Too much water in substrate jars???

PhiLLyFiLL · 05-12-09, 06:55

First of all i used the PF tek for my substrate jars. The vermiculite and rice powder didn't seem to be wet enough, so i added more water than recommended for the tek. Now some of my jars look like they are very very smothered with water, some more than others. I have the lids on loose, but I'm afraid of contamination. Is it possible to use too much water in a jar. If so is there any way to save them? If anyone has any ideas please help. I've used this tek before and it worked great but now I'm not sure how it will do. The jars have been inoculated for about 4 days now.

mister · 05-12-09, 07:03

place next to a fan for a day or so and see if they dry up a bit.

05-12-09, 07:33

Pictures would help to see if they are to wet or not.

Shroomette · 05-12-09, 07:46

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, if your jars are too wet they will stall out. This can invite all kinds of nasties in there. Fanning isn't gonna help right now and being that you already have I'm assuming PCed and nocc ed them up with spores. Just go ahead and start over. add 40-45 cc's (milliliters) of water or (a little less than 1/4 cup) to the mixture next time.

PhiLLyFiLL · 05-12-09, 12:50

Here are some pics. the last 2 at the end are the worst but the others only have some wwet lookin sand like substance at the bottom of the jars.

Om shanti · 05-12-09, 13:29

Hi
Unfortunately only the background is in focus in the photos. Maybe you could take the photos from just a little further away to allow the lens to focus properly.

If you can see excess water moving when you tilt the jars, then there's definitely a high risk of contam/bacteria. But a little bit more water than the optimum formula need not be a big problem.

When I am afraid I might have done something wrong I just make up some more jars, and leave the potential problem children jars to see what will happen. That way I usually always end up with far too many jars. :-)

Good luck!

feralronin · 05-12-09, 13:36

Even without the focus I can see major issues with those jars. A jar with too much water is almost always doomed to fail IME.

When in doubt a jar of sub is much better off to be a little dry than a little wet. But next time follow the PF tek to the letter and this won't happen.

Good luck.

tbonus · 05-12-09, 15:56

Look a little soggy to me.I agree with Shroomette!GLUK

eap · 05-12-09, 16:05

i sometimes judge by weight of jars. but i tighten my lids and cover with foil and still sometimes water gets in while pc'ing i dump any that get wet in a bowl add some brf and cold milled flax and there usually feild capacity then i just jar them up their will be extras depending on how many you had to rework. i rarley use pf any more but haste makes waste follow the recipe until you get feild capacity perfect i prefer mine not to drip at all but just barely. lc can make up some moisture, but dunk them if their light.

PhiLLyFiLL · 05-13-09, 07:03

thanks for the help guys. Luckily not all my cakes look that bad, and some just look too wet at the very bottom. You can't actually see any water moving around though. I'm just gonna wait and see how they turn out. Thanks for the help though.

[Home]	[The Vaults]	[Glossary]	[Sponsors]	[Affiliates]
[Search]	Today's Posts	Mark Forums Read	[Register]	[Activate]	[Resend Email]

05-12-09, 06:55	#1 (permalink)
PhiLLyFiLL Mycophiliac Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 31	Too much water in substrate jars??? First of all i used the PF tek for my substrate jars. The vermiculite and rice powder didn't seem to be wet enough, so i added more water than recommended for the tek. Now some of my jars look like they are very very smothered with water, some more than others. I have the lids on loose, but I'm afraid of contamination. Is it possible to use too much water in a jar. If so is there any way to save them? If anyone has any ideas please help. I've used this tek before and it worked great but now I'm not sure how it will do. The jars have been inoculated for about 4 days now.

05-12-09, 07:03	#2 (permalink)
mister Dragon Slayer/Savior Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 238	place next to a fan for a day or so and see if they dry up a bit. __________________ Birds fly out of a top hat slow To join the brilliance of wilderness and soar through the Congo Edan- Beauty

05-12-09, 07:46	#4 (permalink)
Shroomette Fairy Princess Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,157	I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, if your jars are too wet they will stall out. This can invite all kinds of nasties in there. Fanning isn't gonna help right now and being that you already have I'm assuming PCed and nocc ed them up with spores. Just go ahead and start over. add 40-45 cc's (milliliters) of water or (a little less than 1/4 cup) to the mixture next time. __________________ "Every exit is an entrance somewhere else".~Tom Stoppard

05-12-09, 12:50	#5 (permalink)
PhiLLyFiLL Mycophiliac Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 31	Here are some pics. the last 2 at the end are the worst but the others only have some wwet lookin sand like substance at the bottom of the jars. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by PhiLLyFiLL; 05-12-09 at 13:15. Reason: pics didn't show up

05-12-09, 07:33	#3 (permalink)
~mystic Guest Posts: n/a	Pictures would help to see if they are to wet or not.

05-12-09, 13:29	#6 (permalink)
Om shanti S.W.I.M. in H.POO Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,793	Hi Unfortunately only the background is in focus in the photos. Maybe you could take the photos from just a little further away to allow the lens to focus properly. If you can see excess water moving when you tilt the jars, then there's definitely a high risk of contam/bacteria. But a little bit more water than the optimum formula need not be a big problem. When I am afraid I might have done something wrong I just make up some more jars, and leave the potential problem children jars to see what will happen. That way I usually always end up with far too many jars. :-) Good luck!

05-12-09, 13:36	#7 (permalink)
feralronin Professional Amateur Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,353	Even without the focus I can see major issues with those jars. A jar with too much water is almost always doomed to fail IME. When in doubt a jar of sub is much better off to be a little dry than a little wet. But next time follow the PF tek to the letter and this won't happen. Good luck. __________________ "I was actually saving it for my wedding day." -Mystic Truth > Authority

05-12-09, 15:56	#8 (permalink)
tbonus Mycotopiate Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,246	Look a little soggy to me.I agree with Shroomette!GLUK __________________ TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT, BUT THREE RIGHTS MAKE A LEFT!

05-12-09, 16:05	#9 (permalink)
eap Mycophiliac Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 53	i sometimes judge by weight of jars. but i tighten my lids and cover with foil and still sometimes water gets in while pc'ing i dump any that get wet in a bowl add some brf and cold milled flax and there usually feild capacity then i just jar them up their will be extras depending on how many you had to rework. i rarley use pf any more but haste makes waste follow the recipe until you get feild capacity perfect i prefer mine not to drip at all but just barely. lc can make up some moisture, but dunk them if their light.

05-13-09, 07:03	#10 (permalink)
PhiLLyFiLL Mycophiliac Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 31	thanks for the help guys. Luckily not all my cakes look that bad, and some just look too wet at the very bottom. You can't actually see any water moving around though. I'm just gonna wait and see how they turn out. Thanks for the help though.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode