Expanded Clay Grow Media How is it made? - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T00:51:28Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/expanded-clay-grow-media-how-is-it-made?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A456678&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noWhy can't you just get a norm…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-04-01:4778851:Comment:4566782013-04-01T13:52:49.502ZNathan Halehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/NathanHale
<p>Why can't you just get a normal kiln and mix your clay 50/50 with fine saw dust? As the clay bakes the wood would burn out leaving little holes throughout. If the balls are still too heavy at the 50/50 mix, up the sawdust in the mix. Then its just a matter of making thousands of clay balls quickly with an extruder. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Why can't you just get a normal kiln and mix your clay 50/50 with fine saw dust? As the clay bakes the wood would burn out leaving little holes throughout. If the balls are still too heavy at the 50/50 mix, up the sawdust in the mix. Then its just a matter of making thousands of clay balls quickly with an extruder. Thoughts?</p> hydroton or family have a lot…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-09-28:4778851:Comment:3967282012-09-28T17:42:00.119ZChris Carrhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Chris954
<p>hydroton or family have a lot of benefits for sure. Maybe your local cement company may have some suggestions for LECA which are safe for AP and cheaper than the local hydro shop.</p>
<p>hydroton or family have a lot of benefits for sure. Maybe your local cement company may have some suggestions for LECA which are safe for AP and cheaper than the local hydro shop.</p> There are a number of reasons…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-09-28:4778851:Comment:3967262012-09-28T16:50:07.473ZChris McMahonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ChrisMcMahon
<p>There are a number of reasons why I want to use expanded clay. But your right it isn't one machine, it's several different machines. I found the production line on a website that ships machines from china. I will try to source the clay another way.</p>
<p>There are a number of reasons why I want to use expanded clay. But your right it isn't one machine, it's several different machines. I found the production line on a website that ships machines from china. I will try to source the clay another way.</p> A rotary kiln perhaps. Good l…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-09-28:4778851:Comment:3968192012-09-28T16:34:20.278ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>A rotary kiln perhaps. Good luck with that one BTW...doesn't really seem like an easy undertaking. Probably akin to saying...</p>
<p>"Aquaponics...sure, you just slap some fish and plants together...easy as pie...cheap too. Nothin' to it"...</p>
<p>A rotary kiln perhaps. Good luck with that one BTW...doesn't really seem like an easy undertaking. Probably akin to saying...</p>
<p>"Aquaponics...sure, you just slap some fish and plants together...easy as pie...cheap too. Nothin' to it"...</p> Look for lightweight expanded…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-09-28:4778851:Comment:3967222012-09-28T16:34:03.990ZChris Carrhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Chris954
<p>Look for lightweight expanded clay aggregate machinery. It is all industrial sized. In my opinion your time is better spent looking for a locally source media you can get on the cheap then trying to produce media yourself. </p>
<p>Look for lightweight expanded clay aggregate machinery. It is all industrial sized. In my opinion your time is better spent looking for a locally source media you can get on the cheap then trying to produce media yourself. </p> I am a really good at finding…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-09-28:4778851:Comment:3969022012-09-28T15:53:24.862ZChris McMahonhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ChrisMcMahon
<p>I am a really good at finding expensive machinery for next to nothing. Do you know what the contraption is called?</p>
<p>I am a really good at finding expensive machinery for next to nothing. Do you know what the contraption is called?</p> It would cost you more to buy…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-09-28:4778851:Comment:3966312012-09-28T14:16:45.868ZRupertofOZhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RupertofOZ
<p>It would cost you more to buy the gear and set up.. than buying a few tonnes.... <a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"></img></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The clay is fired in a rotating furnance to really high temperature.... thus forming the "balls"... for a set period of time....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then dumped into cold water... which causes the air in the clay balls to be expelled rapidly.... thus giving the pitted and light balls...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Cook the clay for too long... and you expel most of the…</p>
<p>It would cost you more to buy the gear and set up.. than buying a few tonnes.... <a style="cursor: pointer;"><img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The clay is fired in a rotating furnance to really high temperature.... thus forming the "balls"... for a set period of time....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then dumped into cold water... which causes the air in the clay balls to be expelled rapidly.... thus giving the pitted and light balls...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Cook the clay for too long... and you expel most of the air.... resulting in really heavy balls.... too short... and they're too light and float....</p>