which will be more effective in avoiding these types of contaminations?
-------------------- Come in to my parlour, said the spider to the fly ...
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BUDDHA_702
Master Mycologist In Training



Registered: 02/17/07
Posts: 1,296
Loc: Some Country
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Re: Not sure ... [Re: bandog]
#7530069 - 10/18/07 04:40 AM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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look like it to me, but I'm color blind.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
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The key to avoiding molds is sterile inoculations, filtered gas exchange during colonization, and lots of air exchange during fruiting. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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bandog
Stranger


Registered: 01/19/07
Posts: 109
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Thanks RR 
Is it just my imagination, or has the theory of what causes trich contamination changed over the past six months or so ...
I tossed my contaminated substrate photos up on all the mushroom forums, asking for suggestions as to how I could avoid the nasty green bastard in future. Without exception, every response was to the effect of " ... the key to avoiding/eliminating trich contamination in bulk grows, is to increase the PH of the substrate ... " followed by everyone's favourite method of accomplishing that - i.e., oyster shells, gypsum, lime, etc
This time, no matter where I post the photo of the latest trich contamination, asking for suggestions as to how I can better avoid the green death, every person, without exception, suggests increasing FAE  So ... has the theory changed??
-------------------- Come in to my parlour, said the spider to the fly ...
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
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Re: Not sure ... [Re: bandog]
#7536108 - 10/19/07 04:02 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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No, the theory hasn't changed. People are simply still confused as usual. You don't need to pH balance substrates, since they fully colonize within ten days to two weeks. Mushroom mycelium prefers an acidic substrate, but is more tolerant of a high pH than molds, thus we raise the pH on our casing layers since they don't fully colonize.
If your substrate contaminated, chances are your spawn was contaminated. If your casing layer contaminated, increase fresh air exchange. From the looks of what I see above, I'd suspect your problem originated at inoculation, or perhaps you didn't wash away all of the vermiculite filter from your cakes before spawning to bulk. Remember, the tops of your jars are nasty if you're using a verm filter. Often, trichoderma or other molds will germinate and actually be growing in the verm filter, especially if you turned the jars upside down, which I don't recommend. Be sure to rinse the verm off under the faucet before spawning to bulk. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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bandog
Stranger


Registered: 01/19/07
Posts: 109
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Excellent points - and excellent advice - thanks again, RR!
How probable is it for trich to actually be introduced to and contaminate a fully colonized tray of substrate with or without casing?
Just for reference, I didn't use a verm barrier during incubation ... which might also have left the rice more open and prone to contamination ... right?
-------------------- Come in to my parlour, said the spider to the fly ...
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 3 days
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Re: Not sure ... [Re: bandog]
#7536474 - 10/19/07 05:29 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yes, and that's why it's contaminated. You have to use filters. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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