Aquaponic Gardening

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Yesterday I ordered and picked up 5 bags of lava rock ...
took them home ...
washed the rocks well ...
washed them in a clear bath until the water coming out of the basket was clear ...
an finally they went into the grow bed.

Unfortunately, the propaganda on sq.ft.coverage on the bag was not accurate and so
I had to ordered 4 more bags this morning.
So its back to rinse and repeat again (ouch ... my aching back).

It is nice however, to have some rocks in my system to begin the process of making organic soup 

Regards,
Bob

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Yea, I noticed that with the bagged lava rock.  I think they actually bag it by weight based on an average volume to weight calculation and they much bag some of it wet since I've gotten some of those 1/5 cubic foot bags have hardly anything in them sometimes.

So while you are waiting for the next batch of media, figure out how to set up your washing station so you can swish the basket in the bin while standing with your back straight up.  If you are bending over the wash bin at all while washing, you will have an aching back.  If you can stand straight, then it will probably just be your arms and shoulders that will get a work out doing the swishing.  This is the experience of washing about 12 tons of rocks talking here.

Oh, and smaller amounts of rock in the swish basket makes for more reps but the lower weight helps with toning muscles instead of bulking them and at least for a little person like myself, more reps at lower weight is the way to get it done quick with the lesser amount of body aches for the effort.  Just building endurance instead of getting ripped.

9 bags later ...

and I still need some more bags to save money on the final hydroton top layer SHEESH!

Wondering if I should use the Stalite instead of hydroton, which is much less expensive ... what are your thoughts?

I've never used the hydroton since I've never been willing to pay for it.

We have one bed of Stalite and we like it well enough to be planning to buy more.

I ordered 10 bags of STALITE today to finish off my grow bed.

Picking it up tomorrow  

TCLynx said:

I've never used the hydroton since I've never been willing to pay for it.

We have one bed of Stalite and we like it well enough to be planning to buy more.

Hey Bob where are you getting the STALITE from??? and how large are the bags for the cost????

Wes,

I'm getting them from Bernie's Rock and Garden on Krome Avenue.
http://www.berniesrockandgarden.com/about.html

They are not cheap but they are selling 1/2 cu.ft. bags for $4.50 each. You can buy it by the bobcat bucket 1/2 cu.yard load for $110 which is about the equivalent of 30 bags. which is a better buy if you have a pickup truck. (I don't have a pickup truck)

I used lava rock for the bottom approximate 2/3rds of my GB and am adding the Stalite for the top growing layer. For those who are following our adventure the water is very clear now and I am going to run a water quality test this afternoon before it rains.

Tomorrow I plan on cast netting some fish out of my local water source.   


wes said:

Hey Bob where are you getting the STALITE from??? and how large are the bags for the cost????

Great info and thanks for getting back to me so quick.

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