Chronic Tek

The Nook : Archives : Jars : Growing invitro? : Chronic Tek

Subtopic	Posts	Updated	Creator
Bulk Chronic Containers	12		shroomvator
Having a Go w/Chronic	30		Fred Garvin
Bulk tek - Making my life easier :)	85		Chronic007
Q' for chronic about the pvc	12		onediadem
Quart Jar__In-Vitro tek Version 1.2	3		Dr. Cubensis
Question about air exchange	37
Results just in - Hawaiians do great in Chronic Tek PICS	45		Chronic007

By Chronic007 (Chronic007) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 07:40 am:

Chronic Tek
Birdseye

The Chronic Tek is a quart jar, mini terrarium technique that was developed to be as maintenance free as possible. It is a very simple tek that if followed properly will show the grower many of the benefits of a terrarium while eliminating the need for misting, fanning, and other such maintenance work.

*keep in mind that this is a very open ended tek; the purpose for each piece of equipment will be noted and if you see fit to complete that piece's function with some other piece of equipment, that is your choice. I would however recommend completing this tek once as written before expanding as you will get a better feel as to how your mini terrariums will react to your changes.

We will be making some very simple modifications to a quart jar that will enable the cake placed inside to create and maintain its own fruiting environment. The quart jars will also be acting as contamination buffer zones; holding contamination to one cake instead of spreading throughout the terrarium.

A few little things we will need :

1. Wide mouth quart jar and normal dome lid with ring as used in PF jars.

2. Piece of 2" wide PVC pipe any length 2” or over will do.

3. A 1/8" thick nail

OK, let’s get started. First off our mini terrarium will be sitting upside down with the lid on tightly. To allow the cake to create a nice fruiting environment for itself we will allow airflow through four 1/8" holes equally placed around the lid. The temperature must be held as near to 76 degrees as possible for the proper fruiting environment to be maintained. I cannot stress this part enough folks; to hot and the cakes will dry out, to cold and you will not have proper humidity. Don't be fooled either, water condenses when humid air cools, this will give you the look of being humid but the water will be on the jar instead of in the air. Keep it near 76 degrees and you will be happy. The cake will be suspended on a 2" long by 2" wide riser to keep it out of pooling water and keep it from plugging our air exchange holes. Here is a quick picture of the finished product from the side so you can have a mental picture as I describe a few things more in depth.

multiplesideshots

The Lids: The screw on lid is the main factor in your mini terrarium that controls the environment inside. Many experiments were done with different hole sizes but 1/8" has most definitely proved to be the best. Four holes should be punched with your 1/8" nail around the dome lid just as in the PF TEK. If the holes are too large the jar will not be able to hold good humidity and the cake will dry out causing small and aborted fruits. If the holes are too small the cake will not be able to "breathe" efficiently and will begin graying and eventually die. As you can obviously tell by now the lids should be tight as air should only be entering or exiting through the holes. It is also very important to make sure the holes do not become covered which leads me right to the risers and surface on which your mini terrarium will be sitting.

Risers & Surface: The Risers we will be using to keep the cake from covering the holes will be 2" long pieces of PVC, cut from a 2" wide PVC pipe. The result will be a 2" long by 2" wide riser that will sit between the cake and the upside down lid of your mini terrarium. As well as keeping proper air flow throughout the jar, the riser will also be keeping the cake suspended from the water that will eventually pool inside the lid because of high humidity(you may also get some dripping from the top of your terrarium, but I have never seen any significant negative results from this). Do not worry if your PVC risers look as if they are covering your holes, the jagged edges from where you punched your holes will keep the riser from sitting flush on the lid and effectively blocking airflow (this is why I prefer nails over drilling for making holes). Having your jar lid sitting flush against a smooth shelf is equally as bad as having your cake sitting on the inside of the lid. Some sort of platform must be devised in order to allow airflow under your terrarium. You can get creative here, but as you can see from the picture below, the bottom part of a standard screen door works great when sitting on some horizontal 1/2" PVC pipe.

Lidonscreen

That is pretty much all there is to it. You can expect terrarium type yields with the ease of Quote’s Invitro tek(The tek from which this one has evolved, great stealth tek)

Now that you've built your mini terrarium it's time to test her out. So here are a few tips.

1. Dunking is a great tek. If you don't know anything about the dunk tek look it up and read away. I give a 16-20 hour dunk at birth and between every flush. Contamination is rarely a problem while using this tek so I just stack 3 cakes into one quart jar and throw a riser on top to hold the top cake under water and screw the lid on. Dunking is also great because your cakes have to be properly hydrated in order to create good humidity.

2. Keep temp as close to 76 degrees as possible. Hole sizes and all other factors are based off 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. If you are only doing a few jars PVC connector pieces can be bought as pre-made risers at Home Depot or other similar stores. If you plan on doing many jars cut your own to save money.

4. All pictures are of PF classics but remember your jars are mini terrariums and should work for all strains. I currently have Hawaiians doing great in my mini terrariums.

5. Give your PF cakes light through the entire colonization process to speed up fruiting. If you are inoculating 1 pint jars make sure to cut them in half before dunking and placing into mini terrariums since the ratio of air to space taken by cake in your jar is also a big factor.

6. I know cakes can be dunked safely with pins intact but I have realized greater success when cakes are scraped before being dunked right after birth. This may be just coincidence but you can find out for yourself.

Well that’s all folks. You should be seeing results like the below picture in no time.

greatyeild

Have fun and be safe.
Chronic007

By onediadem (Onediadem) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 08:32 am:

Very nice Chronic. Great pics too. I am almost ready to birth my jars, cant wait!! Hope I can get my temps right for this.
pj

By onediadem (Onediadem) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 08:32 pm:

Chronic, Hers a new twist for you. Instead of having to mess with all the jars, how about drilling holes in the lid of a rubbermaid box, setting it on something so the holes arent blocked, and setting 20 or so cakes on the risers, and then covering it with the clear box part? Surely with that many cakes the humidity would be ok? Same Idea, but less time consuming? I Just bought quarts for my go at your tek, so I wont be trying it. Just thought it might save some time, not having to mess with that many jars.
Be well,
Pj

By Chronic007 (Chronic007) on Monday, February 04, 2002 - 09:22 pm:

Ya that is definetly the next step. The air space to cake space ratio definetly plays a role in the equilibrium of the environment so I think the best step in that direction would be a Gallon Jar with 16 holes and four cakes and risers. Then I'll move on from there. But as for the archives I think the above compilation of the tek will suit newbies just fine. I mean I wish it was there when I was doing my initial research. Hey quote, could you let me know that you put this in the archives or what I need to do to it before it can be inserted. Thanks a bunch. Onediadem..... Keep me updated on your progress. Good luck although you won't really need it.
Chronic007

Posted by: ShroomVator Nov 11 02, 01:01 PM GMT

Hey, Chronic?

I don't happen to have any PVC pipe laying around...could I substitute a half of a toilet paper or paper towel cardbard roll? Or...do you think that could cause some kinda problems?

Any other substitution ideas for the spacer? Just can't get out to home depot for another few days and have some cakes rearing to go.

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 11 02, 05:09 PM GMT

Anything that lifts the cake off the lid works fine. My buddy used toothpics once. I tend to stick to things unaffected by humidity though, namely plastic.

Chronic007

Posted by: allmanbro Nov 13 02, 01:13 AM GMT

do i dunk the cakes at birth? if so how long?

as far as sterilization goes. is it necessary to PC the quart jars or can you use other methods of sterilization? ab

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 13 02, 01:24 AM GMT

1. Yes, dunk the cakes at birth for about 20 hrs. They will need good hydration in order to produce the propper fruiting environment. Since you will always be dunking at birth and between every flush you will find it beneficial to use only 40-45cc's of water per 1/2 pint when making your cakes pf style in order to speed up the colonization process.

2. The cleanliness of your quarts depends on the relative cleanliness of your environment. I live in an area with relatively clean air and find that dish soap is just find for the cleansing of my quarts after dunking and between every flush. If your area is more prone to contamination you may want to use further measure of say a diluted bleach solution to clean jars but that is probably overkill.

***Tip- when dunking cakes become a bit more suseptable to contams but you can fight back by dunking in the fridge when possible. This will slow the metabolism of the cakes and the bacteria until the dunk is over. I don't have any contam issues so I don't bother with this but some find it useful****

Keep us informed on your progress!
Chronic007

Posted by: allmanbro Nov 13 02, 02:18 PM GMT

well im in a good clean rocky mountain environment so should be good on that..

concerning my grow area..i have a small laundry room,one window,one ceiling light..i can dial in 76deg..and keep it there exactly...
i have a small 8" fan to circulate air..

i was considering putting my jars on a small table in there..(on top of their breathable tray of course)

would this set-up work,or do i need a box to put it all in with a fan in the end? thanks ab

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 13 02, 08:30 PM GMT

That setup should work great allmanbro. As you will read in my reply to your post in the Chronic Tek pics thread, the Chronic Tek is written to ensure the best possible success rates to newbies. The temp can swing a few degrees in each direction but as you mentioned you are a stickler for details in directions and any newbie intent on success should be also, that is why I stress 76 degrees as it is the optimum temp.
Well hope that answered some questions. You keep asking them and I'll do my best to answer them.

Chronic007

Posted by: bigslick Nov 14 02, 01:47 PM GMT

Why do you say to use a 2 x 2 inch riser?

While a 2 x 2 inch riser might work well for a cake during the 1st flush and maybe the 2nd flush when you get to a 3rd or 4th flush the cake maybe too small for the riser.

My solution to this was just to use 1.5 inch x 1.5 inch pvc connectors.

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 14 02, 06:20 PM GMT

As the tek reads

QUOTE

*keep in mind that this is a very open ended tek; the purpose for each piece of equipment will be noted and if you see fit to complete that piece's function with some other piece of equipment, that is your choice.

all the pieces' functions are noted so feel free to manipulate. A cake with a diameter less than 2 in is freekin tiny though, never really had a problem with that, the reason for 2 in tall is to keep the cake out of the tapered neck of the jar that even wide mouths have to give the shrooms more room to grow.

Good point though, no big deal changing little things like that.

Chronic007

Posted by: allmanbro Nov 15 02, 02:19 AM GMT

im thinking about using a plastic dish drain,the grates are thin and it has the catch pan underneath,and easily cleaned...

anything wrong with using the dish drain?

should i keep the water cleaned up from underneath as it drips to help keep the environment clean?

thanks again chronic, ab

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 15 02, 09:33 PM GMT

Are you using the dish drain under the jars to allow for circulation? If so it should work great. And as for water underneath I wouldn't worry about it, the jars shouldn't be leaking much water if any at all.

Chronic007

Can't wait for your success

Posted by: allmanbro Nov 15 02, 09:46 PM GMT

yeah chronic...for circulation....i got my quart jars today and risers..went with 1 1/2"...looking forward the tek,my cakes are on the way..thanks again.ab

Posted by: allmanbro Nov 27 02, 07:47 PM GMT

007, you mention scraping the cakes before the initial dunking..whats your technique on the scraping?

also, how do you tell when to birth? by the pinning?

just an update,my friend knocked up 10 1/2pint jars with equador spores last nite...the room is varying only 2 degrees from 76deg..indirect lighting approximatly 10hours per day through a southern facing window with blinds closed...also found a great chrome plated rack system at home depot,thats perfect for 1/2pt and qt jars,with slide out drawers..more later.

thanks again 007..

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 28 02, 12:52 AM GMT

Hey there Allmanbro. Looks like you're gettin closer and closer to crunch time....lets see if we can't get these questions answered.

As for scraping the cakes before the initial dunking, let me first say that this is not absolutely necessary. Cakes can be dunked with pins intact and dried gently without scraping, also, many have said, "What’s the point of scraping the mycelium off a mycelium cake?"......well I scrape my cakes before the initial dunk for a few reasons, first is that I usually let my pins get to about 1/2 inch before I birth them, by this time the cakes are "solid" and well developed and you get a noticeably stronger first flush from these more mature cakes. I scrape these cakes before dunking because inevitably a pin or two will get damaged and die from each cake during this process and the last thing you need is rotting shroom flesh decaying in your Chronic mini terrarium which is never opened until birth, this is just inviting contams, I've seen it multiple times. And secondly I have noticed that when scraped before dunking a more vigorous flush occurs. Now by scraping I don't mean raping the cake, I mean first precision removal of all shroom tissue then a light once over just to change the visual appearance of the outside of the cake. As I say in the tek, try a few both ways and see what you prefer. No matter how you do it I think you will find that having decomposing tissue anywhere on your cakes in any tek is a bad thing.

Your set up sounds perfect Allmanbro, you should have no problems in that department. Hope I answered a few questions for you and feel free to ask away....that's the only way to learn...I asked so many questions its ridiculous, the way I see it I owe a lot to the community. Take care Allmanbro.

Chronic007

Posted by: Fake_allmanbro Nov 28 02, 10:54 PM GMT

thanks 007, i saw a few techniques in archives for scraping..removing all shroom growth before dunking sounds like what i want to do...ive been using a fork to scratch the surface on the ol shroombag cakes i had...whats your actual method on the scrap after pins and such are removed? a fork? or? thanks again..ab

Posted by: Chronic007 Nov 29 02, 12:42 AM GMT

I personally use a knife, works great.

Hmmmm....lets see how I can explain this...you know how when you shave you don't need to press too hard...and you don't do big long draws with the razor as that's always how you cut yourself when your in a hurry...but when you're taking your time you do about 4-5 lifts and short draws per inch of skin which is easier on your skin and is a better shave...well that is sort of how I scrape my cakes....this enables you to get under the little left oiver shroom tissue nubs that are left on the cake after the initial removal of the shrooms and abhorts. Quick fast light little scrapes....that's the key

Chronic007

Posted by: allmanbro Dec 06 02, 09:49 PM GMT

hey chronic, ive seen a couple things regarding the rust that develops on the jar lids from the nail punctures....

is the rust a problem?...

as we speak i have 26 jars colonizing for the tek...the ol thai's just keep producing with your tek...

peace,ab

Posted by: Chronic007 Dec 06 02, 10:14 PM GMT

Don't worry about the rust, I've been working with the same lids for a long time and rust has never posed a problem.

Chronic007

Posted by: calebsdaddio Jan 28 03, 06:25 AM GMT

High all!
Chronic007, I Saw your tek and decided to give it a whirl. Pretty sure I've got everything and am looking forward to delivering some beautiful healthy babies.....haven't started yet but hoping to tackle it this week.
I will post my progress and questions as they arise.
Your recomendations for a spore dealer???

I've read a butt load of archives and postings and am impressed with the help and cooperation that comes from these postings. The world could learn a lil something from "Mushroom Farmers"...........organization!
Chronic007 your tek was so well written and illistrated.....good job!
Future tek-writers, use Chronic007 's tek as a blueprint for future tek formats.

Well I'm sure I'll have some Q's.
Calebsdaddio

Posted by: Chronic007 Jan 28 03, 07:06 AM GMT

Thanks bro. Good luck, and I'll be awaiting any questions that may arise. Take Care and be safe.

Shroom Glossary