37 replies to this topic

[ItBeBasidia]

Hopefully this thread will be a hub for all conventional and non-conventional cultivation methods and ideas which are low cost/easily accessible. I'm thinking things that can be used by the vagabond and rambling cultivator. Please post links, write-ups, and ideas.

To start off I want to mention using burner updrafts for clean/sterile work as an alternative to SABs and Flow Hoods. The concept is that the heat from the flame creates a sterile updraft which blows contaminants around the radius of the flame. By working close/underneath flame, you have a clean workspace.

A video to understand the concept and method: https://youtu.be/UVZO0xYboYE

You can use:

A propane torch

Bunsen burner

Ajar oven door

Camp stoves

Gas stoves

With ajar oven doors, you'd want to heat oven to highest setting and once at temp slightly open oven door and work close to opening.

Here is a couple more links discussing updraft concept and sterile technique

https://www.neosynbi...erile-workspace

https://bitesizebio....rile-technique/

Edited by ItBeBasidia, 10 December 2020 - 02:44 PM.

[Alpoehi]

For a while I develop ideas for measuring temp and humidity in my grow projects.

 

I seek for ways to do that, both analog and digital.

- There are circuits from the analog world with op amps and thermistors

- There are digital projects on Arduino and Raspberry Pi 

I am a Raspberry Pi enthusiast and I found a book about how to measure temperature and humidity using a simple and cheap DHT11 sensor.

The project is mostly software based, of course the Raspberry Pi provides the necessary hardware.

 

To describe it briefly, the sensor sends digital data to a module suitable for that, the data is then stored in a databank.

A visual chart is generated either locally on the Pi. Or it is sent to a webpage using socket.io and Firebase, a cloud service on the internet.

After setting up a database and a generic webpage on Firebase, the data can be looked at from every place where internet is available.

 

I use it for monitoring my cacti that will stay on the outside for the whole winter.

Before that I installed a heating system that has its own temperature sensor and it switches a heating coil when temp goes below 37.4 F. 

 

But this cost me 70 EUR so I installed an additional DIY system with a time switch for my other grow table.

It is only a matter of time and my motivation of learning a few things until I can replace the time switch with a relay switch that is controlled by the Raspberry Pi using the data provided by the sensor.

I can check on a mobile device when I'm not at home or from the bedroom at night when it's freezing outside.

 

Just a very brief description, going into detail would be too complex. Just want to mention I got the parts now for soldering an analog circuit that gives an alarm with a piezo buzzer when the temp drops below 32 F or raises over a certain point using a thermistor.

Such a thermistor can be placed inside of the substrate of a myc culture to monitor temperature. Rising temp in contaminated tubs (bacteria) could be detected early. Many applications are possible with this.

Edited by Alpoehi, 10 December 2020 - 04:09 PM.

[coorsmikey]

Have you all seen the thread Onediadem started? https://mycotopia.ne...-sleeve-thread/

[ItBeBasidia]

That's gold Mikey!

For pasteurizing, sous vide and a tote!

Also for pasteurizing,

I've been using a large crockpot and oven bags. I only use the bags to keep things clean and make handling easier. Just put hydrated to field capacity sub in bag, put bag in crockpot, get temp to 140, and switch heat to keep warm. The keep warm setting keeps temps 140-165. Perfect pasteurizing temp. You could set and go to bed if you wanted.

Edited by ItBeBasidia, 10 December 2020 - 09:46 PM.

[cujoloki]

I have thought of using oven bags. Can they be sealed? Those cellophane are gold, I agree.

[ItBeBasidia]

Idk if they can be sealed. Never tried it. I have used them for sterilized subs though. I just fold the opening down a few times and clamp with office clamps.

[Alpoehi]

Since we are talking about hacks, I once sealed my bags using a hot glue gun. Guaranteed sterile.

Take care of your arms and hands though. It's no fun getting the glue on the skin. It sticks and you cannot remove it till it's cooled down. 

[rockyfungus]

I once tired making my own Y agar plates (3 sections), hot glue and random pp5. Worked for one cycle then I was left with plastic imbedded in my agar after pouring.

Hot glue gun didn't hold up in the PC at all for me.

May need to revisit this.

 

That's gold Mikey!

For pasteurizing, sous vide and a tote!

Also for pasteurizing,

I've been using a large crockpot and oven bags. I only use the bags to keep things clean and make handling easier. Just put hydrated to field capacity sub in bag, put bag in crockpot, get temp to 140, and switch heat to keep warm. The keep warm setting keeps temps 140-165. Perfect pasteurizing temp. You could set and go to bed if you wanted.

I use my instant pop, on keep warm as well. I usually just dump my sub and hydrate right in there. Leave on keep warm til I remember it, but then again this is just coco and I think you could hydrate coco with your own urine and have success. 

[bezevo]

here's post on how i use electric roasters n baking /turkey bags for pasturization ,

to Avoid  Domestic Conflict i have been  moving all Mycology out of Kitchen .

 

https://mycotopia.ne...-2#entry1470681

Edited by bezevo, 11 December 2020 - 11:02 PM.

[bezevo]

oh i forgot simple tip  when pasteurizing poo grain ect in roaster or even PC grain jars .  put half cinnamon stick in water in bottom makes smell like cookies , helps to not Piss THE PANTS off

Edited by bezevo, 12 December 2020 - 01:03 AM.

[rockyfungus]

oh i forgot simple tip  when pasteurizing poo grain ect in roaster or even PC grain jars .  put half cinnamon stick in water in bottom makes smell like cookies , helps to not Piss THE PANTS off

Poo flavored cookies?

A small thing I like to do is purposely cut back the agar a recipe calls for. Lately I use 8g agar, 10g LME, and 500g H2O. Less agar makes the agar stickier. Whenever I used a higher amount of actual agar I had to really make sure transfers adhered to each other. They slid or fell with the slightest knock.

@8g they just instantly stick together. Or you can add some sterile water and shake the hell out of it and make a "pseudo LC".
When I make real LC i take a syringe with a bit of sterile water in it, and just poke the agar/mycellium, then push the tiniest water out which should expel any myc you grabbed.

Edited by rockyfungus, 12 December 2020 - 09:32 AM.

[Sharonlovesu2]

I love the turkey oven bags.. I didn't know the oven was ideal lol. What do you all think of the turkey injector fornsyring? Can be steralized nice fat needle this compatible with regular syringe and can be sharpened with a rotary tool if needed?

Edited by Sharonlovesu2, 14 December 2020 - 09:15 PM.

[Sharonlovesu2]

Have you all seen the thread Onediadem started? https://mycotopia.ne...-sleeve-thread/

Neato

[Alpoehi]

Sometimes I make my seedlings drown ... I use the baster to remove excess water ...

[Sharonlovesu2]

Very useful

[Alpoehi]

Have just finished my analog temperature sensor board.

 

 

I have it from the book "Bionics for the evil genius, 25 build-it-yourself projects" by Newton C. Braga, page 175.

 

There's a small thermistor attached to the board. I calibrated the sensitivity using the heating bed of my 3D printer.

 

 

I calibrated it to 167 F or 75 deg C. The LED lights up at that temp, there is a narrow space when it dims down or up because the voltage increases or decreases in that narrow window.

 

It's so sensitive when I blow towards the thermistor the LED dims down from that.

 

The thermistor is very robust, I heated it with a flame and I think it can handle more that 200 deg C.

 

An application would be to use the thermistor during pasteurization, placing it inside the substrate. It has to be isolated with epoxy or similar methods to prevent shorts of course.

 

No problem attaching a relay switch to it to control the heating source. It is basically what a 3D printer, sous-vide cooker or similar devices use for temperature control.

 

There can be long wires attached to the thermistor, and the circuit is designed for little voltage consumption.

 

Parts cost under 10 bucks, there are old parts used because the book is old. The 4093 CMOS is essential, and the op amp can be replaced by any suitable more modern one.

 

 

[Sharonlovesu2]

Wow, pretty rad...What an ambitious mind you got .. was it an old kit or did you scrap pieces, spare parts. Just curious..

[Alpoehi]

I order the necessary parts from China and solder them on prototype boards. In the course of time I have lots of parts in stock though.

But the designer of this circuit he lives in Brazil and in his books he recommends using parts from wrecked down cars and old TV sets.

It's an odd book ...

[Sharonlovesu2]

I order the necessary parts from China and solder them on prototype boards. In the course of time I have lots of parts in stock though.
But the designer of this circuit he lives in Brazil and in his books he recommends using parts from wrecked down cars and old TV sets.
It's an odd book ...

Love it! The book has a catchy name for sure. I'll have to look it up. I was looking at stores from overseas but I have no use to buy in such quantities or the patience of waiting lol
Thank you for sharing your experience

[PJammer24]

I am pretty sure the oven door method has been debunked...  I don't know if that is also true for other heat related methods. I think it was hippie3 or some other respected member who tested the theory and found that their plates became contaminated using the oven door tek.