Growstones and Aquaponic growing - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T00:16:19Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/growstones-and-aquaponic-growing?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A596407&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHello Paula:
I just received…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2015-02-07:4778851:Comment:5964072015-02-07T16:34:24.395ZJohn A Bennett Nhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/JohnABennettN
<p>Hello Paula:</p>
<p>I just received my GrowStones and the on reading the “directions” it directs to: “mix one part GS-1 Hydro Stones into 1 to 3 parts of your preferred ‘soil’…” I had not read any comments on mixing GS with soil in all my Internet explorations and would appreciate some additional information on this. I am setting my system in Panamá (where the Canal is, but not in it) and since I am a writer, I decided to write a book on the subject (in Spanish) to help other in our neck of…</p>
<p>Hello Paula:</p>
<p>I just received my GrowStones and the on reading the “directions” it directs to: “mix one part GS-1 Hydro Stones into 1 to 3 parts of your preferred ‘soil’…” I had not read any comments on mixing GS with soil in all my Internet explorations and would appreciate some additional information on this. I am setting my system in Panamá (where the Canal is, but not in it) and since I am a writer, I decided to write a book on the subject (in Spanish) to help other in our neck of the woods. I am also getting help from some local pros, but with no or just tangent experience in aquaponics… fun, though! John B</p> Hello Harold -
Good points! T…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-04-24:4778851:Comment:4668082013-04-24T12:54:30.676ZPaula Costahttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulaCosta
<p>Hello Harold -</p>
<p>Good points! Thanks for bringing them up. </p>
<p>pH - When using water with a pH close to neutral, the water pH after Growstones are added will be within the 7.0 - 7.4 range. The value will be closer to one end or the other depending on the volume of water to the volume of Growstones in the system. Higher volume of water -> pH range closer to 7.<br></br><br></br>Carbonates - carbonates from the calcium carbonate we use as a foaming agent, do leach initially into solution,…</p>
<p>Hello Harold -</p>
<p>Good points! Thanks for bringing them up. </p>
<p>pH - When using water with a pH close to neutral, the water pH after Growstones are added will be within the 7.0 - 7.4 range. The value will be closer to one end or the other depending on the volume of water to the volume of Growstones in the system. Higher volume of water -> pH range closer to 7.<br/><br/>Carbonates - carbonates from the calcium carbonate we use as a foaming agent, do leach initially into solution, which is why the pH tends to increase a bit at first. Silica also also leaches out through time into solution. None of these elements leach out forever from the 'matrix' of Growstones. So the carbonates effect on pH is temporary. <br/>To assure water pH is closer to neutral, regardless of water to Growstones ratios, we have incorporated a pH buffer (less than 1%) that also leaches into solution counteracting the pH raise from the carbonates. <br/>It is worth mentioning that both calcium carbonate and di-calcium phosphate are OMRI listed 'Allowed'. <br/><br/>Particle Size - Growstones most commonly used for Aquaponics is the 'Hydroponic Growth Medium' with 1/2" to 1" particle size range.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sand - if any sand is present it is due to shipping and handling. If you rinse the material before placing it in your grow beds, you should not see any significant increase in sand due to plant handling. These pebbles are not made of steel, but for the range of forces used when growing plants, they do keep intact through time. Unless you use a lot of strength to compress them...</p>
<p></p>
<p>Another thing that might be of interest to know when using Growstones in Aquaponics is the implications of it being so lightweight. This is important because, if the water level on the grow bed is up to the surface of the media, this will displace the Growstones (they tend to float as they are lighter than water). This in turn will displace roots, which is something no grower wants. <br/>However this is easily solved by lowering the water level in the grow bed to about 2 or 3" below the surface of the medium, depending on your plant's root system depth. For shallow roots I would prefer 2". By capillary action, the upper layer above the water level is kept moist (with no risk of drying). This actually induces aerial root growth, which increases the root surface area.<br/><br/></p>
<p>Let me know if you have more questions.<br/>Paula<br/> <br/> <cite>Harold Sukhbir said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/growstones-and-aquaponic-growing?unfollow=1&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment466455"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Hi Paula,</p>
<p>You would need to say what the PH of this product in water will be. Will the carbonates leach into water over time? What is the typical size of this media? Does the media continue to generate this sand over the normal planting and harvesting of plants in Aquaponics?</p>
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</blockquote> Hi Paula,
You would need to s…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-04-23:4778851:Comment:4664552013-04-23T23:15:27.503ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Paula,</p>
<p>You would need to say what the PH of this product in water will be. Will the carbonates leach into water over time? What is the typical size of this media? Does the media continue to generate this sand over the normal planting and harvesting of plants in Aquaponics?</p>
<p>Hi Paula,</p>
<p>You would need to say what the PH of this product in water will be. Will the carbonates leach into water over time? What is the typical size of this media? Does the media continue to generate this sand over the normal planting and harvesting of plants in Aquaponics?</p>