How much media for your grow bed?

[Paul Mona]

When ordering media, be it Hydroton or some type of stone, do you order the entire volume of your grow bed?

My project will end up with a volume 1275 Liters.  Does that mean I want 1275 Liters of media?  That alone for Hydroton would end up at nearly $1,300.00 assuming I can get 50L bags delivered for $50.00

[TCLynx]

Yes you pretty much want about the volume of the grow beds.  There is some space gained from not filling right to the very top and where the gravel guards are but in general, you want a little extra media on hand for when things settle and a few liters here and there are probably only going to save you a bag or two anyway.

Yea the cost is why I usually get the dump truck load of gravel or other bulk media instead of getting the product that is manufactured on another continent.

[Paul Mona]

Thank you TCLynx.    I will definitely go with a different media.   Was just looking where I live and they have 3/4" Arizona River Rock. 

[TCLynx]

Now before you go buying a truck load of the arizona river rock, get a small sample and do a fizz test.

You need to avoid using limestone or marble in your system as those will give you no end of trouble with high pH.

If rocks fizz big time in vinegar, then they are not a good choice.  I would rinse the rocks off before actually dropping them in vinegar to make sure dust doesn't cause the fizzing.

Quartz, granite, basalt (blue metal in OZ) and lava (pumice, cinder, scoria) rock are usually fine.

[Paul Mona]

Thank you for the advice.  I had read that earlier today while searching posts and planned to do just that.

paul

[RupertofOZ]

There's usually 40 bags to a pallet.... and you should be able to get a "pallet rate" that would be a lot cheaper than what you quote...

 

But yes, 40+ bags of hydroton will cost you...

[TCLynx]

Shipping will be steep too.