Another Contam??? What should I do??

Evenfall · 08-14-09, 18:50

I could use a little help making a decision about what to do with a brf jar I have. It might be contaminated but I am not sure.

Throughout the latter half of last month I innoculated a total of 15 brf jars at various times. I did these 2 to 4 jars at a time so I could go through the whole mixing, sterilization, and injection process multiple times. This beats the process into my hard head and also limits my exposure to making a mistake in one of the steps that screws them all up. The second set of 2 jars I mixed, sterilized and innoculated were topped with Perlite (mistake) instead of Verm. I didn't realize I made a mistake until after the jars were innoculated. This was on 7/19. Growth in both jars proceeded as expected until a few days ago. Both jars are 90% colonized and have slowed considerably. Yesterday I noticed a light greenish hue about the size of a dime when holding one of the jars at a particular angle to the light. I let the jar continue to incubate over night and when checked on today the green hugh can still be seen. It also does not appear any further colonization occurred since yesterday in either jar.

Another note I should add is these two jars were indirectly exposed to a grow light about a week ago for about 48 hours. They have since been located in the dark. There are a number of pins that have become visable in the past few days inside both of these jars. The area uncolonized is opposite from the green hugh and only about the size of a quarter. The other jar has about a square inch left to colonized but has also slowed or stopped yet has no signs of contamination.

Here is a picture of the first jar that will help everyone visualize what I am describing with the green hue. Look for it about about dead center of the picture.

I am not sure if I should continue what I am doing, isolate, throw it away, birth early, or something else.

MLBjammer · 08-14-09, 18:57

I don't really see any green in that picture, maybe a little blueing, which is common. If you think the jars are contam'ed, isolate them, but I cannot see anything alarming. I have seen many, many PF cakes. I think you are okay.

Did you flip the jars (or loosen the lids on) the ones that slowed colonizing? That would help. Good luck, and breathe, man, it's all right. Good luck!

usagolden · 08-14-09, 19:04

your cakes look ok to me

Evenfall · 08-14-09, 19:10

The jar lids are still tight but the 4 innoculation holes are not covered. I will flip these two and keep and eye one them. Hopefully they will finish colonizing quickly so I can birth them.

Perhaps it is more blue than green now that I stare at it some more. Any color other than white gets my atenttion and starts sounding alarm bells being a novice hearing all the horror stories about contams like the dreaded Trich.

mydarling · 08-14-09, 19:21

jar looks fine to me also....

HostileMonkey · 08-14-09, 21:25

After you flip the jars, tap the bottom (now the lid) gently against something until the cake slides down the from the top. This will force a pocket of air into the top of the jar, and should help you get that last bit colonized.

If it comes down to it, and the areas refuse to colonize now that the mycelium colony has begun to grow primordia in anticipation of fruiting, then you can birth those cakes and cut away the uncolonized portion with a sterile knife.

bozefonce · 08-15-09, 00:07

Might be something similar to what FOAF observed in a bag he inoculated a few weeks ago. The mycelium began to grow and some of the areas were a slightly grey color compared to adjacent mycelia. Apparently this is normal with multispore inoculation. Some of the mycelium produced will be a slightly different shade. As long as the growth doesn't turn very green it's likely not a problem (there are other colors to be concerned with, but a very slight grey tinge is probably just mycelium). Since then his bag has successfully fruited with no contamination.

marmy · 08-15-09, 01:03

another one saying it all looks good

Irishlion · 08-15-09, 01:13

That cake looks fine to me as well.

Evenfall · 08-15-09, 11:10

I did tap the cakes so they would slide down and create the air pocket when I flipped them yesterday. It looks like there was at least a little growth since then and the bluish/green hue is not as noticable.

Yesterday

Today

Except for the uncoonized parts seen in the pictures the rest of the jar is 100% colonized. The one I was concerned about contams is on the far left. The brf tek I have been following does not mention turning the jars over. Thanks for the info.

MLBjammer · 08-15-09, 12:00

Flipping just forces gas exchange. Just wait for pins, then dunk them.

TastyBeverage · 08-15-09, 12:19

There is noticeable growth between the 2 pics. If that happened in 24 hours, i'd say things are looking good.

Just be patient.

BuckarooBanzai · 08-15-09, 12:40

The jars look fine to me. I think that first one is ready to fruit.

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08-14-09, 18:50	#1 (permalink)
Evenfall Spiritual Seeker Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 79	Another Contam??? What should I do?? I could use a little help making a decision about what to do with a brf jar I have. It might be contaminated but I am not sure. Throughout the latter half of last month I innoculated a total of 15 brf jars at various times. I did these 2 to 4 jars at a time so I could go through the whole mixing, sterilization, and injection process multiple times. This beats the process into my hard head and also limits my exposure to making a mistake in one of the steps that screws them all up. The second set of 2 jars I mixed, sterilized and innoculated were topped with Perlite (mistake) instead of Verm. I didn't realize I made a mistake until after the jars were innoculated. This was on 7/19. Growth in both jars proceeded as expected until a few days ago. Both jars are 90% colonized and have slowed considerably. Yesterday I noticed a light greenish hue about the size of a dime when holding one of the jars at a particular angle to the light. I let the jar continue to incubate over night and when checked on today the green hugh can still be seen. It also does not appear any further colonization occurred since yesterday in either jar. Another note I should add is these two jars were indirectly exposed to a grow light about a week ago for about 48 hours. They have since been located in the dark. There are a number of pins that have become visable in the past few days inside both of these jars. The area uncolonized is opposite from the green hugh and only about the size of a quarter. The other jar has about a square inch left to colonized but has also slowed or stopped yet has no signs of contamination. Here is a picture of the first jar that will help everyone visualize what I am describing with the green hue. Look for it about about dead center of the picture. I am not sure if I should continue what I am doing, isolate, throw it away, birth early, or something else. Attached Thumbnails

08-14-09, 19:21	#5 (permalink)
mydarling Modtastic Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,034	jar looks fine to me also.... __________________ tonight your ghost will ask my ghost, who put these bodies between us?

08-15-09, 00:07	#7 (permalink)
bozefonce Ni arte, ni maña Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 287	Might be something similar to what FOAF observed in a bag he inoculated a few weeks ago. The mycelium began to grow and some of the areas were a slightly grey color compared to adjacent mycelia. Apparently this is normal with multispore inoculation. Some of the mycelium produced will be a slightly different shade. As long as the growth doesn't turn very green it's likely not a problem (there are other colors to be concerned with, but a very slight grey tinge is probably just mycelium). Since then his bag has successfully fruited with no contamination. __________________ If thoughts are things, then dreams are bigger things…

08-15-09, 01:03	#8 (permalink)
marmy riding the roller coaster Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 838	another one saying it all looks good __________________ OK maybe not that old

08-14-09, 18:57	#2 (permalink)
MLBjammer Addicted to Invitro Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,877	I don't really see any green in that picture, maybe a little blueing, which is common. If you think the jars are contam'ed, isolate them, but I cannot see anything alarming. I have seen many, many PF cakes. I think you are okay. Did you flip the jars (or loosen the lids on) the ones that slowed colonizing? That would help. Good luck, and breathe, man, it's all right. Good luck!

08-14-09, 19:04	#3 (permalink)
usagolden A Tin Can Banana Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 324	your cakes look ok to me

08-14-09, 19:10	#4 (permalink)
Evenfall Spiritual Seeker Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 79	The jar lids are still tight but the 4 innoculation holes are not covered. I will flip these two and keep and eye one them. Hopefully they will finish colonizing quickly so I can birth them. Perhaps it is more blue than green now that I stare at it some more. Any color other than white gets my atenttion and starts sounding alarm bells being a novice hearing all the horror stories about contams like the dreaded Trich.

08-14-09, 21:25	#6 (permalink)
HostileMonkey Mycophiliac Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1	After you flip the jars, tap the bottom (now the lid) gently against something until the cake slides down the from the top. This will force a pocket of air into the top of the jar, and should help you get that last bit colonized. If it comes down to it, and the areas refuse to colonize now that the mycelium colony has begun to grow primordia in anticipation of fruiting, then you can birth those cakes and cut away the uncolonized portion with a sterile knife.

08-15-09, 01:13	#9 (permalink)
Irishlion KEY MASTER Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,343	That cake looks fine to me as well. __________________ a man without honor isn't a man at all but, a soul trapped in a flesh body that is lost in a void of its own making

08-15-09, 11:10	#10 (permalink)
Evenfall Spiritual Seeker Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 79	I did tap the cakes so they would slide down and create the air pocket when I flipped them yesterday. It looks like there was at least a little growth since then and the bluish/green hue is not as noticable. Yesterday Today Except for the uncoonized parts seen in the pictures the rest of the jar is 100% colonized. The one I was concerned about contams is on the far left. The brf tek I have been following does not mention turning the jars over. Thanks for the info. Attached Thumbnails

08-15-09, 12:00	#11 (permalink)
MLBjammer Addicted to Invitro Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,877	Flipping just forces gas exchange. Just wait for pins, then dunk them.

08-15-09, 12:19	#12 (permalink)
TastyBeverage thirsty for more Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,497	There is noticeable growth between the 2 pics. If that happened in 24 hours, i'd say things are looking good. Just be patient. __________________ Why do little blue men hit me with fish?

08-15-09, 12:40	#13 (permalink)
BuckarooBanzai Prone to ranting... Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,050	The jars look fine to me. I think that first one is ready to fruit. __________________ Banzai Institute for Higher Education (a collection of growing Teks & threads)

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