Alternative grow medium

here is a cheap grow meduim that can be used instead of those expensive clay rocks.
I use lava stones. Thats right LAVA stones straight from home dePOT. ment for the BBQ grill. The porus stones hold water and nutes in between waterings, so the plant can get O2 and if it needs water it can get it from the lava rocks.
The seedlings are in a home made ebb and flow and they seedlings are bag seed 2 weeks from paper towel. under 4 26 watt cfl.
:rastasmoke:

Pics included.
:thumbsup:
What do you guys think?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gatekeeper777

here is a cheap grow meduim that can be used instead of those expensive clay rocks.
I use lava stones. Thats right LAVA stones straight from home dePOT. ment for the BBQ grill. The porus stones hold water and nutes in between waterings, so the plant can get O2 and if it needs water it can get it from the lava rocks.
The seedlings are in a home made ebb and flow and they seedlings are bag seed 2 weeks from paper towel. under 4 26 watt cfl.
:rastasmoke:

Pics included.
:thumbsup:
What do you guys think?

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add a drip system and i think it would be perfect

Although Hydroton seems easier to clean and re-use

Are they reusable:jointsmile:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Greenthing

Are they reusable:jointsmile:

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I dont see why not. they are stone and shouldn't absorb any nutes. Just toss em in a burlap bag and leave em over night in a river or in the washer minus cheer or something they will get cleaned.:jointsmile:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gatekeeper777

I dont see why not. they are stone and shouldn't absorb any nutes. Just toss em in a burlap bag and leave em over night in a river or in the washer minus cheer or something they will get cleaned.:jointsmile:

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what you need to find out is whether or not they are leaching anything into
your nutrients. if so then that will skew your ppm's at the very least.

not saying they are, just that they might

good point bozo. also, are they going to affect you pH? if not, i may just be buying some. let us know.

I've used rinsed pea gravel with great success, flooded three times a day using Flora Nova nutrients. You just have to rinse it a few times first to get rid of all of the sediment which would probably tear up your pump.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by IAmKowalski

I've used rinsed pea gravel with great success, flooded three times a day using Flora Nova nutrients. You just have to rinse it a few times first to get rid of all of the sediment which would probably tear up your pump.

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I am doing the same thing you did. I am just using lava rocks as I have seen a vid on youtube stating they could be used in hydro setups as an alternative to clay rocks.
seems to be working.
Just rinse rocks before use as they are very dusty.

Also lots of little air holes for either bacteria or algae to grow.

If the lava rocks are too big just bust them up with a hammer and wash them off. Need to put some Maui Waui or Kona gold in them Island rocks. lol

they sem to be working good now anyhow.