|
Post by z on Jul 17, 2008 22:55:55 GMT -5
Hello everyone. Some of you guys might remember me from a LONG time ago. I took a really long break from CP, but I would like to get back into it. I recently got the urge to try something new, and I think TC would be an interesting experiance. Anyways, I have been reading up on some online info about TC. The major question I have right now is about the flow hood. I would like to know how you guys made it (as in did you build it yourself out of wood, or maybe and old aquarium?). If it is possible, do you guys have any pictures of your flow hood? Is the flow hood necessary in TC? So far, my major sorce of info has been from this site: www.omnisterra.com/botany/cp/slides/tc/tc.htmI'm also probably gonna have problems with buying the media. Where do you guys buy your TC media? The above site reccomended SIGMA, but they said I might need some documentation. If there is a simpler place to order from, then that would be great. I'm also thinking of making my own media instead, since the agar looks like it costs way more than agar flakes from a health store. Anyways, for people who do remember me, I'm currently living downtown toronto near young and colledge and in markham; I travel between the two places but I'm more often downtown. I'm going to UofT the coming school year. I currently have a grow list of 0 plants .
|
|
|
Post by sdeering on Jul 17, 2008 23:44:37 GMT -5
phytotechnology for media. I built a flow hood but don't use it. I use a deep seed flat cover with a door cut in the side to put my hands through. I get about 10% contamination to 5%. Stephen
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Jul 18, 2008 9:00:03 GMT -5
Phytotech for me, too. I don't use a flow hood, just a box like sdeering. I use PPM which helps with contamination. There's a thread on this forum about Tom making a nice flowhood. Since you're nearby, I don't mind sharing or making group orders.
|
|
|
Post by z on Jul 19, 2008 20:10:35 GMT -5
Sorry, I'm not really familiar with these terms, lol. What is this PPM? Is it part of the substrate? When you say you use a box, how sealed is this box? Is there some sort of filter over it? Would your tc jars (like baby food jars) need to be capped in some special way if there is no flow hood? I see from the website that they just punched a hole in it and covered it in aluminum foil, but then they used a flow hood. If I was to say use a sterilized sock or piece of fabric, would that be sufficient coverage over the jars? (I'm assuming no since I think mold will easily settle on it). Lloyd - Oh, and I haven't been keeping up with the latest cp news lately, but I would love to join in on any group orders
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Jul 19, 2008 20:44:43 GMT -5
PPM is a mix of two chemicals used as a general purpose biocide which is relatively non-toxic to the plants at < 0.2% in the TC medium. Glove boxes are just plastic boxes with some sort of plastic barrier at one side. You stick your hands in. I use UVC light and isopropranol spray to keep contamination down. It's not as good as a flowhood but it can work if you're really careful and lucky. There's no formal group order underway but every now and then I make an order and we can split the postage. I don't mind sharing some stuff like the magenta caps for baby food jars. I have some extra supplies. I tend to do more of the TC in the winter when I have more time.
|
|
|
Post by z on Jul 21, 2008 18:28:06 GMT -5
Do you have a picture of your glove box tc setup? I'm imagining a box that is sealed and has a uvc light plus other light sources inside it, and maybe some small ventilation holes, but I don't think I'm imagining it right.
I am curious as to how your uvc light setup looks like, because I thought uvc light is harmful to our eyes?
|
|
|
Post by tom on Jul 21, 2008 19:53:48 GMT -5
Glove box can be imagined as a transparent rubbermaid tub laid on its side so the opening is facing you. you can put a kind of plastic curtain on the opening, bubt it doesn't need to be closed air tight. But disinfecting the inside of the glove box with a Javel solution (usually 10% v/v) and using a flame for flaming tool/worling area, you should have a pretty decent success rate/low contamination. No Uv light needed, the 'closed area' is somewhat sterilized and limits the possibility of air movement/contamination + the fact of working near a flame provide more than enough sterile area to work. Some precautions have to be taken (limit movements, somewhat fast work, avoid direct movement above the opening of sterile flasks, wash hands, etc) but once the basics are learn, very decent results can be achieved with low costs. Example given on the CP database: www.omnisterra.com/botany/cp/slides/tc/tc.htmAnd see this link for 3 poster resuing TC for hobyists (poster 2 for the clean area setup) www.kitchenculturekit.com/sivbposter.htm
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Jul 21, 2008 20:54:28 GMT -5
Mine is fairly dinky compared to the picture above. I try to follow the above suggestions. I have a UVC light around for erasing memory chips so I use it in the glove box. I leave it on for a half-hour before I start and I stay out of the room to protect my eyes.
|
|
|
Post by z on Jul 23, 2008 20:22:58 GMT -5
Alright, this is what I'm planning to do:
I'm going to get a rubbermaid tub or some sort of container, spray the insides with diluted isopropyl, cover the top of my baby food jars with some sort of cloth (like nylon or something) that has some isopropyl on it. I will then cover the tub and put it under some lights.
Would this setup work? Is there something better I can add to it?
Oh, and Tom, I don't understand the flame thing. Are you saying to leave an open flame near my working area when I'm opening the containers? Or am I supposed to have some sort of open flame in my flow hood?
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Jul 23, 2008 22:54:08 GMT -5
I use an alcohol lamp to flame any instruments before using them. Make sure the isopropranol spray has dissipated before using any flames or sparks! There are special tops for baby food jars-I could spare you some for starters.
If you want to see my set-up, you can come by, but be warned it's not too advanced. I have had some modest sucess though.
|
|
|
Post by z on Jul 24, 2008 16:05:20 GMT -5
I would love to see your setup if you are within walking distance of college and young. I would need to see some actual setups before I start destroying my tupperware .
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Jul 24, 2008 20:06:59 GMT -5
We're at St. Clair & Spadina.
|
|
|
Post by z on Jul 25, 2008 23:21:12 GMT -5
Hmm, I am kind of far from you. I'll have to contact you when I find out how to use the subway/ttc.
|
|
|
Post by lloyd on Jul 26, 2008 13:57:37 GMT -5
Far? My son and I walked from here to Queen and Victoria! The TTC is easy, just get on the subway at College, go south and all the way to Dupont and it's a 10 minute walk or to St. Clair which is an easier walk but by a slightly more complicated route.
|
|
|
Post by z on Jul 28, 2008 17:43:04 GMT -5
I'm not as fit as I like to be . I'll probably have to take to subway if I were to visit you. I'll be finishing some courses at the end of this week, so how about I contact you for further details sometime early next week?
|
|