wbs tek;removed the foil,put on coffee filter

[normaniac]

I've been reading the teks and archives and I think I picked up on something that might be the answer to my past failed WBS attempts.
I'm using Tyvek and foil on the jars during incubation. Gas exchange.
I think I was choking them off. So I took the foil off and put a coffee filter w/rubber band on. I'm already commited to the lids w/ 4 nail holes because everything has been PC'd. Was this the right move? It looks like most people use a 3/8 in. center hole w/ polyfill. Will the four holes in he lid be enough for gas exchange?

[Shroomette]

I believe you made the right move. and 4 holes in the top for gas exchange should be enough. I believe you have no worries. Good Luck!!!

[Foster]

Yep, should be fine. Just keep them in a clean location.
Best of luck

[Myc]

I've used the 4-hole lid for gas exchange.
Works fine.
Remove the foil after pc'ing to allow the tops of the jars to dry out.
Replace foil for temporary storage to prevent moisture loss.
Remove the foil prior to innoculation and leave it off thereafter.

The coffee filter is overkill and I stopped using it after the first time.
Have done many, many jars now with just the single tyvek layer under the lid/ lid band.

Further description on your failures?
Stalled/ no growth?
Contamination?
Perhaps there's another problem somewhere.

[highflyer]

I had used tyvek for several months a couple years ago, and abandoned it due to irregular results. The green meanie can get through single layers of certain types of tyvek.

Id stick with the tried and true method of polyfil.

[mestophilies]

I am currently using a single layer of tyvek and a polyfill filter set up and my wbs FLEW! Did 1 jar to test and it is pearly white. What works for one doesn't always work for another but I have found this to work quite well for me! Good Luck!

[livewire420]

the foil on top also acts as an umbrella when in pc tons of water drops from the top keep it from going inside the jars so it does screw up the water content.

[normaniac]

Thanks for the advice and good luck wishes. Other failures w/ WBS w/tyvek AND foil did have stalled growth, no growth and a sour smell. I don't have any contamination problems. Lately they've just been stalling - no growth or getting rank. I've got 4ml's of spore solution left over and I'm thinking about an LC tek next. I did the multispore innoculation on the 11th.How long do you think it should take to see some myc. growth? I've been able to keep the temp. between 79 and 86F. They're PR cubes.