I've been reading up on these polymer water crystal things and saw where they can be used for a soilless system, kind of like hydro but without the pumps and "free standing" water. They are naturally resistant to fungus and mold. You don't need to aerate the water since the crystals retain the oxygen already in the water, and the roots simply draw what they need out of the crystals, including nutes which may be added to the water. One oz. of crystals will expand and absorb an entire gallon of water or more.

Has anybody experimented with this? I'm thinking of trying a system similar to a bubble bucket, but just the aluminum-tape-wrapped bucket (to keep light out, since the crystals are clear) with some kind of net pot setup in the lid to support the plant -- no pumps at all.

Unless I hear a good reason not to, I'm going to try this. I've even read that the crystals make an ideal germination bed, so I will go from seed to weed using only the crystals, with RO water and nutes as appropriate. I've got a shipment of seeds which should get here in the next couple of days (knock on wood vigorously). So in a few weeks, hopefully I'll have some decent pictures to post of the progress. :thumbsup:

Any comments or suggestions before I begin La Grande Experimente?
SecondNut Reviewed by SecondNut on . polymer water crystals for hydro? I've been reading up on these polymer water crystal things and saw where they can be used for a soilless system, kind of like hydro but without the pumps and "free standing" water. They are naturally resistant to fungus and mold. You don't need to aerate the water since the crystals retain the oxygen already in the water, and the roots simply draw what they need out of the crystals, including nutes which may be added to the water. One oz. of crystals will expand and absorb an entire gallon of Rating: 5