In this image, the jar to the right shows normal colonization in an expanding white circle. The jar on the left has the expanding white circles but the rest of the material is covered with cloudy white growth. Is this a white contaminant or is this the mycelium?
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that just looks like mycelium
there are 2 types - one stringy and aggressive(better yields and faster colonization) and a fuzzy, cottony type that takes longer and seems to be less... tough.
there are no contaminations that are that brilliant white.
cobweb mold, I think it's called looks very similar to the whispy cottony mycelium, but if you put them side by side, the cobweb mold has a definitively greyer color to it - also I've never even heard of it displaying prior to birthing your cakes.
use the popcorn tek on this site it is godly.
pf tek yields less and contams more - it takes 2-3 times as long to colonize, as well.
popcorn ftw - use the 1 1/2 pint jars - they are not shouldered and humidity/gas exchange seems to work WAAAY better.