I've had it with rinsing and lifting rocks...

[Bob Vento]

After lifting and moving ... as well as rinsing and rinsing 9 bags of lava rock for a base layer and 10 bags of Stalite for the top grow layer

I am still way below the recommended 12 inches of grow bed.

I was able to adjust the height of the stand pipe in my bell siphon to allow me about 2 inches of dry bed and about 6 inches of water below that. Has anyone used less than 12 inches in their grow bed and to what end?

Will the plants still grow in this and will I still have all of the micro organisms necessary to have a productive system?

Bob

[George]

I rinsed 2 1/2 tons using buckets and stock tanks and I doubt it's a record.  I can relate.  I figured the more filtering the better and I only had to do it once.

[TCLynx]

People have gotten away with shallower beds, Just keep in mind that it means you have less filtration so stock less fish accordingly.

Some plants won't care that the gravel is only 8 inches deep instead of 10 or 12.  Other plants will fill the shallower depth with roots quicker and might tend to choke out the less aggressive plants.