Least expensive grow media for Central FL?

[Edwin Mercado]

Hi everyone.

Well, the proverbial ball is definitely rolling.  I have my three IBC tanks.  I have my water pump.  I have plenty of PVC lying around for the plumbing.  What I don't have is growing media.

I must admit that I hadn't given much thought to the sheer amount of media I'd need.  After working out some rough calculations, I am sure that I can't afford to use Hydroton as I had first intended.

So what the cheapest alternative for Central Florida?  What should I use and where can I source it?

Thanks everyone,

Ed

[TCLynx]

Don,

I've built some troughs without any lumber.  I've even built a media bed using liner and NO wood.

You might have to come down to visit so I can show you.

[Dan Ponton]

They are out right now but may have some in a few days. Seems they have barrels also. If they come in I will go out on Saturday. He is not sure of the IBC size but wants $85.00 for them.

M D Fowler said:

hey Dan

there is a place in Old Town called Flying Hawk they may still have a few IBC's for less then $100.

i'm also trying to think of a way to make a raft bed on the cheap, i wonder if coating wood with fiberglass will make it last and have no harm to the liner or fish.

[Dan Ponton]

Thanks for the invite. I need to get to a few places and see whats going on. My kids and grandchildren are in Tampa so I may look around there. I think you are in Orlando correct?

TCLynx said:

Don,

I've built some troughs without any lumber.  I've even built a media bed using liner and NO wood.

You might have to come down to visit so I can show you.

[TCLynx]

At the moment our place is Near Mount Dora (NW of Orlando) but we will probably be moving a bit further west soon.

[M D Fowler]

yes $85 and $5 tax, i drove by there today and your right i didn't see the IBC's but they did have a big stack of blue barrels.  the last time i was out there i saw the red barrels, they probably had them but i just didn't see them (i was driving by).  do you have a way of picking them up like a truck or trailer?
 
Dan Ponton said:

They are out right now but may have some in a few days. Seems they have barrels also. If they come in I will go out on Saturday. He is not sure of the IBC size but wants $85.00 for them.

M D Fowler said:

hey Dan

there is a place in Old Town called Flying Hawk they may still have a few IBC's for less then $100.

i'm also trying to think of a way to make a raft bed on the cheap, i wonder if coating wood with fiberglass will make it last and have no harm to the liner or fish.

[Dan Ponton]

I have a mid size pickup....maybe I can get 1 and some barrels, or two with the tail down. He was going to call his supplier to get a few more. That's not a bad price I think. 

M D Fowler said:

yes $85 and $5 tax, i drove by there today and your right i didn't see the IBC's but they did have a big stack of blue barrels.  the last time i was out there i saw the red barrels, they probably had them but i just didn't see them (i was driving by).  do you have a way of picking them up like a truck or trailer?
 
Dan Ponton said:

They are out right now but may have some in a few days. Seems they have barrels also. If they come in I will go out on Saturday. He is not sure of the IBC size but wants $85.00 for them.

M D Fowler said:

hey Dan

there is a place in Old Town called Flying Hawk they may still have a few IBC's for less then $100.

i'm also trying to think of a way to make a raft bed on the cheap, i wonder if coating wood with fiberglass will make it last and have no harm to the liner or fish.

[M D Fowler]

just when you get it make sure it is food grade.  i'll probably go back next week or so and get some barrels, i'll have to talk to my finacial adviser (spouse) for an IBC
 
Dan Ponton said:

I have a mid size pickup....maybe I can get 1 and some barrels, or two with the tail down. He was going to call his supplier to get a few more. That's not a bad price I think. 

M D Fowler said:

yes $85 and $5 tax, i drove by there today and your right i didn't see the IBC's but they did have a big stack of blue barrels.  the last time i was out there i saw the red barrels, they probably had them but i just didn't see them (i was driving by).  do you have a way of picking them up like a truck or trailer?
 
Dan Ponton said:

They are out right now but may have some in a few days. Seems they have barrels also. If they come in I will go out on Saturday. He is not sure of the IBC size but wants $85.00 for them.

M D Fowler said:

hey Dan

there is a place in Old Town called Flying Hawk they may still have a few IBC's for less then $100.

i'm also trying to think of a way to make a raft bed on the cheap, i wonder if coating wood with fiberglass will make it last and have no harm to the liner or fish.

[Luis Arteaga]

hi there, anyone in Naples knows where to buy a yard of cheaping appropiate media for few beds?

[TCLynx]

If you have a big truck that you wouldn't be afraid to let a giant front end loader dump rocks into the back of, you could contact your local Conrad Yelvington yard, they probably have 1/2" and 3/4" brown river rock you could get.  If you don't have a big old truck, then you should probably stop by some landscape supply places and see if they could deliver you some brown river rock.

[Luis Arteaga]

Thanks for your answer,  i do have a friend with a old pickup and i can borrow it to pick up a yard from a front loader, the closest Conrad Yelvington yard to my place is 150 miles (Palmetto, FL) i am located in Golden Gate States in Naples, i do hope that some of the local guys can help me out in this one, i already have seen posted comments from two o three local Naples people so let see how long it takes to get and answer, i do have 8 grow beds 3' x 3' x 12" so i am gonna need at least a yard of grow media, wich one do you recommend, brown river rock or cinder rock (small black lava rock 1/2")?. Another thing i do need help with is tilapia food, wich want do you recommend and where can i buy it?
 
TCLynx said:

If you have a big truck that you wouldn't be afraid to let a giant front end loader dump rocks into the back of, you could contact your local Conrad Yelvington yard, they probably have 1/2" and 3/4" brown river rock you could get.  If you don't have a big old truck, then you should probably stop by some landscape supply places and see if they could deliver you some brown river rock.

[TCLynx]

I've never used the black cinder.  The brown river rock I get around here works just fine and is cheap though heavy.

Any media you choose, you should do a vinegar test with it before buying a truck load to make sure it doesn't fizz when you drop a rinsed hand full into a glass of vinegar.

There are some places you can buy fish feed online but you might also go to the purina mills web site and see where the closest purina dealer is to you (other than tractor supply) then call them up and see if they can get a bag of the aquamax 4000 dense culture fish feed put on the next delivery truck and how much it would cost.  But you might be better off ordering a smaller quantity online to get you started.

[Ron Thompson]

Google is your friend --

I see a two rock yards in Naples, call them and ask for pricing on brown river rock or pea gravel.

http://landscaperschoicenaples.com/plantproduct-guide/itemlist/cate...

http://superiorstonedistributors.com/

as for tilapia food, call a feed supply that handles Purina, they can special order a bag of Aquamax omnivorous. It comes in 50-lb bags, so maybe another hobbiest in your area would be willing to split a bag as it will go rancid after awhile. Cost is around $25

The purina dealer in Naples is: 

SUTHERLAND GENERAL STORE, INC.
11875 COLLIER BLVD
NAPLES, FL 34116
Phone No: 239-353-3808
Fax No: 239-353-0983