FF cups

TopGunJags01 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 03:22 AM

Hey,

iv been having a problem with my FF cultures because i have no ventilation lids on them, there just plastic all the way around and i need to poke holes in them but i want to know what is the sticky paper that most people put on cup lids.

back2eight · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 03:32 AM

I don't know anything about sticky paper, I cut a large hole (basically cut the middle out of the lid) and put a folded paper towel on it, close the lid over the paper towel.

dmatychuk · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 04:39 AM

I recommend Ed's Fly Meat covers with sponge inserts. These keep my cultures at the perfect humidity and I never have to respray and they don't get too moist. they are also reusable and last a long time. They are also a lot less hassle when taking the lids on and off to dump ff.

littlefrog · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 02:21 PM

I tried using some breathable first aid tape. Cut a slot in the lid about 1cm wide, and paste a piece of tape over it.

This works pretty well... Tape has to be on the outside of the cup. And with time it tends to pull away from the lid a bit, and maggots find their way out. Nothing is more fun than opening up your fly cabinet and finding thousands of maggots crawling around outside the cup... Seems that three overlapping pieces of tape worked pretty well, though.

I've since moved to the fabric covered lids, which you can buy online. Much more convenient, and not all that expensive.

dmatychuk · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 02:29 PM

are you talking about fabric lids that can be washed and reused? or are they paper? You want to have the ability to wash them from time to time to reduce mites. If you are reusing lids and have any kind of a problem with mites this will just increase and create problems like reduced production. You may not see an infestation but you will have the effects. If it is a washable top I would love to get the link and give them a try, I am always looking to improve my cultures.

littlefrog · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmatychuk

are you talking about fabric lids that can be washed and reused? or are they paper? You want to have the ability to wash them from time to time to reduce mites. If you are reusing lids and have any kind of a problem with mites this will just increase and create problems like reduced production. You may not see an infestation but you will have the effects. If it is a washable top I would love to get the link and give them a try, I am always looking to improve my cultures.

The ones with the holes drilled in them with the fabric over the holes... From Superior. I never reuse anything. I have enough problems with mites already. At a quarter or so apiece, it is far easier for me to throw lids away than to worry about cross contamination.

'Bad habits' learned in a tissue culture lab. We use disposable everything. Expensive, climate altering, and landfill space wasting, but it is still cheaper than having an experiment go bad or a priceless cell line contaminated. Flies are neither priceless nor all that picky, but I still toss containers.

#7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 03:55 PM

I wash my cups and lids (the ones with fabric glued over the top holes, purchased from Joshua Willard) in a normal home appliance dishwasher (not an industrial sterilizing dishwasher). If it cleans dishes enough for me to serve food for my guests, you'd think it cleans the cups sufficiently for fruit flies.

I've washed them dozens of times and they are holding up well and I have no mites.

Anyone else wash cups/lids in the dishwasher and reuse them?

littlefrog · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 04:19 PM

original deleted by me when the parent went away...

I don't have a dishwasher where I have my flies, but washing the cups sounds like a pretty good idea if it works. If I did wash the lids, I might go with the metal mesh lids from Superior instead of the fabric. A bit more expensive, but probably last longer and wash better. Just a guess though.

defaced · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 06:32 PM

I use mason jars and coffee filters w/ rubberbands for lids. It's a bit of a pain to clean but I don't have the problem with the culture falling out into my tanks like I do whit plastic cups.

#10 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 08:27 PM

I too highly recommend eds containers. Ive use a few of them including superiors and find eds to be the most reliable.

Yeah your right that is wastefull. Doesnt your lab have an autoclave?Dont you have positive pressure? In a properly designed lab you shouldnt need to throw out that much.

Matt